The Perks of Book Blogging: Free copy of Janus Silang

Someone is a really happy kid. Just look at what was delivered to our doorstep last Friday afternoon!

Actually, I was not in the house when the package was delivered because I was still in my summer service program. But I asked about it as soon as I arrived, and boy how happy I was when I learned that the package came!

Janus Silang at Ang Tiyanak na Tabon by Edgar Calabia Samar. This is the first book in Janus Silang series and the first (I think) YA book of Adarna House, Inc. This is just the first book of the series, mind you.

Here's a brief synopsis:

Sa tournament ng TALA Online sa bayan ng Balanga, namatay ang lahat ng manlalaro maliban kay Janus. Sunod-sunod pa ang naging kaso ng pagkamatay ng mga kabataan sa computer shops sai ba’t ibang panig ng bansa. Kinontak si Janus ng nagpakilalang Joey, isa rin umano sa mga nakaligtas sa paglalaro ng TALA na gaya niya. Hindi inasahan ni Janus ang mga matutuklasan niya mula rito na mag-uugnay sa kanya sa misteryo ng kinahuhumalingan niyang RPG—at sa alamat ng Tiyanak mula sa Tábon!

Thank you so much Adarna House for delivering this free copy for me and to Ate Biena for referring me to this. I'm really very excited to read this! And this is the second time that I received a free copy of a book because of my book blogging activities. Yay! Book blogging really has its awesome perks!

Anyway, there's actually an ongoing blog tour this week to promote the book. Check the book tour schedule here. I wasn't able to join the blog tour, unfortunately, but I love Sir Egay so much that I'm still promoting Janus Silang in my social media accounts. By the way, use the hashtag #JanusSilang, okay? :) I'd be also reading it this week, so wait for my review in this blog.

By the way, there will be a book launch of Janus Silang book on May 10 at SM North, as well as book discussion with Pinoy Reads Pinoy Books (book club I'm a member of) on May 24. The author will appear on both events, so come and join us! It'll be definitely fun! Janus Silang would be available in bookstores this May, but you could already add it in Goodreads.

This blog post is sponsored by Adarna House. Like them on Facebook, or follow them on Twitter @AdarnaHouse. You can also like the official Facebook page of the series at Janus Silang Series.

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown

Format: Hardbound, 509 pages
ISBN: 0385504225 (ISBN13: 9780385504225)
Published September 15th 2009 by Doubleday
borrowed, favorite
Read from October 25 to November 02, 2012
Rating: ★★★★★

Notorious worldwide for blurring the line between fact and fiction, best-selling author Dan Brown continued the adventures of Harvard symbologist Robert Langdon in this third book. The novel centers about one of the oldest and most mysterious brotherhood—the Freemasonry, along with its many “secrets”—making The Lost Symbol an enthralling and gripping novel difficult to put down.

Da Vinci Code created quite a stir when the movie adaptation was shown in the Philippines (and around the world, I believe), being a Christian country dominated by Catholics. Meanwhile, I have read the Angels & Demons nearly two years ago, and I could say that it was one of the most engrossing novels I have ever read. I have not yet read the Da Vinci Code when I read The Lost Symbol though (but I've already read it now), but I have watched the DVC movie after reading A&D, and I pretty liked it (though I find some of the parts hard to understand, so I think it’s better if I could read it). Then, a friend let me borrow her hardbound copy of The Lost Symbol, and having had a good experience from Dan Brown’s A&D, I immediately immersed myself to it.

In Angels & Demons, Dan Brown explored the secret society of Illuminati. Da Vinci Code is an international sensation because of its plot about Jesus’ alleged romantic relationship with Mary Magdalene. This time, in The Lost Symbol, Dan Brown crafted another compelling story by divulging the fraternal organization of Freemasonry. Being an old and exclusive brotherhood, Freemasonry—in reality—has a lot of controversies in its name, followed by countless conspiracy theories.

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.

Horribly bookish

"I was horribly bookish, to the point of coming right out and saying it." — David Levithan, Dash & Lily's Book of Dares

Loser by Jerry Spenelli

Loser by Jerry Spinelli

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 218 pages
ISBN13: 9780060540746 | Published 2002 by HarperCollins
Read from August 24 to September 03, 2013
owned
My rating: ★★★☆☆

This was my third book by Jerry Spenelli, the first ones were Stargirl and Love Stargirl. I had immediately liked the writer in the first two books; his writing style was simple, yet astonishly magical. Jerry Spenelli writes for children and juveniles, actually--his target audience are those in middle grade--yet teenagers, young adults, and adults could totally enjoy reading his books.

So Loser is basically about Donald Zinkoff, which is an exceptional and special kid. Since he was young, Zinkoff has already been showing signs that he is unique. He is unlike any other kid. He enjoys going to school, with the kind of excitement to compel him to go early to school. He enjoys learning and discovering things. He likes involving himself in wide array of activities. Zinkoff is like a ball of energy, and there is no way that he could be stopped in his conquest to explore the world.

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.

Starters by Lissa Price

Starters by Lissa Price
Format: Trade Paperback, 336 pages
ISBN13: 9780307978103 | Published 2012 by Delacorte Press Read from February 7 to 11, 2013
owned, given to me
My rating: ★★★★★

I have seen Starters in the front shelves of National Bookstore early last year, freshly published. Immediately, I fell in love with the cover art. It was so entrancing! I wanted to buy it, but it was worth more than 500 pesos, and I don’t usually buy books in that price bracket. So when our company Christmas Party drew near, I wrote Starters in my wishlist. And imagine my delight when the one who got my name—dressed as Bane of Batman in our masquerade-themed Christmas party—handed me a book. A book! And it was Starters by Lissa Price, along with its lovely cover art—the whitish picture of a girl with intriguing expression, her other eye colored blue in contrast with the immaculate whiteness.