Reading The Fault in Our Stars

We meet again, Blogger blog! First off, I apologize, dear thing, for neglecting to post during my birthday month, and thus fail to uphold my New Year’s Resolution of a post per month. I am so sorry. And although this is an attempt to make up for that blunder, I know full well that the effort would not suffice— the month of April 2012 is forever devoid of a single post as is reflected on the side bar of this blog (refer to figure 1).

At this point, I have to say it probably is best if I get back to studying for my second Physics exam tomorrow later today (five freaking hours from now!!!) or, better yet, sleep seeing as the exam will be at 7:30—ungodly early in the morning. But my mind insists, dictates that I put this to writing now lest I be an under-performing slob  tomorrow later . I fear I have to follow the voice in my mind.

Now, what is the fuss about, you ask, dear blog? It is nothing short of my highly important personal opinions on the book I've just finished reading The Fault in Our Stars. Yes, as you can guess, this is another review, which, now that I think about it, is quickly becoming the theme of this blog-- a reviews blog.

The Fault in Our Stars. It is certainly no fault that I now give it four out of five stars. In words, I believe that translates to: “I really, really, really liked it! Love it so effin’ much!” (Five stars would be: "This is never coming off my Favorites List!") It is a good read, worthy of the few sleepless nights spent thumbing the book for the next page.

I have only one of complaint though, which I've been thinking, obsessing even, about: Hazel, Augustus, and Isaac don’t really speak their age, don’t they? Most sixteen-, seventeen-year-olds I know aren’t that witty with their words. And somehow, I doubt normal teenagers’ think as deep thoughts as they do, or draw out as profound conclusions about the universe as these fictional cancer-ridden characters have.

One may argue of course that because, to begin with, they aren’t normal. Their existential queries have risen from the fact that they are dying and are now left to questioning and challenging their fate; normal, healthy people do not bother with those morbid and profound issues as often. Sure that may be the case, but to me it seems their brand of humor, and their general manner of speaking are all too similar that even though they are three different people with wholly different lives, they are but one character. Hazel is Augustus, is Isaac. They may have different illnesses, families, and circumstances altogether but they are as if only one person.

Are all sick people thinking the same thoughts? Do they speak the same way? – That is, for me, the one flaw of the story. And so maybe because of that, I don’t buy so much into Hazel and Augustus’s love story.

(Still, I have bawled my eyes out over the novel. Kbai.)

/

Another reason I blog tonight is to inform you, my sweet blog, that I will write. A story. Yes, a legitimate fiction. Like The Fault in Our Stars—but not quite. It could be something like To Kill a Mockingbird, since I’m really ambitious. Or one of Haruki Murakami’s odd tales. Maybe. I haven’t even decided on the genre or the premise of the story yet. For now, my slate is clean, but worry not, it will be filled with beautiful literature later on.

The Hunger Games -- opinions on the movie

Hi! When I emerged from the theater after watching The Hunger Games movie, I decided to write my impression as soon as I go online (I write on the Tumblr website, so yeah, I have to be online). That is to prevent other people’s opinions to color mine.

SPOILERS ABOUND. READ AT YOUR OWN RISK.

/

Overall verdict: 1.0, but not the perfect 1.00, more around 95% and that still counts as 1.0, doesn’t it?

The Hunger Games is originally a book, the first of a series, and now it has been made into movie. The original medium had a spectacular story and storytelling. The movie has been faithful to the source material and thus the story itself is as spectacular. Although there have been few deviations from the book, they have all improved upon the original. I especially like the backstory of the Mockingjay pin: instead of having a disposable character like Madge that has never any real purpose besides the giving Katniss the pin, Katniss acquires for herself the pin and hands it to Prim. “As long as you have it, it will protect you,” says Katniss about the pin. It becomes a symbolic device. We know Katniss is the Mockingjay, and for as long as she lives, she’ll shield Prim from harm.

Also there are parts implied in the books that are depicted in the movie, most significantly: the roots of District 11’s uprising, and Seneca Crane’s death by the same berries Katniss (though indirectly) threatened him with.

But to accommodate these extra scenes, a few things are cut as well. I especially dislike altering the actual reason for Thresh’s death. In the books, he dies in the hands of Cato, and while he could be undoubtedly killed by the mutts, somehow dying in battle is more honorable than a helpless massacre by a pack of rabid dogs. Thresh is a good person and deserves as much.

/

Style-wise, execution-wise, I cannot ask for more from the production team. (Or not; I have one wish but I’ll get to that later.) Even though it’s a commercial movie , the style is much closer to an indie movie. The camera moves a lot, I am dizzy during the first parts. But it gets better once you get used to it. Actually, I think: what if that technique is used to purposely suggest that the day of the Reaping invokes that kind of nausea? The whole movie, to me, has successfully made me feel what the characters, Katniss in particular, are going through. When she hallucinates, I see her vivid visions; when she is disoriented by the huge crowd in front of her, I too feel that. And I do not exaggerate.

