Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom

This book is why I started this book-review blog. My Tita Mary Ann recommended me this book and told me to start a book-review site. I should have bought this book a long time ago when she advised me to read it, now I'm making up for lost time.

This is the story of Morrie Schwartz. He was a real dying person, he is a real person. Through his old student Mitch(the author), they had a chance to do this one last thing, one last project. Their final thesis.

If you really want a life, a real one where you know you are living it, then you should read this book because this is the ultimate manual there is. It made me realize a lot of things and it brought me closer in doing what I now know is most essential.

Morrie was a person, he is dead now but he will always be remembered.

His words are immortal. He is immortal.

The Amanda Project by Amanda Valentino & Melissa Kantor

For weeks I have been sticking to mainstream bestsellers to tried and tested magnificent authors, one day I decided to just pick a random book from the shelves when me and my Papa went to the mall.

Did "The Amanda Project" deliver?

Let's save the thing I think of is the best here(my opinion, hehehe) for last.

The narrator in this book is Callie. The book revolves around Amanda Valentino(obviously) and her sudden MIA-ing. Callie, Nia and Hal were sent to the Vice Principal's office. Their Vice Principal assumed that they know something or are involved in Amanda's absence.

Callie had her own share of personal problems in the story. And guess what? She is one of the most popular girls in Endeavor High, they call themselves the I-Girls because their names supposedly all end in the letter "I". All but one, Callie.

Though their differences clash, Callie, Nia and Hal work together, breaking rules in the hopes of finding Amanda.

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First off, I'm annoyed that they had the nerve to split this book into several series. That is totally scoring one on the business side in the book market. The price wasn't worth it. I bought it for 339pesos and finished it within 30hours tops. It is somewhat thin, having only 288pages!

I didn't even bother to check the website. We, readers, apparently can help finish the mystery that is Amanda Valentino.

Don't get me wrong, I LOVE AMANDA! She is smart, carefree, confident, crazy, spontaneous, kind, friendly, every good thing a teenager should be! I love her mystery. I love her compassion and empathy for others. But as good a character they made out of Amanda, it was as bad and cliche-d they made of Callie. Her personal problems were a hit for me, but the popular girl thing is getting old.

I know the goal is to make the readers understand that whatever stereotype you're labeled into, it's OK to get together with as much kind of people you can. But authors should understand that the "belong-to-the-popular-group" thing is honestly, definitely getting old. It's misleading, they create this misconception that the popular cliques in a HS atmosphere are "initially" the best group you can get in. When in reality, there are A LOT OF UNIQUE and INTERESTING personalities in a High School besides the filthy rich brat packs.

There's SO many characters authors can play with, they shouldn't be scared of the idea that it's not gonna sell because seriously, weird, arcane and esoteric is the new fad.

Did it deliver? No, the book did not.

But Amanda, she definitely did!

P.S. I "just might" read the sequels for the sake of maybe it gets better AND that for my love for Amanda.

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green & David Levithan

After having to read TFIOS(The Fault in Our Stars) and Looking for Alaska, I've decided to get every John Green book there is in this universe. Plus, I'm also an avid David Levithan fanatic. I have two of his books and watched the movie, Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist on HBO. Does that make me a fanatic already or just a shallow fanatic? Either ways, I support David Levithan!

So when I discovered that they made this baby down here happen, I just went nuts and the only cure is to have this book.

The summary of this book I can give is just as far as the covers of this book go.

Two Will Graysons meet! The story revolves around both the Will Graysons and especially the fabulous Tiny Cooper.

I'm sorry but that's all I have in my summarizing powers and honestly, that's all you need to know because if you want to "get" the essence of a book, you should read it. If you want to know the ending, you should read it. Never have I ever encountered a book like Will Grayson, Will Grayson. It may seem like a book you'd get dragged to in reading but in reality, it deserves every attention.

I had myself laughing hard(not even the kind of laugh you do in your mind but the actual verb), not even thinking about the circumstances, that it's just a man-made story, that it's artificial. For me, it was all real. Every moment is worthwhile.

I'm glad I have this book. I loved every word and every letter. Books are suppose to inspire you and make you love your life and the honesty of it. That is what this did to me.

Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

The only reason I got myself to spend money and spend time on this book is curiosity. It was one of the top ten bestseller's list on National Bookstore and any other bookstores here in the Philippines. Probably because the author herself did a tour here in our country but also maybe she's good, let's be generous on compliments.

I'm not saying she's not good, in fact i'm planning to buy her other titles which are Delirium and Pandemonium. I'm just not yet convinced, that's all.

Shall we begin?

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The story is about Samantha Kingston. She has 3 best friends: Lindsay, Ally and Elody. The four of them are the most popular girls in school. In this book, Samantha dies. And she gets to relive the same day of her death for a whole week. She's been given a chance to right the wrongs in her life, the inevitable suicide of Juliet Sykes(the girl they've always been bullying), the true colors of her boyfriend(Rob) and Kent McFuller, her longtime childhood playmate/best friend.

The book is really easy to read, you really don't need a dictionary because the words used are very simple and light. I guess the target of this book are the preteen/tween and adolescent girls who don't read that much, based on the book's theme. I'm pretty sure boys would get a little bored or weirded-out if they try to read this.

