2010 Wrap Up

Just tidbits about my 2010 book blogging experience.

Started book blogging:  February 2, 2010
Number of books reviewed:  126
Number of GFC followers:  212 ... lost a few  :(
Number of blogs I follow:  193
Meme I created:  Pondering the Scriptures Sunday
Awards I received:   Cherry on Top, Honest Scrap, Life is Good, One Lovely Blog, and The Versatile Blogger
Books I won:  Across the Universe, Aphrodite the Beauty, Courage in Patience, Ever, Exit the Actress, Kaleidoscope, Testimony, The Cake Boss (haven’t received yet), The Second Half of Life (ebook), The Wishing Hour (ebook), and Why Genesis Still Matters.
Other winnings: Bree Despain Lost Saint nail polish and bookmarks, CSN $35, and ForYourNose $25.
Some favorite books:  Brava Valentine, Flipped, For One More Day, Harry Potter #1 (haven't read the rest yet), Saving CeeCee Honeycutt, Standing for Something, The Giver series, The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society, The Help, The Hunger Games series, and The Wednesday Letters.
Some favorite authors:  Mitch Albom, Richard Paul Evans, Gordon B. Hinckley, Og Mandino, Haruki Murakami, J.K. Rowling, Kathryn Stockett, and Nicholas Sparks.
Misc.:  I don't understand poetry; initially avoided YA books but then I ended up liking that genre; also initially avoided audio books but its convenience worked for me (I could listen while doing chores); the reading and book blogging got so overwhelming and it ended up burning me out and putting me in a reading rut; being among cyber book lovers gave me a sense of belonging; joined Goodreads in July 2010 and love it because it has given me an avenue to meet people from back home (the Philippines); I co-initiated a challenge to read The Holy Bible ... one book per week which we, the Filipino group in Goodreads, started in October 2010.

Books I reviewed in December 2010 (my reading rut month!!)

My Christmas present to myself.  :D

Thank you for allowing me to be part of your reading world. 

May you find something here that might interest you.

Take great care!!

Belated Awards

I'm in the process of wrapping up my 2010 blog stuff and this one is one of them!  Forgive me for the late reply on these awards.

Basically the way this works is to answer questions/survey and then pass the award to other bloggers as well.

Awarded to me in October by Cleo of Booklopedia.

 Awarded to me in September by Book Quoter

Awarded to me in October by JazzRJ at About Books Blog

Question for Cherry on Top Award:
"If I had the chance to go back and change one thing in my life, would I, and what would it be?"
*I would like to go back and change one thing in my life, but I don't want to tell you what it is ...too personal.

The Honest Scrap and The Versatile Blogger Awards ask to list 10 things about yourself:
1.  I have a short fuse ...especially during "the curse".
2.  Family/relatives loves the way my caldereta (Filipino tomato-saucy beef stew) turns out.
3.  My husband only wanted 1 kid but we ended up with 3!
4.  I don't like brussel sprouts!
5.  I get a big smile when I see my kids waddle-run.
6.  I have the driest skin in the world!
7.  My husband and I met on a blind date.
8.  I loved school, I just didn't like tests!!
9.  I used to be artistic once. :)
10.  I can now call myself a bookworm... considering before Feb. of this year, I read 1-2 books every other year or so!

I pass these awards to:
All my followers!  Seriously, book blogging is hard work!  So, all of you deserve a pat-on-the-back.  I certainly appreciate you!!

A special thank you to Cleo, Book Quoter, and Jazz for these awards.  You made my day!!

"Kate's Choice" +

by Louisa May Alcott, edited by Stephen W. Hines, YR, 2001, 125p, rating=4

"Parents and all who have influence with children will welcome the opportunity to share these three gentle, enchanting tales of moral influence and adventure.  Each story is populated by boys and girls who learn some basic life values that families are still longing for today:  belonging, simplicity, sharing, happy relationships between generations, and the adventure of growing up." (front flap)

Yes, this is actually a compilation of 3 short stories:  Kate's Choice, What Love Can Do, and Gwen's Adventure in the Snow.  A nice find at the library today.  The stories were heartwarming, clean, and would make a wonderful addition to the library of Alcott fans.  Basically Christmas themed so a great stocking stuffers for this holiday season.

