#30daybookchallenge Day 2: A book that you've read 3 times

For the Day 2 of the 30-day Book Challenge, the prompt is a book that you've read 3 times. And that book is Stargirl by Jerry Spenelli.

This is actually the first Spenelli book that I've read, making the author really close to my heart that i started collecting his works (which are mostly books I find in the children's lit section of Booksales). I rated this with ★★★★☆ stars in Goodreads

I have already read Stargirl back in 2011 as an ebook. But when I spotted a really decent copy of the book at Booksale for only 70 pesos (and it almost looked new!), I decided to buy it and reread the book. When I first read it I hastily gave it a three-star rating, but now I realized that adding another star in my rating is more fitting for this wonderful book.

Self-named Stargirl exudes nonconformity amidst the sea of typicality at Mica High School. Students are practically the same and follow this unwritten convention on what comprises “normal”. But Stargirl is a free-spirited individual who doesn’t care about rules. She has a unique personality and childlike innocence that she didn’t even care when people are being rude to her when she was only showing them kindness.

The book was really an easy read which celebrates individuality. In order to be deemed as “cool”, we teenagers often try to fit in and blend with others. But really, why fit in when you could stand out? We always have our own differences, and it’s just a matter of embracing our individual eccentricities in order to discover our true selves.

Orosa-Nakpil, Malate by Louie Mar Gangcuangco

Orosa-Nakpil, Malate by Louie Mar A. Gangcuangco

Format: Paperback, 226 pages
Published 2006 by Louie Mar's Publications
Read in November, 2010
Rating: ★★★★☆

Because I read the Tagalog version, I shall make my review in the Filipino language.

Taong 2010 nang nabasa ko ito. Isa sa malapit na kamag-aral ko sa kolehiyo ang bumili ng libro, at ang kopya nya ay umikot na sa buong klase. Noong mga panahon yon, unti unti akong namulat sa mga bagay-bagay sa realidad, at maraming beses namin napag-uusapan ang iba't ibang paksa: relihiyon, karapatang pagkakabaihan, kahirapan, akademikong aralin, at homosekswalidad--kasama ng iba pang paksa tungkol sa buhay.

Ito ang unang aklat na nabasa ko tungkol sa homosekwalidad, partikular na sa mga tinatawag sa ating lipunan na mga "bakla". Marami akong mga kakilala na ganoon ang oryentasyon, at ang iba pa ay naging mga kaibigan ko. Samakatuwid, ang nagpahiram sa akin ng aklat na ito ay isa ring lalake na tipo ang kapwa lalake. Wala naman akong panghuhusga sa mga ganoon; at interesado din ako sa mga gantong tema.

Ang Orosa-Napkil, Malate ay isang nobela na tinatalakay ang mga kontemporaryong isyu: homosekwalidad, pakikipagtalik, buhay ng mag-aaral, STD, HIV/AIDS, at pag-ibig. Oo, tama--pag-ibig. Marahil marami sa atin ang nagtataas ng kilay tuwing naririnig ang mga kwento ng "pagmamahalan" ng mga tao na pareho ang kasarian; mapalalaki man sa lalake o babae sa babae. Ngunit totoo na umuusbong ang pag-ibig sa mga gantong tipo ng indibidwal, at ang Orosa-Napkil, Malate ang namulat sa akin sa realidad na ito.

Erick Slumbook: Paglalakbay Kasama Ang Anak Kong Autistic

Erick Slumbook: Paglalakbay Kasama ang Anak Kong Autistic by Fanny A. Garcia

Format: Bookpaper, 304 pages
ISBN: 971271439X (ISBN13: 9712714403) | Published 2004 by Anvil Publishing, Inc.
Read from January 25 to February 10, 2014
owned, pinoy book
My rating: ★★★★☆

Ang librong ito ang isa sa mga librong nabili ko noong warehouse sale ng National Bookstore noong Nobyembre 2012. Mayroong din akong Introduction to Special Education class ngayong semestre, at ang report ko pa nga ay tungkol sa Autism Spectrum Disorder kaya binasa ko agad ang librong ito bilang additional reference material. Ang librong ito ang nagsisilbing biography ni Erick, isang batang autistic; at autobiography na rin ng kanyang ina na si Fanny A. Garcia.