The only thing that keeps you going-on on reading is the same reason I bought this book: curiosity. I found it bland and typical but there's something about it that's so consuming, so in-the-moment feel. I loved the quotable quotes too. Jay Asher was right when he said: "You'll have no choice but to tear through this book!"

Until now I'm still curious about some specific things in the book, did the last day meant to be the very reality of her death or those 7 days of rewind was just some sort of her closure to life?

Nonetheless, good read!

North of Everything by Craig Crist-Evans

I bought this at a BOOKSALE in a mall where we frequent. It cost me 40pesos. Great find, yes!

Told in free verse poems, this book is about a boy and his family moving to Montpelier, Vermont from Miami, Florida. The story revolves around the changes that was occurring every change of season. From having a new baby sister to learning about his father having cancer, the coming of his death and their adjustment to the situation.

Though the story might be that simple and cliched, it was written in a way where the reader will have sincere sympathy throughout this boy's narration. You don't even know his name and the poems are somewhat simple and not written in a way where it will require you time to decode. I read it for less than 20 minutes and I'm very happy, a quick escape to the reality of other people, drama to the simplest manner of narration. I am not disappointed.

"Once in a while--rarely--does one close a book, sigh, and feel goose bumps. This happens in North of Everything--a touching, heart-rending story that adds to Craig Crist-Evan's great and growing contributions to young adult literature." --Lee Bennett Hopkins

Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs

From the looks of this book, you'll know it's something different. Beyond what's already out there. They said you can't judge a book by its cover but with this one you can. Even the publishing house of this book which is, QUIRK BOOKS, Philadelphia... gives you a hint. Well the book's really quirky, to tell you honestly.

Let's begin.

This book starts with a prologue where our main character Jacob Portman narrates his life and his grandfather's life. Upon the death of his grandfather, he convinced his parents to let him travel to a Welsh island where his grandfather had been as a child, in care of Miss Peregrine.

He went to the island with his father who is an aspiring ornithologist. During their 2-week stay, Jacob and his father had different businesses to do in the island, Jacob in search of the house Miss Peregrine runs while his dad is occupied with the birds of Cairnhorn(island's name) so they only see each other either at breakfast or at dinner.

Jacob almost didn't find the whereabouts of Miss Peregrine, until Emma, the used-to-be paramour/sweetheart of his dead grandfather, showed up.

And the rest of the story? Well, it was worth my time reading it. I'm sure it's worth yours too. *wink*

This novel is gripping, Mr. Ransom had me ransomed 'til the very end of it. Filled with photographs that are just as hauntingly captivating as well, not to mention its undeniable history because they happen to be REAL AUTHENTIC VINTAGE PHOTOGRAPHS from which the author had selected from collections.

This book... it was adventure to the very last photograph.

Looking for Alaska by John Green

To tell you honestly, this book is quite depressing. I'm telling you this not of the intention of stealing the experience away from you but to tell you bluntly, you're going to want the sadness as much as the whole story-line, characters and John's witty and insightful narration. This book is the holy grail of YA novels, so far. This and The Fault in Our Stars, also by John Green.

(Disclaimer: I have read quite a few, I'm a teenager, I love all the YA novels and I understand some may not fully agree when I say it's the holy grail of YA novels, but really, IT IS.)

Here's how the story goes:

Miles Halter went to Culver Creek Boarding School in search for a life that's something more, something more than he was. He was looking for his "Great Perhaps" (he is somewhat obsessed with reading biography books and Last Words before the death of a certain famous person, and so, Great Perhaps is a Last Word that inspired him to pursue Culver Creek).

Upon his arrival, he met Chip Martin(his roommate). Miles immediately became a part of Chip's posse and they call him Pudge(for whatever reason I don't quite understand, but okay). And Chip is called the Colonel (because he's sort of the tactical leader of the group).

Pudge met Alaska Young. 

(because I'm selfish and I already told you that the book is depressing but the kind of depressing you want to feel, I'm not going to further describe Alaska here, the book will tell you all about her)

The Colonel, Takumi(a foreign student of Japanese decent) and Alaska have been long-time close friends in Culver Creek. They've been doing pranks every year, something to spice up the boring atmosphere of the said boarding school. Since Pudge is one of them, they let him in on everything including these epic epic pranks. That's when Pudge realized that his Great Perhaps has begun.

Something terrible happened and that's the "after" part of the book. That part is the depressing part, like they say, you take the good with the bad. That's what I did and with it, I found wisdom you can never really get anywhere else unless you read the book or experience the same thing in your life. 

The "before" is light, happy and amazing. It's like John Green gave you a set of the coolest friends you will ever meet then he takes them away.

I love this book so much and this review might not give enough justice to it, forgive me. I just finished reading it last night and the emotions are overwhelming. You get sucked in right to their world as soon as you start reading, even after reading it, you can't help but go back there a few more times. I feel bad I didn't get this book when I first saw it back when I was just 13 y/o. I had the misconception that it was about two teenage hobos who wants to go to Alaska. I was wrong. I was wrong like when I thought of life like it's just about living and breathing.

Life is choosing the Labyrinth, even when it blows. It's about dealing with the suffering. It's about surviving it every second of the day. It's seeing past through it and focusing on just living it and staying free of all the personal issues we cage inside.