(Have you ever watched Akira Kurosawa’s Dreams? What I think and feel during watching that movie, I think and feel for The Hunger Games too.)

/

Music. There is very minimal use of background music. I cannot decide whether it is a good thing or not. I am somehow disappointed since I expect once in a while for there to be a sweeping music score playing for a very intense scene. But they do not come. On the other hand, I am awed: I am still swayed to tears despite the lack of mournful music when Rue dies, the first battle in the Cornucopia is already excellent even without ominous music (those few notes on the violin going over and over makes me hang on to my seat effectively enough).

Final words on music: It can use loud background music, but I doubt it will improve the quality; the current presentation is already the best. Raw and appealing. Applying loud music is cheating, and this movie does not have to resort to cheap tricks to achieve good results.


(Many movies use excessive attention-grabbing music and I am already accustomed to that treatment that’s why I expect it at every turn.)

/

I have a few laments, mostly about the CG (The Girl on Fire scene, anyone?), and that is why 3 points is deducted from the perfect score. Also, the Katniss-Peeta interactions are somehow lacking, but I still can’t say where exactly. They are sweet though, almost refreshing. Still, minus 2 points.

… And Peeta is being overshadowed by secondary characters Gale and Cato! Not that it’s their fault. The latter two are hotties, and Peeta is simply adorable. They are on completely different levels of desirable.

/

Finally, acting (I am saving the best for last): I have no words. Full marks for everyone.

Supposed Graduation Day

In June 2008, I was only a blundering college freshman, and if things -- if I -- had only followed the specified course without making some huge, irrecoverable mistakes I should be on my way out of the university by now.

Only it didn't. Or more precisely, I didn't-- I didn't perform as well as I should nor even as well as I could.

Even though I have no one to blame but myself for my present lament, there's still this bitter taste in my mouth whenever high school friends talk about graduation, post graduation photos on Facebook, countdown days until their graduation day on Twitter... I wish I were graduating this semester too. With them.

Like them, I want to celebrate my leaving the university, the years of mandatory education (we all know a college diploma is required in this country to land us a half-decent job). I'm not particularly looking forward to working, but by graduating, I feel like I'm already half-way through my road to success.

Now, even though I'm supposed to make that milestone, it's still nowhere in sight. Out of reach.

And it's still more disheartening knowing I still can't claim that I made my parents proud. Sure, they are proud of me right now, no matter what I do, but I know they'd also want to see that piece of paper that is my diploma. And I have yet to present them my Sablay. (That's my only consolation though, that with my diploma, I'll be showing them my Sablay, whenever that is.)

/

Nonetheless, I'm a good sport. I take pride in that at least. And believe me when I say I sincerely congratulate Batch 2012. Most especially my friends who will graduate (and even more special, my college friends! I love you guys so effin' much; please don't forget about me!). May the odds be ever in your favor! (Argh, and I suddenly remembered that which I was trying to forget: today is the first-day showing of The Hunger Games movie, and I still can't watch! We're only half-way through the UP Hell Week -- enough said.)

May the Force be with you.

UP Fair 2012

Last year's Upsurge is definitely better than this year's Himigsikan.

1. Queue. Last year, we went in through a secret entrance, thanks to connections with the organizer.
   
   This year, we had to fall in line... into a very, very long line. And it wasn't as orderly-- guys and girls were in supposedly different lines but there were many that did not follow the rules. How annoying.


2. Mud. Last year, we had clear, almost cloudless skies, and needless to say, no rain before or during the night. It was a bit chilly, though but the ground felt completely solid beneath our feet. We were even able to make a sort of nest with our things on the ground where we occasionally sat.
   
   This year, everywhere in the Sunken Garden we completely coated with mud. The kind of mud that glues your shoes to the ground, so that it' was hard to take a step after another. The only bright side was I got the chance to witness Cobalt carry Cehrise bridal-style across the fields.~ Forgive me, it was such a novelty for me to watch such scenes among my friends.
   
   After a long hunt for a restroom in the buildings surrounding the venue, we waited for almost eight hours for Parokya ni Edgar to get on-stage and perform. We stood for eight freaking hours! We couldn't possibly sit on the mud.


3. Crowd. Last year, the crowd was thinner. It didn't matter whether they were rowdy or not; they couldn't disturb us.
   
   This year, besides the mud, the reason why we couldn't sit even for a few minutes was because there was no place to. People are everywhere. And they all were awfully rowdy. Almost undisciplined, the lot of them. Almost disgusting.


4. Company. Last year, there was only a handful of us there, so it was a sort of intimate affair. And Rovina was there.
   
   This year, we were more. It was better in some ways, a chance for block bonding, only it wasn't the case, no thanks to the oceans of people that predictably separated us from one another. I also met some of my friends' loved ones~
   
   It was better in some ways, but not entirely. Rovina is missed.


