Poetic Isolation

Before social media and binge-watching anime series, I have books as my full-time companions when I was in high school. I remember reading Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew books before indulging myself with classic novels. Back then, I couldn't afford to buy books that I'd love to read so I used to borrow from my friends. If my friends don't have them, I visit the library where I often stay during lunch breaks. It stayed the same even when I went through college where I used to binge-read Agatha Christie's books while waiting for my next classes.

Reading for me eventually became more than just an act of learning and entertaining. It became sort of a therapy. Up until this moment, books, for me, are more than just mere physical objects. They are my friends, my family, and therapists that I never had. I love how reading transports me to somewhere I've never been, and that place doesn't need to be perfect or grand. It's a place of refuge and personal solace.

I'm trying to lessen my use of social media as I find some parts of it toxic and unnecessary to my whole well-being. That explains why I haven't blog regularly last month. I won't dwell so much on it. Here are some of my literary pals that are very dear to me and I'd like you to meet them.

1. One Hundred Years of Solitude by Gabriel Garcia Marquez 💐
“and both of them remained floating in an empty universe where the only everyday & eternal reality was love...”

Set in a fictional town of Macondo, this book has the power to take you to heighten your senses. The book revolves around the family of Buendía. This makes me feel that we belong to the same neighborhood and that I knew the family well. I feel so much about this book. The story is beyond beautiful, I couldn't even think straight of the proper words to scribe about the book. This is definitely my favorite book, and even though I may not place myself in a similar context with Senyor Marquez, I'd like to believe that my heart was able to translate the beauty that his book tries to embody. It tells a brilliant tale of triumph, pain, and love even in its most peculiar state. Without a doubt, this masterpiece by Marquez must be read.

2. Rage of Angels by Sidney Sheldon 💐
“Being poor is only romantic in books.”

This is the very first novel that I've ever read. I first got my hand on this book when I was in 9th grade. Back then, I wasn't really into reading. I thought reading is just one hell of a time-consuming activity, and I wouldn't gain much from doing it. This book changed the way how I looked at reading. Right after I finished the book in three days, I started craving for more books and it didn't stop there. That's when I realized how wholesome reading can be and how it helps heal a mental and an emotional wound. I must credit this book for making me an avid reader and a lover of literature.

Trivia:

I didn't own the book that I read at that time. It was owned by my brother and he didn't really own it either. My brother found the book somewhere while he was in Siquijor island. We never know who originally owns it as it didn't have any written details about its owner. We no longer have the book in hand right now. I lost it when a classmate in high school borrowed and never return it.

Not knowing where the book is now, I hope it's in good hands and that somewhere, someone's reading it. Perhaps the book meant not to stay, but to visit different readers.

3. The Catcher in the Rye by J.D Salinger 💐

“Make sure you marry someone who laughs at the same things you do.”

This tale takes me back to my teenage years wherein life isn't entirely bad, but it ain't entirely good either. Salinger gives a good story of an American teen in the shape of Holden Caulfield. The book is a testament that young adults also have a very powerful voice, just as they have, and will always have, a great place in this world. If you haven't read this book yet, well, it wouldn't be so bad to recall your teenage years as you flip through the pages of this book.

4.Smaller and Smaller Circles by F.H Bacatan 💐
“My life can't just be interesting. It has to be meaningful.”

I've read a number of Filipino literature, but most of them are poetry and short fiction. Shame on me because this book by F.H Bacatan is the sole novel written by a Filipino that I've ever finished as of this moment. Of course, I do know about the great works of our national hero Dr. Jose Rizal, but I've only known about them by reading their summaries. ( I love Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. Though, I find the latter much closer to my heart.)

I just found out that this novel by Bacatan was published a DECADE ago, and that blew my mind. Before I had the knowledge about its publication details, I really thought that the book was made recently. I was guessing two or three years ago because the book tackles an issue that is still very much relevant and timely for our nation these days. That was the best thing about the book with its plot as the second. That also made me really sad because it just proves that our country is still facing similar problems ten years ago. I hope we'll solve the issues that imprison us as a nation, sooner than the next decade to come. As Father Gus would say, "Dear God I hope so". The fact that this is the first Filipino crime novel makes it a must-read for every Filipino.

