Trese Vol. I : Murder on Balete Drive

Title: Trese
Sub Title: Murder on Balete Drive
Volume: I
Authors:

• Budjette Tan (Story)
• Kajo Baldisimo (Art)

ISBN: 9719257474
Language: English
Intended Audience: 18 and up. For mature readers.
Genre: Fantasy, Horror, Fiction
Book Format: Paperback
Publisher: VisPrint, Inc.
Printed: March 2008

Price: P140.00
Availability (Philippines): In Stock at National Bookstore (click direct link here for the product)

Under construction. I mistakenly uploaded the wrong cover.

Trese Vol. 1 Rear Cover

A New Comic Universe, Philippine Based Heroes, Anyone Would be Amused Of

by Otakore Literantadodist
Rating: 5 stars out of 5

Good timing, I'm reviewing this comic book as remembering of the dead's day is approaching. Why? Because the story has something to do with unusual phenomenon we or some of us experience in our life. You know, It's a hot topic when Nov. 1 is getting near, we talk about scary or unusual experiences with engkantos, ghosts, dwende and the likes. Well, Trese is set in a world where myth and reality co-exist. Living naturally in veil form of a human, walking with us in our daily lives. As such, you'll find an elder Tikbalang a business magnate of a company in this book or party girls with their true form as wind elemental beings.

Review On Queue: Skyworld Vol. 2, Elmer and Trese 1 & 2

Rebyu sa Komik: Kikomachine Komix Blg. 04 ni Manix Abrera

Book Title: Kikomachine Komix Blg. 04
Sub Title: O Kaligayahang Walang Hanggan Yeh!
Author: Manix Abrera
ISBN: 9719257466
Language: Filipino
Published by: VisPrint, Inc.
Book Format: Mass Market Paperback
First Printed: February 2008
Genre: Comics Strip
Intended Audience: Edad 12 Pataas

Unang Pabalat ng Kikomachine 4

Unang Pahina ng Kikomachine 4

Likurang Pabalat ng Kikomachine 4

"Umiiyak ang Pabalat Pero di Nakakaiyak"
Nirebyu ni: Otakore Literantadodist
Puntos: 5 Tala

Mahirap gumawa ng rebyu 'pag ang nirerebyu mo ay comic strips, iba't-iba kasi ang balangkas ng istorya. Kung tutuusin, di na kailangan ng isang pagsusuri sa Kikomachine komix, sapat na ang opinyon na "napatawa" ako ng librong ito sa kahuli't-hulihan ng aking pagbabasa - naks ang drama.

Book Review: J.D. Salinger's The Catcher in the Rye

Book Title: The Catcher in the Rye
Author: J. D. Salinger
ISBN: 0316769487
Language: English
Published by: This Little, Brown and Company
Edition: This Little, Brown and Company Edition
Book Format: Mass Market Paperback
Printed: May 1991
Genre: Coming-of-Age Novel (Bildungsroman)
Educational Read: Sociologically yes
Intended Audience: Teens 16 and up

The Catcher in the Rye Front Cover (1991 Print)

The Catcher in the Rye Rear Cover (1991 Print)

A Must-read for Coming-of-age Genre

by Otakore Literantadodist

Book Rating (5/5): 5 Stars

This book is a primarily recommended. A must-read if you’re looking for a coming-of-age genre. Main character’s Holden Caulfield, a teenage boy under social alienation and inferiority complex. Holden wonders to find where the ducks go when the winter falls, that’ll cross your mind if you are under loneliness and tripped on contacting whoever is on your contact list because you don’t whatever else to do.

Skyworld Volume I Comic Book Review

Skyworld Volume I - Front Cover

Skyworld Volume I - Rear Cover

Comic Book Title: Skyworld Volume I
Authors: Mervin Ignacio & Ian Sta. Maria
Publisher: National Bookstore Inc.
Price (in Philippine Peso): I forgot
ISBN: 9710871501

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon Book Review

Title: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time

Author: Mark Haddon
Edition: First Vintage Contemporaries Open-Market Edition
Released Date: April 2004
ISBN: 1400077834
Format: Mass Paperback Awards: Whitbread Award Winner

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon. Borrowed from Janelebert.