Si Fanny A. Garcia ay isang manunulat na nagkamit ng mga gantimpala sa Carlos Palanca Memorial Awards for Literature sa mga kategoryang maikling kwento, sanaysay, teleplay, at kwentong pambata. Bago ang Erick Slumbook, nakapaglimbag na rin sya ng apat na libro. Sya din ang scriptwriter ng pelikulang "Saan Darating ang Umaga?" ng Viva Films noong 1983, na nanomina bilang Best Story at Best Screenplay. Bukod dito, nagkaroon na rin sya ng iba pang parangal. Isa rin syang guro, editor, mananaliksik, at tagapagsalin.

Ngunit sa kabila ng kanyang mga tagumpay, hindi akalain ni Fanny na magkakaron sya ng matinding pagsubok sa buhay na siyang magpapatatag rin sya kanya at magsisibling inspirasyon nya. Nasa 30s na sya nang magkaanak--lima ang pinagbuntis nya ngunit ang apat ay nalaglag--at hindi nya akalain na ang kaisa-isa nyang anak ay magiging isang autistic. Si Erick ay isang nonverbal autistic, ibig sabihin ay hindi nya mapahayag ang sarili nya sa verbal na paraan.

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

After Dark by Haruki Murakami

Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN: 0307278735 (ISBN13: 9780307388889)

Read from September 17 to September 19, 2013
second-hand, owned
My rating: 4 of 5 stars ★★★★☆

A couple of months ago, my friend was selling two of her books for a very reasonable price. The books were After Dark by Haruki Murakami and Looking for Alaska by John Green. Since the books were priced a lot cheaper than the original price, and they were written by two respectable authors, I bought the books and my friend shipped them straight from Davao. They had been sitting on my bookshelf for some time, and it was only recently that I felt I am ready to read another Murakami book.

The whole happenings in the novelette have taken place in only a span of a night. Mari was staying at Denny's as she reads a thick book, when a guy named Takahashi approached her. He plays trombone for a band, and he remembers Mari as Eri's younger sister, and who also happens to be his date in a swimming party two summers ago.

In the course of that night, Mari met Kaoru, a retired female wrestler, who now works as a manager of love ho (shortened for love hotel, which is actually the Japanese equivalent of a "motel" here in the Philippines); a Chinese prostitute who was beaten and stripped by her customer in that love ho; and some of the staff of the love ho, Korogi and Komugi. Apart from them, there were also other people mentioned in the book: Shirakawa, a sadistic computer expert; and Eri, Mari's older sister who happens to be asleep for two months! Though there are some characters that didn't really interact directly with each other, each of them seemed related and entwined with each other.

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

Tuesdays With Morrie by Mitch Albom

Format: Mass Market Paperback
ISBN13: 9780751529814
Read from January 10, 2014 to February 3, 2014
borrowed
My rating: ★★★★☆

This is the first Mitch Albom book that I have read. The book revolves around the last days of Morrie Schwartz, a real-life professor of the author, who suffered from ALS. Mitch Albom is a former student of Morrie in Brandeis University, and Mitch really respected the man and even had the chance to become close to him. However, Mitch Albom failed to correspond with his favorite teacher after graduation (even he promised to keep in touch) because he became so busy with his life and career. Fast forward several years later when Mitch Albom learned that his professor is dying, and he decided to seize the opportunity to be with his favorite teacher in his last days in the world.

The Time Machine by H. G. Wells

The Time Machine by H.G. Wells

Format: e-book (epub file)
Read from February 24, 2014 to February 28, 2014
My rating: ★★★★☆

The Time Machine is a science fiction novella written by H. G. Wells, which was published in 1895. The author was also the one who coined the term "time machine" through this novella, and it has long since universally used to refer to such vehicle that is capable of travelling through time. With its steady presence in bookstores as well as various film adaptations and several derivative works, The Time Machine is definitely considered as a timeless literary classic that has spanned more than a decade.