5. The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint Exupery 💐
“And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye.”

This book brings out the child in me and makes me feel much braver as an adult. This is one of the books that give me faith to keep going and that the world is a beautiful place. Monsieur de Saint Exupery's novella reminds me of what makes life essential and worth living - friendship, love, and the beauty of solitude.

6. Women, Work and the Art of Savoir Faire by Mireille Guiliano 💐
"I believe women are better than men at the use of "we" rather than "I". Being humble is a characteristic of a good leader."

I'm not into self-help books. I haven't read one until I've picked Mireille Guillano's Women, Work, and the Art of Savoire Faire. I remember just letting the time pass in an indie bookstore and after reading a couple of pages from the book, I knew by then that I have to purchase the book. I am always glad that I did. Guillano's book taught me so much about acing life by drawing interesting and insightful stories from her personal experience. This book is practical, helpful, and fun to read. Savoir Faire, defined as the knowledge of the right course of action: knowing what to do and say and when and how to do so, which was emphasized by Guillano tells me so many tips on how to succeed in work and in life. It talks about putting a balance between life and work, the art of coping, and job interview tips! With just 12 chapters, the learning inside the book is beyond worth it, making it a must-read for every woman.

7. Eat Pray Love by Elizabeth Gilbert 💐

“It's still two human beings trying to get along, so it's going to be complicated. And love is always complicated. But humans must try to love each other, darling. We must get our hearts broken sometimes. This is a good sign, having a broken heart. It means we have tried for something.”

Among her other widely-acclaimed books, this novel by Elizabeth Gilbert has the power to soothe emotional wounds. Eat Pray Love is a fascinating novel with an interesting main character who is as real as any of us. Her healing journey takes to three of the most beautiful destinations in the world- Indonesia, India, and Italy. I would say that reading the book is very much similar to eating your favorite comfort food. The book will make you feel mentally full and emotionally great.

8. Invisible Monsters by Chuck Palahniuk💐
“The one you love and the one who loves you are never, ever the same person.”

I just finished another book by Mr. Palahniuk and all I can say is that his individual body of work is always surprising. It is not something for the faint-hearted. His books are for the non-conformist and hard-core pursuant to a great adventure. Invisible Monsters is wild, gritty, raw, and breathtakingly crazy. I love how it captures what most of the human species would love to share only in silence. This book is that one friend that would slap you the truth but at the same time give you a heart attack for laughing.

9. The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde 💐
“Some things are more precious because they don't last long.”

I've always thought that the book version is always better than its film version. I often agree with such notion, but I left it when I watched the film version of Oscar Wilde's The Picture of Dorian Gray with Ben Barnes as its leading cast. Back then, I didn't know that it was based on an 18th-century novel. Reading more about the book prompted me to look for it. I had a really strong desire to read it, but at that time, I didn't have the cash to buy a copy of the book because I was still studying. Perhaps with the power of the universe, such desire turned into reality. One day while I was checking into a secondhand bookshop in the metro, I was just window shopping. I didn't plan to buy any book because I didn't have so much cash with me. The book is the only thing I have in mind while running my fingers through books before me. After a few minutes, voila, I found an original and unabridged copy of the book. The best thing is that is so affordable it cost way less than a dollar. At that moment, I feel like the book was really for me. I don't know why but there's some unknown magic in it that is also in the provocative and controversial work of Mr. Wilde.

P.S I'm waiting for another magical moment right now.

10. The Spy by Paulo Coelho 💐
“Love is an act of faith & its face should always be covered in mystery. Every moment should be lived with feeling & emotion because if we try to decipher it & understand it, the magic disappears.”

