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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For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

For Whom the Bell Tolls by Ernest Hemingway

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


You know you’ve devoured a good book when after going over the last line you feel somewhat ethereal - an unworldly feeling of satisfaction. Well, that is what I felt with this book.

This is my first of Hemingway and my second war novel (first was Vonnegut’s Slaughterhouse Five).
When I picked it up from my book rack, I told myself “Hmmm.. Hemingway. This must be a difficult book”, but I was proven wrong. Hemingway’s stylistic choice of words, the density and intelligent distribution of his sentences, his judicious use of figures of speech made every part of the book graspable – the scenes, vivid… the sound, almost audible.

His use of simple Shakespearean language and Spanish profanity, I found really amusing. The former gave added classic tone to the book and the latter, a little jest. But what I really loved about this book was the genuine emotionalism it evoked. There were parts that made me laugh; parts that stirred anger and hate; parts that provoked compassion and fondness and profound pathos for each character that had my eyes pour out lacrimal fluid. There were even times when I had to pause flicking its pages, stare at some random things without even seeing them and smile because of how succinctly beautiful the words were written.

I can give this book a multitude of 5 stars. And if you will ask me how much I love this book, I’ll say, “A bushel and a peck and some in a gourd” :)




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Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Memories of My Melancholy Whores by Gabriel García Márquez

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


At face value, you will think this is a frivolous read - a 90-year-old man who wants to get laid. But no, there is more to this book than just sex.

This 90-year-old man whose name I forgot, has had innumerable sexual escapades devoid of love. So not once has he taken vows with any woman. He never felt how it was to love and be loved back. Until one day, through the complicity of the owner of a whorehouse whose name I also forgot, he was able to find love in a 14-year-old girl. You may cringe at the thought of them making love, but uhh.. no, they didn't. All the girl did when they were together was to lie in bed and just sleep. Told you this is silly read. :D But anyway, the lesson here is, when it comes to love, age doesn't matter (sounds too cliche, eh?). Whether you're young or old, love will come at your doorstep. It happens to everybody. And in the case of the perverted protagonist whose name I still cannot recall, it's never too late to fall in love. :)

The Prince by Niccolo Machiavelli

The Prince by Niccolò Machiavelli

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I grew up having a violent distaste for politics so it was rather surprising when out of the thousands of books I could choose from my ebook reader, I picked this one. Not surprisingly though, The Prince is absolutely a genius piece of literary work. I greatly admire Machiavelli's un-embellished form of writing; his matter-of-fact tone that is the primary reason of my liking it.

Chiefly intended as a guide to princedom, the contents of this book can be of great use to anyone who seeks or holds power. Therefore, I strongly recommend this to the current Philippine president, Noynoy Aquino. And I suggest that he digests well chapter 23 from which I quote this line "If he listens to a multitude of advisers, the Prince who is not wise will never have consistent counsels, nor will he know of himself how to reconcile them" :)



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Fool by Christopher Moore

Fool by Christopher Moore

My rating: 5 of 5 stars


"This is a bawdy tale. Herein you will find gratuitous shagging, murder, spanking, maiming, treason, and heretofore unexplored heights of vulgarity and profanity, as well as non-traditional grammar, split infinitives, and the odd wank."

Well, there you go. That sums it all. If you are in for a laugh, I recommend you flick through this book. :D

The Fool is the first book ever to make me laugh so hard. It's retelling of William Shakespeare's King Lear from the point of view of the fool. I have never read Shakespeare's King Lear and I don't plan to.

I remember the first part where I laughed loudly, here it is:

A knife thumped into the table by my hand. "Back, Fool, " said Bubble, the head cook. "That's the king's lunch and I'll have your balls before I'll let you at it. "  "My balls are yours for the asking, milady, " said I. "Would you have them on a trencher, or shall I serve them in a bowl of cream, like peaches?" xDDD





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Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus by John Gray

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: Improving Communication by John Gray

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


The title says it all: MEN ARE FROM A DIFFERENT PLANET and that's why they are undecipherable. Mind you, they think exactly the same about us. :)

I read this book not only to understand my boyfriend but also to understand myself and I could say I did not get too much from it. Maybe I will try to read this again when I am actually inside a marriage. This could probably be a savior then.



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