5. Love. Last year, hearts were broken.
   
   This year, hearts were still broken. (Ironically, the heart that swelled with happiness last year, was crushed to pieces this year. Such fickleness.)

/

After the hype of seeing (for me it was only hearing, I couldn't see anything on the stage!) Parokya ni Edgar perform, we went to grab breakfast. That was the better part of the night, I think. Finally being able to sit down and talk.

Fiddling while Rome burns

Last Sunday night, instead of getting started with my massive workload, I read mangas. Four shoujo mangas. How irresponsible, but I haven't meant to do that actually. So now I say to myself, I'm sorry, self, to have slack off so much in one night, not get any work done, and have you cram all these acads nonsense now. I know there is no worse form of torture than bury you under that pile of schoolwork. I'm so, so sorry, man.

All right. Now, I will review those mangas, so in a why I could explain why I'd read as much as I did that night without a care for my responsibilities at school.

It was night. Six pm, approximately. And I'd been thinking of starting with my homework, only that, when I turned on my laptop I strayed to mangafox instead. The first title I read was Ovally Trap. It was an utter waste of time, I had not felt anything while reading the story, more so now, four days later, I have already forgotten about it. I had to Google it so I could remember.

Ovally Trap is a one-shot. In my opinion, making it such is a poor decision on the author's part. Cramming a story into a single chapter without losing substance and using drawings, instead of purely words, is hard. That's why there are stories which won't make sense as one-shots, Ovally Trap is an unfortunate example.

It is a story of a girl who is constantly teased by a guy classmate (Google says the guy is called Tokunaga and she Tanimiya). She's usually annoyed by his antics, that when she chanced upon a magazine article on "How to be Popular," her friends convince her to try it as revenge on Tokunaga -- how exactly is this revenge, I do not know. Maybe she wants to blow him away with her attractiveness, he won't be able to tease her anymore -- yes, that must be it.

< spoiler > She changes her image and a lot of guys notice her. Except, it wasn't clear how her image changed at all judging from the lack of change in the drawings of her. If it wasn't directly stated in the speech bubbles that the guys thought there was something different about her, I wouldn't have known. Anyways, Tokunaga finally ask her if they could walk home together, to which she said yes. While waiting for him by the school gates, a guy from another class also showed interest in her. Tokunaga showed up, said that he wasn't needed anymore, and walked away. She chased after him, leaving the other guy behind, and told him she likes him. What a surprise. < / spoiler >

Everything happened so fast, so that I had quite a hollow reaction to everything. But there was one cute page, at least, it's only redeeming quality. Perhaps, it would've worked better with a little more back story.

-

And so I was almost annoyed at the first manga, I had to read another one to forget about the oddness of the first. And this second choice wasn't even any better, in fact, it was much worse. Title: Otomegokoro (A Girl's Feelings).

One star out of five.

I don't even want to write a synopsis, so here's one from myanimelist: Nene is having her own "High School Debut"! In junior high she played volleyball and was not popular. But now things are different. With some makeup and a new hairstyle, she is all set! Teasing her as she attempts to get a boyfriend is her nemesis, Jun. He is amused by Nene's attempts at being fashionable, but in spite of it all, they are good friends. But love can be painful, as Nene finds out when she realizes she is falling for Jun, but he is totally in love with his old first love...

At first, it was Ok, smooth-sailing. Nene met Jun's first love Izumi, without knowing it was she who he was pining for, and they instantly clicked and become somewhat friends. But Nene felt Izumi is someone she doesn't want Jun to meet, but they met anyway, and she her fears were confirmed. Nonetheless, she still supported his love until he finally confessed to Izumi. Up until that point, I still liked the story. < spoiler > But things went downhill after Izumi turned him down, then started flirting with him when she realized Nene had feelings for Jun. < / spoiler >

Seriously? I cannot take that kind of conflict seriously. Not when some psycho little drama queen decides to ruin everyone's lives is a story going to be interesting. And so, even the resolution at the end -- I never even thought the characters felt that way, especially Jun!-- seemed meaningless.

This manga was an even greater waste of time that the last one.

The drawing was good though, better than the first.

-

So, yes, I needed another manga. This is why I stay away from shoujo mangas; if not overly sappy, or cliched, they were downright annoying. An excellent shoujo manga is a rare find.

Kimi ga Suki (and the sequel Kimi ga Suki Plus) wasn't excellent, I didn't like it the way I liked High School Debut, despite the premise being the same (and even the same as the previous one I'd just read). But it was passable, Otomegokoro's author redeemed herself with this one.