I had and finished reading this book last year. The book was given to me as a gift by some of my valued students in the school publication that I am managing. I have heard and read of Mr. Coelho's work several years before, and I have to admit, I was never fascinated by his previous works. I'm not saying that they're not good. It's just a matter of personal preference. The Spy, however, is a very special book for me. The book follows the life of Mata Hari and her story made me very proud of myself as a woman. It inspires me a lot especially in going beyond my limitations and get to my heart's desires.

Special Mention: 💐

One of the few books that I have recently read is Kevin Kwan's Crazy Rich Asians and China Rich Girlfriend. Both are part of a trilogy but I haven't got my hands on the last of its installment which is Rich People Problems. (I need to get rich asap to be able to buy it because it costs much more than the other two.)

Even though I don't consider the books as favorites, I love the fun and fresh tale that Mr. Kwan showcased in his trilogy. It did make me laugh a lot as its drama and tea are very entertaining.

The books also gave me a glimpse of the lives of the richest Asians and if there's one thing that I've realized after reading the books, it's that even if you're the richest person in the world, you still have to have problems as long as you're human. Lol

Currently Reading: 💐

It's summer in the Philippines right now so I got to enjoy a short break. A lovely time to learn something new, enjoy the beach, and read good books. I just finished reading Chuck Palahniuk's Rant last week and decided to submit myself to a challenge - to finally finish Haruki Murakami's IQ84. I had the book on my shelf for a couple of years already and hmmmm I haven't finished reading it yet. I know, shame on me. So now I gotta go pick up the pages where I left it and continue my literary quest! I really hope I'll get to finish reading the whole book this summer. Wish me luck!

Have you read any of my favorite books above? Let me know your thoughts in the comments section and share to me your favorite book. I might as well put it on my reading list.

love lots,

Tin

The first day of March signals an ending and a new beginning. A few more winks from now and we will soon enjoy another summer season. Though I don't consider a beach bum, my soul believes that there are a few things in life that only the sea can satisfy.

I've been aching for a bright and quiet day for some time already, and I've been lucky that such aching has been put to an end last week. Last week, Valerie asked me to spend the Sunday with her at the beach. Though the weekend has been one of the busiest days for me, going to a beach is too good of an idea to reject. Plus, Valerie is one of the coolest people I know in college so I know that a Sunday spent with her wouldn't hurt.

At approximately 9am in the morning, we head to Badian which is located in the Southern part of Cebu. We planned to get ourselves to Lambug Beach and to a spring. Since Badian is far from the city proper, we decided to stay at the beach and ditch the idea of visiting the spring. Nonetheless, we had a great day, and what's a great day without some photos? lol With that in mind, we decided to take a lot of artsy fartsy beach photos. We did a vintage-inspired photoshoot a few years ago for a school project and the camera loves her wild until today. Here are some shots of Valerie that I took during our trip, and I hope you'll like them. Took some inspirations for the adjustments in the photos and added some of my favorite quotes as descriptions.

“Ten years from now, make sure you can say that you chose your life, you didn’t settle for it.”

- Mandy Hale, The Single Woman

“We all have things we like about ourselves and things we hate, things we’re so glad happened to us and things we wish never have. But the thing is, we were shaped by both the good and the bad so maybe what you like most about yourself wouldn’t exist without some of the bad things that shaped you.”

“If you have been brutally broken, but still have the courage to be gentle to others then you deserve a love deeper than the ocean itself.”

- Nikita Gill

“Being optimistic really has nothing to do with happiness, it’s just taking whatever life chucks at you and not letting it break you down.”

“You’ve felt it, haven’t you? Those feelings that seem to get so big in your chest, like something is so beautiful it aches?”

- Heather Anastasiu

“One life on this earth is all that we get, whether it is enough or not enough, and the obvious conclusion would seem to be that at the very least we are fools if we do not live it as fully and bravely and beautifully as we can.”

~ Frederick Buechner

On the photographs: Valerie Jo Escrupolo

Photos by: Yours truly

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