“If we wait until we’re ready, we’ll be waiting for the rest of our lives.”
― Lemony Snicket, The Ersatz Elevator
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Library
MIBF2018 Book Haul
Going to Manila International Book Festival 2018 and getting to be part of what’s behind the scenes definitely have restored my faith in buying great books! I’ve got to admit after downloading a couple of ebook-readers, paying for a book that would turn out to be a disappointment did not look appealing to me. After seeing awesome finds and getting my hands on some of them, the joy of sniffing books and caressing their pages came back to me in full blast.
Without further ado, here are books I purchased (click the links for summary or other information about them):
- Kazuo Ishiguro’s The Buried Giant – I overheard two of my friends talking about Kazuo Ishiguro some months ago. There’s a limit to how long I would resist their recommendation particularly when they could talk about an unfamiliar book in front of me.
- Lemony Snicket’s File Under: 13 Suspicious Incidents – If you’re unaware why I bought this one, you seriously need to read my blog more.
- Antoine de Saint-Exupery’s The Little Prince – I need a new copy, period.
- Neil Gaiman’s Norse Mythology – Thor was calling me and I simply had to respond.
These four I got from Fully Booked, I took a photo of the plastic bag for a reason. The next batch, I got from National Bookstore.
5. Lemony Snicket’s ASUE 2: The Reptile Room – Please see #3 reason. Apart from that, I want to build my hardbound collection of A Series of Unfortunate Events. With this and #6, I only need to buy 10 more books!
6. Lemony Snicket’s ASUE 4: The Miserable Mill – See #5.
7. C. J. Redwine’s The Shadow Queen – I read its summary once when I was out and about, loitering inside a bookstore. Suffice it to say that I found the perfect time to buy it.
8. The Chronicles of Narnia, Official Coloring Book – After feeling so accomplished finally buying a coloring book, I’m now in a happy search for pens/ markers/ pencils to use for this book.
9. Erwin E. Castillo’s The Firewalkers – First reason, it’s cheap; second reason, the last I read from UP Press was Smaller and Smaller Circles and that was ages ago.
10. Tara FT Sering’s Reconnaissance – See #9.
Apart from these books, I also hunted for pens because one cannot have too many pens-at least that’s what I tell myself. You can ask my friend Tina for a second opinion though and she will fiercely enumerate the reasons why people need to have pens.
I seriously have to look for great markers for my coloring book though I doubt I have enough energy to face the amount of people scouring the shelves of bookstores particularly on the last day of MIBF2018. My heart yearns for the books below but reality tells me I can only withdraw enough money for books and be able to eat for the next days.
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
Books I intend to buy soon
I am planning to post a separate narrative for my #MIBF2018 experience particularly our activities in VIBAL. I can imagine it’s going to be looooooooooong. Or I could probably just summarize the whole thing in one sentence.
What did you get this MIBF 2018?
“It looked exhausting and pointless, two things that should be avoided at all costs”
― Lemony Snicket, The Austere Academy
Let #VibalMIBF2018 be your hashtag
That’s right folks, it’s the time of year again. On September 12-16, book-lovers, bookworms, book-hoarders are going to come alive and go to SMX Mall of Asia to participate in the highly anticipated Manila International Book Fair!
VIBAL Group has prepared a number of activities that will certainly entertain people and make them fall in love with reading once again– not that bibliophiles needed more encouragement but you’ll never know! They might bring their less enthusiastic friends along and turn them into hardcore book-lovers as well.
Join us at our booths -YEP! Vibal Group has two booths on the 1st and 2nd floor respectively- participate in our activities and win awesome prizes.
“I’m sure you have heard it said that appearance does not matter so much, and that it is what’s on the inside that counts. This is, of course, utter nonsense, because if it were true then people who were good on this inside would never have to comb their hair or take a bath, and the whole world would smell even worse than it already does.”
― Lemony Snicket, The Miserable Mill
AUGUST 2018 Articles
For quite sometime now, one thing that actually connects me to writing is not the reports I have to accomplish for my company but the list of articles I read in a month and what I think about them. The reports do excite me in way as they pose challenges– stating a negative outcome in the most professional manner possible even when you are so tempted to embellish it with curses is an example.
