He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys by Greg Behrendt

He's Just Not That Into You: The No-Excuses Truth to Understanding Guys by Greg Behrendt
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Just like every girl, I've lost people (boyfriends and friends) along the way. Moving on was tough especially on my part for I had to do it so often. Yes, I've been into a couple of failed relationships after which I'd faithfully and tearfully ask myself and God, "Why does it always have to be me?". After reading this book, I instantly knew the answer. I learned what my mistakes were. I was to blame because I let them enter my life to begin with. And that I've emotionally depended on them.

I've just broken up with my boyfriend of one year and I felt terrible after. But now I realized, he just wasn't that into me. Well, did I feel bad? Was it hard for me to accept that he just wasn't that into me? Sure. Because I seriously devoted my time on him and our relationship. But what the hell! HE JUST WASN'T THAT INTO ME. Either I accept it or live a lie. Guess I'm smart enough to choose the former.

Well, I usually don't read this kind of books. I must say at some point, I wanted to stop reading because I thought, "Why should I depend my decisions/choices on a book written by some guy I barely know?". He doesn't know me or the guys I've been with or the guys I will meet. However, between trusting Greg Behrendt and trusting my ex, I think I'll go for Greg.


I used to blame men for my every pain. I would say to myself, "Men are all the same". However, they're not. It's me who's still the same... along with my decisions.. my choices. People would always say, love blinded them. That happened to me too. But it actually shouldn't have. And it wouldn't have, if only I knew better.

This book taught me how to feel more confident about myself; to stop engaging myself in a relationship where I get less than what I deserve and above all, to love myself more. Although some readers might think that Greg's teaching us to become needy, well for me, it's not the case, rather it's a matter of realizing that we deserve better.

After going over the last page, I felt a whole lot better. I felt empowered and happy that the relationship ended. Now I know better... better than crying over some guy who's just not that into me.

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The Screwtape Letters by C.S Lewis

The Screwtape Letters by C.S. Lewis
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

Using the epistolary exchanges between an "experienced tempter", Screwtape and his "amateur tempter" nephew, Wormwood to disclose the Christian people's moral and spiritual blunders is unquestionably a product of a genius' thinking.

This is one of those laborious reads worth one's time. Through Lewis's "somewhat" satirical tone, I was able to reflect my own flawed faith. He tackled each of the human frailties which temptation can easily and deliberately pierce through thus reminding the readers what part of their morality they are bound to augment.

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Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl

Anne Frank: The Diary of a Young Girl by Anne Frank

My rating: 1 of 5 stars

3 reasons why 1 star is enough:

1. I couldn't relate to what she was saying - "puppy love" with Peter: been there (no, not with Peter), menstruation: like that is so interesting at my age! xD

2. She kept on ranting about how much she detested the people she was with inside the Annex, especially her mother and Mrs. van Daan. It's annoying. Sorry, Anne. I have nothing against you but you kept on going over and over with your feelings of animosity that it no longer was amusing.

3. If it's about the Holocaust you're after, better read another book. The only thing that's interesting about this book is that it's written by someone who actually experienced it.

Had I known that what I wanted to read was at the end of the book, I should have just read the last part. Yes the last part which actually is not a part of her diary. xD

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The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

The Very Hungry Caterpillar by Eric Carle

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I love such kind of books which imparts big chunks of lessons through economical use of words.

The lesson I learned here is, never "feed" yourself with things that you are not suppose to "take in", for they will never satisfy you. Caterpillars are not suppose to eat oranges or apples or plums much less ice cream or Swiss cheese! So when he consumed each he still felt hungry and eventually felt sick. But when he ate a leaf, he felt better, became fat and in the end turned into a beautiful butterfly.

Feed on the things that you must; do what you were born to do and in the long run you will be what you were born to be.

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The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

The Sun Also Rises by Ernest Hemingway

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


1 star: Love story is of the maverick kind. It is unlike the stories I usually read in other books with either a happy or a tragic ending. The ending has the sad tone of despondency which as I've said is not the typical conclusion of most love stories in books but very often in real life.

+1 star: The settings were in two of my favorite countries, Spain and France. :D Bullfighting, though part of Spanish culture, doesn't quite interest me. It is a morbid form of entertainment. And these toreros, they are either stupidly brave or bravely stupid to risk being gored by the bull. Either way, I still love Spain. ^^

+1 star: There was so much drinking that I, myself felt "tight" in the end. xD I say, only a good book can affect me this much. :D



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The Stranger by Albert Camus

The Stranger by Albert Camus

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


Seriously, after reading the last lines, a quiver shot through me. And this only happens when I am reading or have read an exceptionally good book.

Albert Camus's The Stranger, supports the philosophy I hold that one is solely responsible for his/her own life; that no one has the right to dictate another what or what not he/she should feel or do. Meursault's indifference to the events that occurred in his life - his mother's death, his killing of an Arab and his own death - I could relate to somehow, as at some point,I have become indifferent to the things that happened in my life, which I do not like to discuss.

The part where his case, id est his killing of an Arab, was tried, where the prosecutor vehemently imputed him with his guilt by turning his and the witnesses' words against him, that particular part made me realize that whether or not you tell the truth - as what Meursault did in the story - other people, more powerfully convincing people, will do anything to bring you to bay. So, when asked whether he would like to say anything, he just said, "No". I interpreted his refusal as his submission to life's futility.

With this book, I have come to know why my father encourages me to read philosophical novels. The depth of the themes presented is overwhelming that it propels the transformation of your thoughts, your beliefs and your life itself.



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Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


In every bit of honest writing in the world there is a base theme. Try to understand men, if you understand each other you will be kind to each other. Knowing a man well never leads to hate and nearly always leads to love. There are shorter means, many of them. There is writing promoting social change, writing punishing injustice, writing in celebration of heroism, but always that base theme. Try to understand each other.

— John Steinbeck in his 1938 journal entry

In John Steinbeck's book, Of Mice and Men,he was able to clearly mirror how it is to truly understand a person through George's character. Lennie, a physically able but mentally challenged man, had been George's companion for a long time. Lennie caused him such big troubles but he was still able to tolerate him, because to him, Lennie was like a brother. The kind of friendship between George and Lennie is very rare nowadays. It is not often that one can find a person who can understand and who is willing to sacrifice for you.

The ending of the book was a tearjerker. I could almost feel the weight of the gun in George's hand and the emotional burden he had to carry when he shot Lennie. He had no other choice but to pull the trigger because he cannot bear the thought of other people killing Lennie out of mere cruelty and spite. But George did it out of brotherly love.

This book is genuinely human.



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