Partial Book Summary: Incident of the Dog

The book tells the story of Christopher John Francis Boone, an unusual child. The story starts with a dead poodle with a fork stabbed on it. The poodle was Mrs. Shears’, their opposite neighbourhood. Christopher found the dead dog and pulled the fork and he is later found by Mrs. Shears then by a police. The police touch Christopher and Christopher hit the policeman because he doesn’t want to be touch by anybody. They then went to police station. His dad Ed arrives and fetch Christopher back home. Christopher decided to investigate but his dad told him to stop looking on anyone’s business . . . Christopher persisted to investigate and decided to write a book about his upcoming investigation.

For more plot and summary, go Google.

Comic Book Review: The Complete Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi

Comic Book Review: Persepolis by Marjane Satrapi
Title: The Complete Persepolis
Publisher: Pantheon
Published Date: October 30, 2007
Language: English
ISBN-10: 0375714839
ISBN-13: 978-0375714832

The Persepolis

Persepolis is an ancient site known as Takhte Jamshid or Throne of Jamshid, located somewhere in moder city Shiraz, Iran. It's just an FYI. It's not the setting of Satrapi's Persepolis.


The first book tells the story of Marjane’s childhood. It is the time where Iran is experiencing Martial Law. People want to oust their current President. Marjane was exposed to communist political ideas because her relative was a communist fighting the government of Iran that time. For more of summary, you can read it on Wikipedia (check link here).

The second book was Marjane’s teenage to adulthood life. Opposing the school rules in Iran which applies also to Iran being an Islamic Republic, her parents fear that Marjane’s school could be eyeing her and might lead to absurd sanction so her parents sent Marjane to Vienna for her safety and for her good to live an independent life away from dangerous Iran. For more of summary, you can read it on Wikipedia (check link here).

New Home for my Books

I'm giving you all a proper home. Just promise me to give me motivation to read . . .

From Literateknolohitura

. . . because I need to survive this blog!

TO: Unread Books

-
Ciao

Balam

[Note: Blog post written in Filipino. Skip this post if you don't understand the language.]

Ha?

Ano yung balam? Procrastination sa Ingles. Pagkaantala ng anumang gawain ayon sa UP Diksiyonaryong Filipino ni  Virgilio S. Almario. Ngayon, alam mo na? Halata naman di ba? Ilang linggo rin ako na di nakapag-tala ng blog dahil sa pagkabalam.

Sa totoo lang marami ako na gustong gawin. Yung mga gawain na nakakasabik pagtuunan ng oras at panahon. Tulad ng pagba-blog, paggawa ng iskrip para sa binubuo naming komiks na ang titulo ay napakabangis na - "Boy Dragon", pag-sulat ng akda para sa isang patimpalak, pagtapos sa hiniram ko na aklat "the curious incident of the dog in the night-time" at "The Catcher in the Rye", at marami pa. Lahat ng nabanggit sa talatang ito ay na-plano na noon pang Enero pa at wala pang natatapos sa mga planong nabanggit.

Tuwing uumpisahan ko na ang nakatakdang gagawin ko para sa oras o araw ay nawawalan ako ng gana at nakakaramdam ako ng antok. Pero pag hihiga na ako para matulog, biglang makakaisip ako ng magandang gawin at mawawala na yung antok ko. Pambihira talaga. Hayyy...

(buntong-hininga)

Comic Book Review: Kikomachine Komix Blg. 03 ni Manix Abrera

Pangalawang Pamagat: Die! Die: Evil! Die! Ahrrrgh!
May-akda: Manix Abrera
Lingwahe: Tagalog / Filipino
Petsa ng Pagkalimbag: Hunyo 2007
Limbagan: VISPRINT, INC.

Komik Book Rebyu:

Unang binili ko ang librong ito, una ko'ng napansin ang pamalat. Napaisip ako, bakit naisipan ng may-akda na piliin ang ganitong . . . di ko ma-eksplika sa sobrang kabaduyan na pamalat ng aklat niyang ito kaya't di ko na pinansin.

