Want to read about a fictional rock band in the 70s
Enjoy drugs and having sex with strangers (or reading about it)
Want to be annoyed especially dun sa lead characters
Hindi ko pa nababasa yung Twilight pero sabi nung classmate ko noon, yung buong book daw halos ay si Bella Swan na paulit-ulit sinasabi kung gano kagwapo and ka-amazing si Edward Cullen. Dito sa book na ‘to, siguro 75% yung paulit-ulit na sinasabi kung gano kaganda, kasexy, katalented at amazing si Daisy Jones.
And as much as a lot of people praised the audiobook kasi well narrated daw and multiple people yung narrators, ako naman, yun yung pinaka naturn off ako. Kasi it’s as if the characters didn’t mature. Yung stories na kinekwento nila happened decades ago so I’m expecting na nagmature naman sila somehow. But the dialogue plus how it was narrated felt like their still in their teens. Parang sobrang pa-cool pa din nila lahat.
Ang complete title nya ay Modern Love: True Stories of Love, Loss, and Redemption. It’s a collection of love stories and based from the complete title, hindi lahat ng stories happy ending. Dun sa introduction part nagustuhan ko how the editor described love.
Kakatapos lang ng book club discussion namin kahapon about this book at naging makabagbag-damdamin ang naging usapan kasi nag-share din yung ibang members ng heartfelt stories nila. Sinimulan namin yung discussion sa favorite stories namin dun sa book. Eto yung sakin (in no particular order):
You want to read a story about talking farm animals
Gusto mong mas maging mulat sa mga nangyayari sa ating lipunan
Gusto mong mabilang sa milyong milyong tao na nakabasa na ng librong ‘to
QUICK AND TAMAD SUMMARY
The farm animals had enough! Hindi na nila kayang i-tolerate ang pagpapalakad ng amo nila na si Mr. Jones. Kaya naman gumawa sila ng paraan para mapatalsik ang amo nila at sa wakas! The animals reign supreme! Pero ngayong nasa pamumuno na sila ni Snowball (white pig) at Napoleon (fierce-looking boar), ano ang magiging kapalaran ng mga farm animals? Mas naging mabuti nga ba or worse?
📷: Katie Troy
This book is about power and how it can potentially change anyone who acquire them. At kahit animals ang main characters dito, the message is clear and strong. The author intended for it to be a reflection of the events that happened during the Russian Revolution so it’s a political satire. Pero I think pwede din syang ma-apply in the workplace somehow.
You want an okay psychological thriller involving a married couple (don’t expect Gone Girl levels)
DON’T READ IF…
You’re a loving pet owner
You have low tolerance for torture
QUICK AND TAMAD SUMMARY
It’s about Jack and Grace na seen by their social circles as the perfect couple. Pero ang suspicious ng pagka-perfect nila kasi magtataka ka bakit walang sariling cellphone si Grace, nung hiningan sya ng e-mail address binigay nya yung e-mail address ni Jack, at laging hindi sumisipot si Grace sa lunch invites ng mga amiga nya and kung makakasipot man sya, kabuntot nya lagi si Jack. So medyo given na dito na si Jack yung psychopath. Kaya ang tagline nung book is, “The perfect marriage? Or the perfect lie?”
More than a year kong binabasa ‘tong libro na ‘to. Sa wakas makaka-move on na ko sa next book. May times kasi na nasa mood akong mag-hangout sa Westeros tapos pag na-distract ako, totally makakalimutan ko sya. Kasi iniisip ko rin na alam ko nanaman yung ibang mangyayari because of the series. Pero nananaig pa din yung curiousity ko kung anong difference nung books from the series kaya kahit nakakatamad minsan, gusto ko pa din tapusin. At alam ko rin na once magsimula ako ulit, sure naman na manunumbalik yung pagka-fanatic ko.
You want to be enlightened on the amount of unnecessary information you consume
You’re bothered with your short attention span
You want to appreciate reading more
This non-fiction book about the negative effects of television was published in 1985. It may seem irrelevant nowadays but not really. The reason why this book is still being read today is because it couldn’t be more relevant.
This book was recommended by one of our book club members (Thanks Pearl!). She learned that I have some interest in Stoicism and suggested this book to me. I had a hard time finding a simple definition of what Stoicism is but I think this one is helpful:
STOICISM • a philosophy that helps us direct our thoughts and actions in an unpredictable world. We don’t control and cannot rely on external events, but we can (to a certain extent) control our mind and choose our behavior.
