At last, the final book and a meet-up

And so, finally, we finish the read-along of the Fifty Shades trilogy by E L James. After book 2, I had my doubts that I'll be able to get through another book filled with all those scenes involving just two persons. But patience is indeed a virtue. And the rewards for finishing the trilogy manifested in the very interesting discussions that we had in our private online Facebook group.

Yes, there were a few who didn't finish the trilogy despite having signed up for it. And yes, most of the gentlemen in the group were quiet in the discussions. Women, after all, are the target readers of this erotic trilogy. But kudos to us who have actually finished! The books in the trilogy were, well, wanting in several aspects. The writing was terrible in some parts (some would say in all parts). The minor characters were just that—minor, no character development at all.

So what did come out of the read-along? For one, we now have an understanding of what makes these books so popular. Sex, romance, a wealthy and handsome suitor, a woman willing to be dominated, a Hollywood ending. All these apparently make for bestsellers, regardless how awful the writing can get. Another is the tremendous amount of information (physiological, personal, criticisms) that the read-along members shared. The discussion threads were very eye opening indeed.

Our read-along schedule

It's been a fun-filled 7 weeks!

On the last day of the read-along, 31 August, we decided to do a face-to-face discussion to share our thoughts on the trilogy as a whole. All in all, it was a wonderful Friday evening and I would like to believe that every one had a good time. What a delightful way to cap the read-along!

These loot bags were done by one of the members, Ajie, who unfortunately couldn't attend the meet-up.

At first you'll think that these are charming, but wait till you get a peek of what's inside! 

Thank you so much, Ajie! These were awesome!

Not much testosterone in the group, no?

I was really hoping to hear the opinions of some of the gents from the online group.

How did I find the trilogy? Well, I found it not that bad. I had no strong feelings for book 1, Fifty Shades of Grey. Somehow, I did find it surprising that I enjoyed book 2, Fifty Shades Darker. That book delved into some of the issues Christian has. And you feel that there's hope for Christian and Ana after all. But the 3rd book, ayayay! Fifty Shades Freed, was a mess. I felt that E L James was just rushing to complete the series, throwing weak subplots to make the story more cinematic and engaging. These minor story lines just appear to be sloppily written.

And what's up with the long epilogue? I think the ending was fine as it is. Apparently, James feels otherwise. We get a few pages where the scenes are set several years after the last chapter. Then there are a few more pages that show us Christian's point of view when he first encounters Ana in the first book. Sheesh. Enough.

I am at a loss for words

I am at a loss for words, because I don't know what the hell happened in this book. I read Julian Barnes's Booker-winning novel, The Sense of an Ending, a few weeks ago, and I couldn't make heads or tails of it.

What was the sense of it all? What on earth was that ending? Arghhhh! It's so frustrating when this happens. (Thankfully, it doesn't happen that often.)

Maybe, just maybe, there are some readers out there (like poor me) who didn't get this novel at all. And perhaps, just perhaps, I'll understand this better after rereading it.

The Sense of an Ending, I'll see you again soon. And hopefully, I'd be able to make sense of you, not just the ending.

Awesome magazine is awesome

Last Saturday, I went to the Summer Komikon 2012 hoping to catch cosplayers and to get my copy of a magazine that was to be launched that same day. Too bad about the absence of cosplayers, they're always an interesting lot. I did get a copy of the magazine though, and I'm sure glad I did.

There has never been a local magazine devoted to YA fiction in the SF and fantasy genres. (Which is a bit weird really, as most of the books that sell in our bookstores belong to this genre.) Kwentillion aims to change that, as it features YA graphic fiction, short stories, interviews of graphic novelists, a few artworks of up and coming graphic artists, and a lineup of YA fiction in 2012.

I'm a bit surprised that it's selling for only Php 150 (around $3.50), considering the extent, the quality of the paper, and the full-color pages in the middle. But this is good, right? This means that teenagers need not shell out a significant fraction of their allowance to get a copy. It's basically almost the same price as a venti mocha frappuccino.

I feel that the strength of Kwentillion lies in the graphic fiction that appears on its pages. For the maiden issue, it featured a story steeped in Philippine mythology by Budjette Tan and Kajo Baldisimo (the team behind the popular Trese series), the weirdly funny 'Poso Maximo' by Robert Magnuson, the wonderfully steampunk-ish 'High Society' by Paolo Chikiamco, and the space opera (space operatic?) themed 'Sky Gypsies' by Timothy Dimacali and John Bumanglag. For these stories alone, the magazine's price is totally worth it.

Of course, being in the book publishing industry for some years now, I'm particular about the layout of printed work. Some of the sections in the magazine have very few 'resting spaces' for one's eyes, such as the short story by Andrew Drilon entitled 'The Secret Origin of Spin-Man', the only non-graphic work of fiction in the magazine. I'm apprehensive if young adults would take the time to read it, since it does appear to be lengthy and text heavy, something which is all the more ubiquitous in a magazine that has lots and lots of visually stimulating panels of graphic fiction. The layout of the interviews featuring Manix Abrera and Chester Ocampo could use more write areas too.

