It was during my OJT that I decided to leaf through some pages again since the work was pretty boring, especially during mornings. So the first book I read that time was The Lost Symbol by Dan Brown. As usual, Mr. Brown never fails to leave my mouth hanging in awe. A two-thumbs up yet again.

That’s how I got myself wanting more, and more. I even got the chance to read Looking for Alaska by John Green. Finally. After many months of looking for a copy. Then, I found out it was banned. I mean, come on, you people. Banning this book is so ridiculous that I want to make an appeal. It had powerful writing. Fascinating in its ways. This isn’t “pornographic” and not intended to shock readers, but simply to explore teen sexuality. I even think that Julie Garwood’s books contain more sensitive scenes than this one. Looking for Alaska was a remarkably intelligent book and managed to rise above the condescension that teen novels usually have. I can’t help but appreciate the depth that this novel had shown. It’s apparently one of my favorites. I love how it explores life and death.

Finally, my most recent read. The Hunger Games trilogy, only that the third and last installment is yet to be released this August. The first two books are awesome. Fascinating. Remarkable. Hands down to Suzanne Collins’ originality and creativity. I’m not sure if there’s a similar story with this trilogy, but I doubt it since I had never encountered one. And I tell you, bookworms, you’ll regret not giving these books a chance. It’s too riveting, if not amazing, to put down.

I seriously can’t wait for August 24. I’m dying to know the aftermath of their defiance to the Capitol. Katniss. Gale. Peeta. Haymitch. Finnick. Et cetera. And, yes, I was so thrilled when I searched The Hunger Games on imdb.com

Yes, I have an acquired passion for books [excluding the academic ones, unfortunately]. I don’t know when I started liking these stuff. Grade school, maybe.

I remember, when I was just a little kid, I had this Dr. Seuss book entitled “One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish“. It is an illustrative rhyming book for beginners with a freewheeling plot about a boy and a girl, and the amazing creatures as their friends and pets. I was so fond of the book, even until now, that I really memorized some parts by heart. One of my favorites was…

Some are sad. And some are glad. And some are very, very bad.

Why are they sad and glad and bad? I do not know. Go ask your dad.

Some are thin. And some are fat.

The fat one has a yellow hat.

From there to here, from here to there, funny things are everywhere.

That was when I was small. And, as I extended my horizon, I discovered more. From Julie Garwood to Sidney Sheldon [who now Rocks In Perpetuity], to Ken Follet, to Nora Roberts, to JD Salinger, to Jane Austen, to Gabriel Garcia Marquez, and a whole lot more. I sometimes consider these as my guilty pleasures because I love books to the bones, but I overspend at times. Haha! Oh well… I can’t blame myself. Yes, no one should be blaming someone for satisfying his/her fire in the belly…

Oh yeah! Like, today. Ha ha! Gahd! This afternoon, a package arrived, containing the two items I purchased from avalon.ph. And last week [by 090409], National Bookstore left me Php268 short. Actually, it was supposed to be Php335, but they’re having this “CUT PRICE Book Sale” Haha! Irresistible XD So, for this month, I got 3 books [...and counting. LOL]

Under the Tuscan Sun by Frances Mayes & Oranges are not the Only Fruit by Jeanette Winterson

Sidney Sheldon's Mistress of the Game by Tilly Bagshawe

You, book-lover, should check avalon.ph. It’s where you can find rare books for less :)) I am also amazed with the site owner. He responds immediately to my queries. I love it XD