Hindi ko na ililista ang mga nakakatawang tagpo tulad ng ginagawa ko sa dalawang naunang Kikomachine comic book review ko, yung imbento kong "Tawa-Kahit-Corny-Anticipation sa Pahina" [ dito: Kikomachine Blg. 01 at Kikomachine Blg. 02 ], nakakatamad kasi eh :D

Nabasa ko na ang komiks niya na ito, matagal na, binasa ko lang ulit para sa kapakanan ng magbabasa pa lamang o yung mga may balak pa lang bumili.

Dahil busy rin ako tulad ng maraming , dinadala ko ito sa aking opisina para doon ituloy ang pagbabasa. Tuwing breaktime, dala-dala ko ito habang naglalakad, itutuloy ko basahin habang naghihintay mainin ang iniinit kong baon sa microwave sa opisina. Habang hawak ko ang komiks niyang ito habang naglalakad, pansin ko lang, yung mga ka-opisina kong naka-glue ang pwet sa upuan (8-hours di tumatayo, di muwiwiwi) ay napapalingon sa akin. Huli ko na nang malaman, may nagsabi sa akin, isip-bata raw ako, dahil nakita nila na may hawak akong "CHILDREN'S BOOK" O_O (totoong nangyari). Una ko nang pinagtakhan kung bakit ganoon ang pamalat, doon lamang ako natauhan, na-spoof ako ng aklat niyang it. Pero nang ipinahiram ko, kilala naman pala nila kung sino yung may-akda, di lang siguro sikat kaya di kaagad nila natuklasan :D

Pamalat ng Kikomachine Komix Blg. 3 (mukang babasahin ng toddlers sa unang tingin)

Tungkol sa komiks, walang pangalan ang mga tauhan hanggang sa bilang na ito. Mailalarawan ko lamang sila sa mga itsura nila, yung mukang punk at yung mukang librarian na babaeng nakasalamin, istorya tungkol sa kanilang lambingan ang pinakamarami sa mga comic strips na nakita ko sa compilation na ito.

Ayon lamang. Salamat sa pagbabasa ng review ko. Hanggang sa muli!

Book Review: The Complete Sherlock Holmes - A Study in Scarlet by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle

Book: The Complete Sherlock Holmes
Novel Part to Review: A Study in Scarlet
Author: Sir Arthur Conan Doyle
ISBN: 9781435114944
Cover Design: Mada Design, Inc.
Publisher: Barnes & Noble, Inc.

Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classic: The Complete Sherlock Holmes

The moment I received this package, I told myself "This is a beauty, a treasure." I never had this kind of book before. Barnes & Noble revived the post 19th century book style.

Barnes & Noble Leatherbound Classic The Complete Sherlock Holmes

Sherlock Holmes A Study in Scarlet

Thanks to Barnes & Noble compilation, this book suffices and I will no longer need for volume-by-volume of Sherlock Holmes books collection.

A Study in Scarlet Plot

Sherlock met John Watson for the first time. There's a crime where a man name Enoch Drebber was found dead in a house. They thought Joseph Stangerson, Drebber's acquaintance is the killer but on Gregson's finding (another detective), Drebber and Stangerson stayed on Madame Charpentier's boarding house wherein there's a lead that the killer is the Madame's son. Lestrade has also another findings, telling that Stangerson is dead, which lead to another conclusion. Concluding that a cab driver was behind the killings.
__________

"A Study in Scarlet" has two parts. Part I is "Being a Reprint from the Reminiscences of John H. Watson, MD, Late of the Army Medical Department" which were briefly summarized in the first paragraph above. Part II is "The Country of Saints" story where it tells the origin of the revenge and why the crime is committed.

I won't spoil much . . .

Sherlock Holmes' A Study in Scarlet Book Review

This will be my first time reading Sherlock Holmes and reading his first novel series gives me a new taste for detective-solving-mystery type. I am amaze on how Sherlock Holmes find the height of the killer by analyzing the writings in the wall, in the crime scene.

