Reading Schmeading

When I was a kid, I can't forget the times when my kuya would go crazy in a bookstore. He'd get all the books he wanted to read and my parents without question would buy it for him. When I asked them why my kuya could get any book he wanted without any whining, pleading and weeping, my parents simply said: "we shouldn't be frugal with books. (Hindi dapat tinitipid ang libro) If you want to read, then we'll buy you all the books you want to read." Hence, my brother's book collection. Yup, collection. He has hundreds! And he read everyone of them at least twice.

Me? Well, I tried to read when I was a kid. When my brother was in the Hardy Boys phase, I was in my Nancy Drew's. But while my Kuya levelled up in the books he read after, I.. Well, I kinda levelled up also. Levelled up in laughing aloud while reading archie comics lying around the house.

Because of a report I had to do in high school though, my brother lent me one his books: Congo by Michael Crichton. I didn't think I was gonna finish it cause of you know, the "many pages with small font." But I did. And much to my surprise, I loved it. My kuya started encouraging me to read more by giving me other books to read since that time.. more Michael Crichton, Sydney Sheldon, John Grisham, Tom Clancy..

And I loved everyone of them. However, I realized that though they were very very good reads, they're so um, "mascunily?" So I started to collect my own sets of books.. Starting with good ol' Paolo Coelho. Kuya abhors it though and doesn't get what I like him and his books. Hehe!

So anyway, in recognition to our family, who buys books because bawal tipidin ang mga libro, I was set to finally finish reading a dozen books. What my brother would probably finish in 2 months, I did in 12. What?? I've been sooo busy! Haha! Oh well.

Without further ado, below are the 12 books I read the past 12 months, in order of likeability (for me, cause you know it is my list). I won't bore you with summaries of each, cause this wasn't intended to be a book review anyway. But I'd note some items I think worth mentioning:

1. Undead and Undermined (Mary Janice Davidson)
   

   Completed last January 14, 2012 (Note: My favoritest author in the whole wide world!!! Little does everyone know but she pioneered the vampire chic lit. SHE! It was her! and not that overrated author who wrote the twilight whatever saga. Pfft.)

2. Undead and Unfinished (Mary Janice Davidson) 
   

   Completed last March 10, 2011

3. Twenties girl (Sophie Kinsella)
   

   Completed last June 25, 2011 (Note: The first and only book which made me cry. Sophie Kinsella's best, if I may say.)

   

   
   
4. Hunger games (Book I ) (Suzanne Collins) 
   

   Completed last Jan 18, 2012 (ok ok Rain, you win! You're right when you said this was really good. I shouldn't have resisted for so long. May the odds be ever in our favor.)

5. Mockingjay (Hunger Games Book III) (Suzanne Collins)
   

   Completed last Feb 1, 2012

6. Catching Fire (Hunger Games Book II) (Suzanne Collins)
   

   Completed last Jan 22, 2012

7. Me Myself and Why (Mary Janice Davidson)
   

   Completed last Feb 10, 2012

8. Remember Me (Sophie Kinsella)
   

   Completed last June 18, 2011

9. LA candy (Lauren Conrad)
   

   Completed last July 7, 2011 (Note: Yes, Lauren Conrad. Don't judge! I liked her in MTV's Laguna Beach and The Hills!)

10. Sugar and Spice (Lauren Conrad) 
    

    Completed last Jan 10, 2012

11. Mini Shoppaholic (Sophie Kinsella)
    

    Completed last May 15, 2011

12. Sweet Little Lies (Lauren Conrad)
    

    Completed last July 10, 2011

I know I won't stop there though. There are still books I want to read.. The new Paolo Coelho, the latest Ryan books from Tom Clancy, the Chronicles of Narnia (kuya says the books are much much better than the movies), and of course.. All the archie comics, pugad baboy and beerkada I'd find all over our house. Hehe. ;)

When: March 2011 - Feb 2012

Where: Everywhere