Month: January 2013

Lemony Snicket roundup

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I realize I’ve read a lot of Lemony Snicket in the last few months, without really meaning to. I must confess that I was not a fan of A Series of Unfortunate Events (although I loved the movie), so I didn’t feel compelled to read more than the first few books.

This Lemony Snicket phase started when his collaboration with illustrator Maira Kalman caught my eye: Why We Broke Up (not as Lemony Snicket but as Daniel Handler) and the picture book 13 Words. Then I remembered I also had a copy of the picture book, The Composer Is Dead, illustrated by one of my new favorites, Carson Ellis. And then I saw Lemony Snicket’s latest book at the bookstore and figured I might as well review these books all together, so I also got a copy of Who Could That Be At This Hour?

Odds and Ends

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I love books and everything to do with them — bookmarks, book plates, reading implements, book-related toys and accessories and other bookish ephemera.

I’ve amassed a veritable loot over the holidays, thanks to some very thoughtful people.

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Downton Abbey

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Like most of the people who’ve finished series three of the British period drama Downton Abbey, I still can’t get over what happened that last episode, even though it’s been weeks since I watched. :(

I have two books I got at the National Book Store sales last year: The World of Downton Abbey, and Upstairs & Downstairs: The Illustrated Guide to the Real World of Downton Abbey, but I actually only broke through the packaging after the 2012 Christmas special in an attempt to purge that horrid, horrid event from my memory because I was so affected afterwards.

My horror at the last episode aside, if you haven’t watched the show, it’s a beautiful show about a wealthy family in the English countryside near the end of the Edwardian period, and the various events in their household. Great actors, excellent production design (you know I’m a sucker for costumes!), and a riveting plot of personal drama amidst the background of an ever-changing Britain — I was hooked for three seasons. Hence I am finding it so difficult to move on after the Christmas special.

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Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards set for 2013

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And we’re off to an early start for 2013!

The Filipino Readers’ Choice Awards returns for its second straight year, engaging the Filipino reading public in honoring their favorite Philippine-published titles.

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The Raven Boys

I knew I’d definitely be reading more of Maggie Stiefvater’s work after The Scorpio Races, which was simply spectacular. I had read her Shiver trilogy earlier, and while I thought her prose was beautiful, I can’t say I’m a fan of the forsake-all-others teen romance (vampire, er, werewolf or no werewolf), so Maggie Stiefvater’s recent novels have been a welcome change.

From the fantasy of The Scorpio Races, Stiefvater returns to the paranormal realm with The Raven Boys. Nope, there are no werewolves in this one, but it ventures into the occult — my kind of paranormal. I do love a good ghost story!

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