Basically, the book is encouraging us to have some kind of philosophy when dealing with life. And since I don’t have any religion, I think it’s a good plan. Although I’ve always thought that I turned out pretty well without being religious. That I don’t need to have a religion to be a decent person. But having a philosophy, as the book suggested, seemed appealing to me; and personally, a better alternative than religion. And this specific philosophy that the author is advocating for is Stoicism.
The primary concern of philosophy should be the art of living: Just as wood is the medium of the carpenter and bronze is the medium of the sculptor, your life is the medium on which you practice the art of living.
6:30AM ako nagising ngayon. Ang sarap magbasa ng non-fiction sa umaga lalo kung self improvement books. It sets my day on a high note. Dapat talaga pinagiisipan ng mabuti ang morning routines. Kasi it can make or break your day.
My 6th book this month! Super duper proud of myself. Ngayon lang ‘to nangyari.
Yay tapos ko na! Kala ko hindi ko matatapos kasi first classic novel ko ‘to and super hindi ako sanay sa writing style (1813 sya na-publish). Hindi ko pa din napapanood yung movie nung sinimulan ko so nahirapan talaga ko kasi wala akong idea. Nung sinimulan ko, feeling ko hindi kaya ng comprehension ko yung mga ganito. Nakaka-intimidate. Kaya rin hindi ako mahilig magbasa ng classics.
Pero nag-attempt pa din ako kasi highly recommended sya ng mga members ng book club namin. The first 20% is a struggle. Ang hirap talaga i-absorb for me. Pero unti-unti syang nagiging interesting and na-overpower nung plot yung writing style.
QUICK AND TAMAD SUMMARY:
Merong 5 sisters at ang bida ay si Elizabeth Bennet. Ang one and only goal ng nanay nila ay maikasal ang mga anak nya sa matitinong mga lalake. Super plus points kung mayaman. And given the time period, I wouldn’t blamer her. In the process of finding suitable partners for her daughters, na-meet ni Elizabeth si Mr. Darcy. Good looking and mayaman si Mr. Darcy but Elizabeth hated his guts.
Nung around 80% na ko, pinanood ko yung movie pero hanggang dun lang sa parts na nabasa ko na.
Nag-order ako ng ready-to-blend smoothies sa Goodfood. Tapos nagkaron ako ng bright idea kasi ang dali lang naman palang gawin. So bumili akong fruits, yogurt at granola tapos pinaghalo-halo ko lang sa isang medium-sized container. Pag frozen na at gusto ko nang gawing smoothie, bubuhusan ko lang ng milk yung container hanggang medyo mapuno. Blend and voila!
Eto nilagyan ko ng kape
Ang sarap! Hindi ganun katamis. Hindi ko sya nauubos agad pero okay lang kasi kahit i-ref ko lang, masarap pa din sya kinabukasan.
Outlier
May bago akong video upload sa Youtube. Nakakapagod mag-edit. Siguro mahigit limang oras kong ine-edit yung 4-minute na video na ‘yon. Pag pinanood mo hindi halata pero seryoso. Nakaka-drain. Kaya napapaisip ako. Worth it ba? Although nage-enjoy naman ako. Napapaisip lang ako kung mas maganda bang i-divert ko na lang ang attention ko sa ibang bagay. May maganda naman syang naidulot. Natuto akong gumamit ng After Effects.
TUESDAY
Sobrang ang ganda nanaman ng sunrise nung Tuesday. Sarap titigan tapos blangko lang yung isip ko. Naka-focus lang ako sa ganda nung mga kulay.
May bago akong salad na sinubukan. Favorite ko ‘tong brand na to kasi ang sasarap ng salads nila tapos kakaiba yung ingredients. Eto merong crispy wild rice, dried cranberries, at crispy asian noodles. Masarap.
Nagpa-flu shot din kami. Ang sakit at ang bigat sa braso! Sana tumalab. Kasi nung last flu shot namin nilagnat din naman ako. Pero ayos na rin kasi libre naman.
Sa pharmacy kami nagpa-flu shot, dito sa baba ng apartment namin. Kala ko dati sa clinics lang talaga pwede. Buti na lang pwede rin dito kasi convenient and wala ding tao.
At since inspired ako ngayong week na ‘to na magpaka-healthy, gumawa din ako ng frozen banana bites.
Malapit nang maubos kaya mag-grocery kami bukas. Buti naka-leave si Kenneth ng Monday. Wala siguro masyadong tao kasi weekday. Sana. Naghigpit na kasi uli dito kasi sobrang tumataas na ang cases. Hays. Gusto ko na ulit makauwi ng Pilipinas.
Booktube. Naghahanap ako ng bagong idadagdag sa TBR list ko.
WEDNESDAY
Sa daming beses kong nag-crack ng itlog, first time kong nakita ‘to. May dugo! So nag-Google ako kung delikado bang kainin kasi ready na kong itapon.