I was intrigued in the part two of A Study in Scarlet about the history of the Mormons. I know it's only fiction but Sherlock Holmes portray them hateful for the readers.

I describe Sherlock Holmes a very deep-thinker. He is unpredictable - Arthur Conan Doyle, his story making. In a scenario in the story where Gregson or  Lestrade gives their finding about the crime which make me the reader think its believable but Sherlock interferes with giving another surprising finding is fascinating to know.

If you appreciate the Sherlock Holmes movie then you will appreciate this Sherlock Holmes books collection compiled all-in-one even more because the series line-up (canonical) doesn't reflect the one you're watching in your cinemas.

Book Review: American Gods by Neil Gaiman (10th Anniversary Edition - Author's Preferred Text)

Neil Gaiman's American Gods (Front Cover Jacket)

American Gods by Neil Gaiman (Rear Cover Jacket)

Book Title: American Gods: The Tenth Anniversary Edition (Author's Preferred Text)
Author: Neil Gaiman
Genre: Fantasy Novel

Edition: 10th Anniversary Edition
Country Setting: United States of America (U.S.A.)

Language: English
ISBN: 9780062059888
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published Date: 2011
Media Type: Hardcover
First Originally Publish: June 19, 2001

American Gods Plot:

Shadow, the name of the main character of the book is an ex-convict man. After leaving the prison, eager to meet again his wife Laura, he unexpectedly get a sad news that her wife has just died due to car accident after blowjobing his best friend Robbie. He met a bloke named Wednesday. Wednesday offered Shadow a job. Shadow accepted the job and there begins his journey to the country of old and new Gods & Goddesses of America.

American Gods - Neil Gaiman

American Gods Review:

"A storm is coming . . ." - this is American Gods' word of suspense. I'm anticipating that "storm" in the book and as I expected, It is on the end part of the story. I started reading Neil Gaimans after reading his Sandman graphic novel which I loved. But the time I try out his American Gods, I am just plainly satisfied.  I'm expecting something from the story after reading the first, second, third, fourth, fifth chapter and continually anticipating the next chapter but it is not the type of magical story that I'm expecting and I find it new, It's unpredictable. Maybe i am fed up with characters with a lot of show-off super power abilities in a story but American Gods is not that kind of thrill.

The book has a variety of mythical elements. It does not stick with one mythology, it contains a worldwide of myths migrated to America.

The places mentioned in the book is something I can't relate into. It made me Google some of the places so I can understand and picture out what does the place really looks like.

This book is for mature readers as there are sexual acts in the story (not really explicit).


Every chapter of this book is very long (about 20 - 30 pages) and if you're used to read chapters of 10 pages and continue-it-later then you might be tire off reading with this one. It is a no page-turner.


I don't feel I'm going to anticipate reading the sequel to this book which is Anansi Boys. Since I just started to be a Neil Gaiman fan, maybe I'll buy the next book it in the future.

American Gods Novel by Neil Gaiman (Spine)

American Gods (Spine w/o Jacket Cover)

Reference:

• Gods & Goddesses mentioned in the book (see link here from Frowl,org). - For me, I suggest you read the gods and goddesses that will be mentioned in the book if you haven't started it yet, this reference is for your easy understanding of who's and what.
• House on the Rock (see link of their official site here and their blog here). - Also, I suggest you take a read of what "House on the Rock" place is. Again, this reference is for your easy understanding of where and what the place is.

Reading Group Discussion Questions from American Gods 10th Anniversary Edition:

1. American Gods is an epic novel dealing with many big themes, including sacrifice, loyalty, betrayal, love, and faith. Which theme affected you the most strongly, and why?
2. Shadow begins the novel as a convict, and ends it a different man. How does the novel exploit the idea of America as a place where immigrants and exiles, both physical and emotional, can reinvent themselves? What makes Shadow himself so compelling and complex?
3. American Gods is partly a road trip through a small-town America, where Shadow can see the darker side of life that other people ignore. What does the novel say about what people will accept in order to maintain a sense of normality?
4. The old gods expect sacrifice, violence, and worship. How have they adapted to the modern world? What does this say about the nature of divinity? How and why have Americans transferred their devotion to the new technological and material gods from the old spiritual gods? What comment is being made about the modern cultural values?
5. What is the significance of the illusion, cons, and magic tricks that occur throughout the novel? American Gods is a novel in which magic, myth, and the divine coexist with the normal, mundane, and human in a way that is utterly believable. How is this illusion maintained?
6. How does the rich background description increase the power of the narrative? What do the secondary characters, particularly the gods whose lives and deaths we are given a brief insight into, add to the novel?