Yet another synopsis from animelist: Aki has always liked her basketball club friend, Mase. However, she can’t seem to gather her courage to confess to him. On the day when she finally decides to tell him, she is confessed to by a guy from a different Junior High! A horrible accident follows and Aki finds herself not being able to choose between the two – Mase, whom she truly loves or Koichi, whom she’ll always feel indebted to…

It's horribly cliched, but quite an alright read. And I believe it needs its own review-post with all the things I have to say about it. Next time, maybe. EDIT: That is because the characters are very much alive. They acted the way real, rational people would have had they been in similar situations.

And because I really like it, and encourage more people to read it, I will not write any spoilers. Besides what I said about the characters, about each one of them being rational, which I think in itself is quite a feat to achieve, they all have impressive attitudes. No one is overly bitchy, pathetic, showy, selfish, annoying. Just really mature adults and they all have acted for the best, even to the point of self-sacrifice. And although it is true that many were hurt because of a simple sacrifice, that things got confusing, it was all worth it in the long run, thanks largely to the characters' levelheadedness and understanding. Most importantly Koichi was able to move on thanks to Aki. If Aki had not stayed, he would not have recovered as well as he did, he would have wallowed on regret and self-pity. So Internet, please don't go blaming Aki.

I give it four stars of five.


Reviews across the net say Otomegokoro's better than this. So, yes, I don't trust the Internet's taste as well as I did.

I go off on tangents with post titles

Anna and the French Kiss. The titles sounds like a cliched albeit feel -good romantic comedy. A total chick flick-- or its book counterpart. I wasn't inclined to read it when Jan first mentioned it to me. Oh, it's good? You like it? Maybe I'll try reading it sometime. (But actually wouldn't. Haha!) I am so, so prejudiced.

But I did read it anyway, don't ask why-- i don't know. It's a good break from the serious books I've been reading lately. Not very serious though, no novels written in classic English, political satires, morally upright kinds. One is a young adult novel that is mostly action and adventure, another stars a thirty-something adult contemplating what he really wants out of life, a midlife crisis of sorts. This one, Anna and the French Kiss is about friendship and romance-- largely about romance, though.

I like all the characters. They are sensible and reasonable enough. The setting, the plot, the conflict, down to the resolution, they are all believable. And even though, it's already a classic plot of will they/wont they, it's still very amusing until the end.

Final verdict: 3 stars out of 5.

(I'll edit this and make the review lengthier once I figure out how to write a proper critic, but for now I sleep; it's been a while since I've started to sleep during normal hours again -- at night, not early morning when the sun is finally rising-- I promised myself to follow through it every night and not ruin the pace. Bonne nuit.)

Clockwork Update

Because I'm reading a new book again that is written in very conversational, first-person English, and therefore I find quite refreshing and interesting, I'm trying to imitate how it's written. Let's see where this exercise brings me.

--

I've just finished reading a book-- shortly after putting it down, I started a with new one, and this one is what I've been talking about previously-- and I felt hollow after I was done. For hours I've idled away thinking of a way to fill that newly formed gap in my heart. It was the first book of a trilogy, and so the ideal course of action would be to read its sequel. Purchasing a copy of the second book is out of question: for one, I'm not very keen of going out at nightfall just to buy a copy from the nearest bookstore; second, I deeply doubt they even sell copies of said book. Its title is Clockwork Angel, by the way, and its sequel is called the Clockwork Prince.

It's an okay book-- not groundbreaking in its beauty, but not a dragging read nonetheless. It is better than many, at the very least. If young adult novels are your thing, however, you'd do well to give it a try. Heck, give every book a try; they're all worth experiencing. There are still really bad books though-- these ones are the bad experience, but coming out alive after reading trash makes you a better person.

So I tried downloading a copy of the Clockwork Prince from the precious, precious Internet, but the best one I found has letters of font size 20, so that the whole book is 900+ pages long, instead of the 400+ which it should have been. I felt like a little kid, looking at those pages. Do you remember how little kid's books are filled with gigantic letters? I suppose that's a way to keep their short attention-- the letters are so big, they are practically screaming at you, drawing you to look at them and only them. Scary, huh? But in the meantime, while I have no extra 359Php that the book costs, I have to make do with an ebook.

It sucks to be a poor college student, doesn't it?

--

And the book I'm reading now, it isn't Clockwork Prince, not even Anna and the French Kiss (sorry Jan, I'll read that after this one). It's Nick Hornby's High Fidelity, which I've already started reading a long time ago, but read on short spurts between other novels. So I guess I'm mistaken, it is by no account a new book. It's actually one of those books I usually check when I enter a bookstore, and have an eye on to purchase someday, because the cover looks cool. Ah, but I already grew tired of waiting for extra money to grow on the potted plant we have at home, so I downloaded an ebook from mediafire. I hope I don't have to go to jail for wanting to read a book, but society, the government is really unfair to us poor citizens. Oh well.