Pero safe naman daw.
Blood spots are uncommon but can be found in both store-bought and farm-fresh eggs. They develop when tiny blood vessels in the hen’s ovaries or oviduct rupture during the egg-laying process. Eggs with blood spots are safe to eat, but you can scrape the spot off and discard it if you prefer.
Since safe naman, nag-move on na ko para gumawa ng frittata cups.
Eto yung mga araw na ang sipag ko ulit magluto. Isang motivation dun eh dahil nagtitipid kami. Nung mga nakaraang months kasi sobrang hagad namin sa deliveries. Eh nung palaki na ng palaki yung bayaran sa credit card, natauhan na ko. Malapit nang magpasko. Gift giving nanaman. Kelangan ng budget. At hindi pa din ako ganun ka-satisfied sa savings namin. Kaya kelangan magtipid-tipid.
Dessert
Peanut butter filling
THURSDAY
Inuubos ko na lang yung binili kong smoothies. Ang weird netong smoothie na ‘to kasi may berries tapos may kale. Parang hindi bagay. Pero nung blended na, hindi mo na rin naman malalasahan yung kale. Kaya baka gawin ko din ‘to para extra healthy yung smoothies.
Lactose intolerant ako. Hindi ako nagiinarte 😆
Leftover sesame salad at pizza. Hilig ko talaga sa healthy + unhealthy combo.
FRIDAY
May sinimulan akong bagong series. For more than 2 weeks hindi ako nanood ng Netflix. Siguro hindi pa ko nakaka-move on sa huling series na natapos ko (Modern Family). Tapos bigla kong naisipan maningin ng palabas. Just in case may magustuhan ako. Madaling araw na ‘to siguro 1AM na. Tapos nakita ko yung Gilmore Girls.
Naririnig ko na ‘to lagi. Alam kong popular sya. Pero ngayon ko lang sinubukan. Ang cute nya. Medyo ang annoying lang ni Lorelai pag nagiging childish sya. And bakit halos lahat ng dialogue ng characters eh puro sarcasm? Uso siguro noon. Pero minsan ang annoying na. Hindi talaga sila nauubusan ng sarcastic remarks. Pero nag-eenjoy naman ako. Buti may nahanap na uli akong series na mapapanood pag gusto kong mag-chill.
May bago kaming delivery from Hello Fresh. Eto yung mga meal kits naman na portioned na yung ingredients so walang nasasayang. And pag tamad kang magisip ng lulutuin.
Yung meal na ‘to ay kakaiba. First time kong gumawa ng something na ganito. Yun din yung gusto ko minsan sa mga meal kits kasi nakakapag-explore ako ng iba-ibang recipes tapos nakaka-encounter ako ng mga kakaibang ingredients. Tulad nitong sage.
Tapos sobrang cute nitong mini jar ng apricot jam!
Porkchop na may apples, raisins and sage filling
Masarap naman sya. Matamis. Kaya ko din siguro nagustuhan. Ang weird lang talaga kasi yung gravy may apple din.
May dumating din kaming package. Kala ko ba nagtitipid?! Haha! Pero eto naman ay na-order ko na bago pa yung realization ko na kelangan mag-tipid. Tsaka useful naman ‘to tsaka for the health (defensive much?).
Eto yung 3-layer mask. Kasi may nabasa ako na ideal daw na 3 layers yung mask. So naghanap ako at nag-order. Paubos na din yung disposable masks namin kaya okay din na may ganito kami na washable.
Wadap.
Yung last two items naman sa package ay pang-topping sa yogurt. Ang lakas kasi ng influence ni Jenn Im (Youtuber). Lagi kong nakikita sa yogurt nya yung cacao nibs and goji berries. Gusto kong i-try kase parang ang sarap at ang healthy.
SATURDAY
Nag-snow nanaman ng medyo malakas. Feeling ko tuloy tuloy na ‘to. Medyo decided na ko na ayaw ko munang mag-road test para sa driver’s license ko. Na-trauma na ko sa snow.
Feel na feel ko ang pagbabasa with my salad and snacks and yogurtwithcacaonibsandgojiberries 😂
SUNDAY (today!)
Done with our book of the month! And na-achieve ko na rin finally yung reading goal ko this year 😊
Sarap ng ulam ko. Bangus from Mama Nors tapos nag-sauté lang ako ng spinach at yung Beyond Meat sausage. Kung masarap sana yung vegan sausage na ‘to bibili sana ako ulit eh. Kaso hindi. Ang hirap maging healthy huhu.
Buti hindi kumakain si Kenneth ng taba mwahaha it’s all mine
Gleniz da Menace 