If you have read the book, let's form a discussions, please answer through commenting. Thanks!

Buy American Gods Book Now!

Books Imported to the Philippines now Tax-free!

Hi readers!

Good news! You can get the book you want to read without expending extra money out of your pocket. I know, when ordering online from other countries like in the U.S., U.K., Japan, etc. can cost you the actual price of the book, shipping charges, and a pain-to-accept overcharges from "some" Philippine Custom officer. I just confirmed the news and i am so late to find this out. Imported books are now tax-free! According to Department of Finance (DOF) and in relevance to UNESCO Florence Agreement, which was signed by a Philippine President back August 2, 1952, the guidelines states (quoted below):

"All imported books, whether for commercial or personal use, with the exception of those published by or for a private commercial enterprise essentially for advertising purposes as stated in Annex A of the Florence Agreement, are exempt from customs duties. Importation of books is likewise exempt from value-added tax (VAT) pursuant to Section 109 (R) of the National Internal Revenue Code."

The second time I went to Post Office this month to get my Communist Manifesto book from Amazon.co.uk, the officer there didn't checked the contents of my package unlike before, I just wonder they didn't assess for additional duties to it anymore. I just paid 40.00 pesos for the postage and some signing for clearance and then you'll get the package. Later on, I learned that imported books to Philippines are now tax-free.

The Communist Manifesto by Karl Marx and Friedrich Engels (Hardcover | Arcturus Publishing)

If your Custom Officer harasses you, then try slap a copy of the said order to their face :D Please find the PDF file here: http://www.gov.ph/downloads/2011/12dec/20111212-DOF-DO-57-2011-BSA.pdf (the file source is from http://www.cfo.gov.ph/)

Traditionally, I buy book on our local bookstore esp. National Bookstore. Now, I can say, this would be the great time to start the new way to buy books online.

For your reference, you can buy books online through the following:

Barnes&Noble

 

More opportunity for me to review books online in Literateknolohitura!

Given that I can get books online and the post office in my region is only one-trike ride from our home then book reviews will be abundant in coming months.

Reference Source:

• http://ph.news.yahoo.com/imported-books-now-declared-tax-free-ph-073014768.html
• http://www.abs-cbnnews.com/business/01/03/12/all-imported-books-are-tax-free-dof
• http://www.cfo.gov.ph/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=1581:dof-declares-all-imported-books-tax-free&catid=109:overseas-filipino-new&Itemid=840

Peek to the Upcoming Literateknolohitura's Book Review(s)

I just received "Art of War by Sun Tzu" I ordered from Amazon.co.uk. I feel relieved as I worried about my order in the last few weeks. I'm still waiting for the remaining 4 packages; books relevant to my previous post. Hope I received it soon.

The Art of War by Sun Tzu | Arcturus Publishin Ltd. | Package Received from Amazon.co.uk 01/13/12

On the other bibliophile mania, I learned that National Bookstore Philippines is selling the Pulitzer Prize winner, Maus by Art Spiegelman. I went to their store and successfully bought one of Spiegelman's book MetaMaus. MetaMaus is actually a new release and it includes the complete Maus comics in an electronic form which is inside the DVD included in it. But I still looking forward to the actual Maus comics. And unfortunately, Nat'l Bookstore has no longer the stock and offered me a Special Order form.

MetaMaus by Art Spiegelman | Bought at National Bookstore Philippines

MetaMaus by Art Spiegelman | DVD included; contains complete Maus Comics in electronic form

MetaMaus by Art Spiegelman | Glimpse Inside

Wish me more books to share. See you on my next post ^_^