My reading life is more exciting however. from Ayn Rand to Jasper Fforde, from Fforde to Lemony Snicket, and from Snicket to Neil Gaiman. You may expect my language to be less sarcastic but funnier from now on.
How Creativity Drives Human Evolution
Hardly a new theory anymore but still an interesting read. I, for one under the influence of Ian Malcolm, believe that what drives evolution is the need to survive.
lifted from Giphy
The One Coffee You Should Never, Ever Order at Starbucks, According to an Employee
By now, you might be wondering why I am reading about something I already know. Well, there is satisfaction in having a basis for being right. The fact that the title has the word coffee is another factor.
Sherlock and coffee make good combination.
What is the Future of English in the US?
As a former English teacher, it’s interesting to know that while in Asia, there are a number of people who pay big bucks to learn English as a second or even foreign language, in the US, there is a considerable decline in the number of speakers.
My daily creative routine?
1. Read an eBook.
2. Watch an anime.
3. Read a manga.
4. Listen to music.
5. Daydream.
6. Write.
7. Repeat.
And yes, drink coffee while doing all of them.
Wizarding World Characters that Mirror Harry Potter
If you ever have a problem with me loving Harry Potter, fight me. That doesn’t sound so professional, does it?
Reading a Book Takes Time—Deal With It
Reading is a pleasurable experience for me, whether I do it at the comforts of my home with a steaming mug of coffee and great music or while taking a train or bus. There are so many books published…more than we can actually read but there are only few books worth our time so it all boils down to how we choose actually.
…was my response to this must-read article.
Lastly, am I the only one bothered by the fact sharing in Facebook ceased? It has affected the number of views.
“It is very easy to say that the important thing is to try your best, but if you are in real trouble the most important thing is not trying your best, but getting to safety.”
― Lemony Snicket, The Wide Window
“It is very unnerving to be proven wrong, particularly when you are really right and the person who is really wrong is proving you wrong and proving himself, wrongly, right.”
“There are many, many types of books in the world, which makes good sense, because there are many, many types of people, and everybody wants to read something different.”
― Lemony Snicket, The Bad Beginning
July 2018 Articles
Thank you to Joey of Thoughts and Afterthoughts for subtly reminding me that I have a huge responsibility to update my blog. Although, to be honest, he was only reflecting on his own blogging schedule and I just felt quite guilty.
That feeling when you haven’t blogged in 5ever and your scheduled drafts end up going live. Scorecard – blog: 4; Joey: 0.
— Joey (@afterthoughtAn) July 20, 2018
I want to give an extra pat on my own shoulder as I have written a couple of really long articles in July not for any other blogging site but my own. If you do have the time, please read my articles (Something smells Kimchi and The Gods of VIBAL’s CPD Program). Also, finishing five books this month does not sound so bad either–I ought to give myself a reward.
The Age You Feel Means More Than Your Actual Birthdate
Believe it or not, a number of people I meet and even my acquaintances often compliment my youthful appearance (okay, that sounded over the top). Seriously though, they gush at how my appearance does not show my age. This article sums it up for me.
Btw, you can follow my favorite BBC writer in Twitter (@d_a_robson)
Open Offices Make People Talk Less and Email More
The struggle is real particularly when coworkers try to shatter the wall you have built around yourself. Collaboration is indeed necessary but true to what I usually say, true collaboration only happens when each member is willing to bear his own weight, with or without walls.
10 Innovative Learning Strategies For Modern Pedagogy
My immediate supervisor shared this link and I found it enlightening. However, I cannot make heads or tails of why items 8 and 10 are included in the list of ‘learning’ strategies.
Japan’s Iga city ‘does not need ninjas’ after reports it was hiring
Trust the Japanese to always defend and preserve their culture and tradition- they even posted the announcement in Nihonggo.
Why Jack Ma Doesn’t Hire the Best Candidate for the Job
Just a thought, maybe it’s about time we re-evaluate our screening process. Then again, experience and wisdom cannot be measured objectively.
Finally, I would like to give a great shout-out to my friend, Von, who has noticed the list of articles getting shorter each month that passed by. It takes great friendship to notice that and to tell me the truth.