Kate's Choice was about a teenage girl from England venturing to fulfill her father's dying wish.  Kate must choose which among her four sets of aunts and uncles in America she will live with.  All are anxious to have her but with varying motivation.  Kate's choice was an incredible Christmas treat!

What Love Can Do was about two young poverty stricken sisters sharing their Christmas wishes.  The right person overhears their conversation and come Christmas morning ...

Gwen's Adventure in the Snow was a story about cousins out for a sleigh ride then due to a bad blizzard, they end up stuck at a family summer home making due with what they can find.  Quite a courageous bunch of kids!

A charming book, though I'm curious to see the original, unedited version.

Cookies for Santa

...and celery sticks for Rudolf (more carrots and celery sticks for the rest of the gang at the front yard).

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE!!



"How To Be Good"

by Nick Hornby, AF, 2001, 305p, rating=3

A stale marriage of 20 years in Katie's eyes somewhat justified her to commit adultery and consequently asks David for a divorce.  David takes it in stride not believing her because we're talking about Katie here, the doctor, the good one.  David learns that the affair was true and stumbles into GoodNews, a self-proclaim homeless guru, who miraculously heals David's back pain and gave him a new outlook in life as well.  This leads David to develop convictions to help the needy and begins by taking in GoodNews and soon teams up with him to further the good cause.  This new attitude becomes insufferable for Katie and impacts their children as well.  How do you live with a pious man now?  Does this mean they've gone religious and will have to go to church?  Is it really too much to ask to take in homeless kids and rally the neighbors to do the same?  How much goodness can the family take?  Which David was better, the old or the new?  Katie had to figure it all out for her sanity.

Is this a self-help book?  No, it's a novel.  Does it really give you a sense of how to be good?  Yes, by thinking outside the box.  Can one apply those answers?  Sure, but will people be willing to do it is debatable and that's part of the beauty of this book.  Mr. Hornby wrote this book in sarcastic, political, and philosophical language that gets the reader thinking about goodness.  Talking the talk and walking the walk are the ideals but they sure cause havoc!  So we're left to wonder if it's convenient to fit charity into our lives.

The writing style was engaging, witty, and intuitive.  It wasn't preachy but it did have moments of too much sarcasm and overly indulged in descriptive fill-ins.  Also not a wonderful portrait of marriage but then again marriage can be a monstrous loopy roller coaster of a ride!  But that's fun, right?  Especially if the two are in it together for the long hull.

"A Christmas Carol"

by Charles Dickens, AF, 1999, c1843, 122p, rating=4

"Ebenezer Scrooge is not a nice man.  He is mean to his employees and mean to his family.  He doesn't understand Christmas at all.  Then three ghosts appear, haunting Scrooge.  One shows him Christmas past.  One shows him Christmas present.  And one shows him an eerie Christmas future.  Now Scrooge has one last chance... before it's too late." (from back of book)

Chances are great that one is already familiar with the story before reading the book.  This is so because there are many movie adaptations.  Come Christmastime at least one of them is floating around the many hundreds of TV channels.  A world wide spoiler!  Yet, there's nothing like reading the book to get the original perspective.  Well, the adaptations pretty much got it right (and over time, spiced it up!) so there wasn't much of an element of surprise.  In that regard, it took away some delight.  Still the message is timeless, comforting, and worthy of spreading.

The ending done me in!  I am such a big sucker for a 180 degree turn of attitude stories for the good end.  I felt the renewed joy with Mr. Scrooge.  I really was smiling at the turn of events. 

Like the title imply, a Christmas song.  This was a song of being happy and spreading cheer.

Thank you Shirley for gifting me this book for Christmas.  What a sweet treat!

Pondering the Scriptures #9

Wow, Christmas is fast approaching!  So today let's take a look at angelic ministrants heralding the birth of Jesus in Bethlehem ... the reason for the season.

Luke 2:8-16

"And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them:  and they were sore afraid.  And the angel said unto them, Fear not:  for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.  For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord.  And this shall be a sign unto you:  Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.  And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.  And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the sheperds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us.  And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger."

Happy birthday Brother Jesus!

Have a very Merry Christmas my dear friends.