Also, there seems to be a dearth of local YA non-graphic fiction available in bookstores. The magazine did feature a lineup of highly anticipated YA fiction to be released this year. The writers chose 11 titles, but only 1 is local. Maybe Kwentillion would change all this. It's the perfect time for publishers to tap local talent to come up with genre novels for this market.

It's an exciting time for YA fiction. We have the talent and ingenuity to succeed in this genre. Kwentillion makes us aware of this potential. Thumbing through its pages and seeing the artworks, I am amazed by the artistry of individuals, some just barely out of college. I have a huge admiration for this kind of talent, as I can't even draw stick figures.

Oh, one other thing. Perhaps Kwentillion can be less testosterone-y in the next issue? The short story and the graphic fiction all had male writers and artists. Must female writers be delegated to produce the feature articles only?

But hey, this is just the first issue. I'm sure that Kwentillion will just get more awesome with each issue. Kudos to Paolo Chikiamco, Budjette Tan, and their team for coming up with this magazine. Now I'm off to get my subscription!

Addendum (made after Paolo Chikiamco's comment):
There's a single female involved in the graphic fiction featured in Kwentillion -- the uber talented Hannah Buena. My apologies if I missed this in my original post.

A favorite from the past

Whoever said that history is boring was probably correct. Or, he or she hasn't read Hendrik Willem Van Loon's wonderful non-fiction book for young adults, The Story of Mankind. First published in 1921, the book has undergone several revisions and editions but is still very much relevant for today's readers. The Story of Mankind is also the first recipient of the Newbery Medal, a testament to its literary value.

Unlike other history books, The Story of Mankind reads like fiction for readers of all ages. Van Loon, by reading at his style, is a storyteller. Each chapter of the book feels like an adventure, with the historical characters serving as players of the narrative. The book is just a joy to read. The rise and fall of Rome, the concept of feudalism, the Reformation, and the Persian wars have never seemed so exciting.

History is the mighty tower of experience, which time has built amidst the endless fields of bygone ages. It is no easy task to reach the top of this ancient structure and get the benefit of the full view. There is no elevator, but young feet are strong and it can be done. -from the Foreword

The latest version of The Story of Mankind has 5 new chapters on technology and the concept of the Earth as a global village. While these certainly make the book updated, they aren't necessary. What Van Loon wrote in the original book is what you keep coming back to. Van Loon doesn't talk down to children condescendingly, which is often the case from writers who simplify their difficult subject areas for their readers. Van Loon understands children and what interests them. The Story of Mankind is something that you'll want to read and reread and read to your children.

Three satisfying novellas

I've enjoyed Michel Faber's two previous novels, The Crimson Petal and the White and Under the Skin, immensely. The Crimson Petal and the White is one of the most unforgettable novels set in Victorian England with a prostitute named Sugar as the main character. It's a lengthy read at more than 700 pages, but the effort is well worth it. It's funny and touching at the same time. Under the Skin is just plain creepy. You have the read it for that Twilight Zone-esque ending. After reading these novels, I've become a huge fan of Michel Faber, the author who was born in the Netherlands, grew up in Australia, and now lives in the Scottish Highlands. He's not a prolific writer though, with his novels being spaced several years from one another.

When I saw Faber's collection of novellas, The Courage Consort, in a bookstore, I just knew I had to buy it. The book, which consists of three novellas, is a very short read. I even finished half of it on my way home, since it takes me around 1 to 1.5 hours to get from my office to my house (2 hours if the traffic is really bad).

The title novella, "The Courage Consort," is probably the best of the three. It focuses on the sexual tension among the five members of a British a cappella vocal ensemble. It's probably the finest novella I've read ever. The second one, "The Hundred and Ninety-nine Steps" involves an archeological dig and a murder that happened several years ago. In the third and final novella, "The Fahrenheit Twins," Faber retells the classic fairy tale of Hansel and Gretel.

There's a characteristic common to all the three novellas though, one that you'll come to expect if you've read Faber's previous works, and that is the element of unpredictability. In "The Courage Consort," several things go wrong as the members rehearse a very complicated vocal piece -- the Partitum Mutante. The murder mystery in "The Hundred and Ninety-nine Steps" is never fully resolved. The children in "The Fahrenheit Twins" have mixed feelings as they find their way back home.

Reading the diary of a call girl

I know I haven't posted a book review lately, which is ironic since my primary reason for starting this blog was to write book reviews. So today, I'm sort of reviewing one of the funniest books I've read recently: Secret Diary of a Call Girl by Anonymous. Regardless whether 100% of this memoir is true, the situations Anonymous finds herself in certainly makes for fascinating and hysterical reading. The sex scenes may be graphic, but the author's unpretentious treatment of them lends a certain freshness to the whole theme of the book.

In a way, I might consider this memoir part of the chick lit genre. Anonymous does get romantically involved with a couple of blokes. By the way, I'm giving this book away! Just read the details below on how to enter the contest.

Here are 10 things I've learned about call girls and the sex industry in general from reading the outrageously hilarious Secret Diary of a Call Girl by Anonymous:

1. If you have your own place, being a call girl can be a home-based job. Home invites are usually the privilege of repeat customers though.
2. Call girls hate small purses. The author mentions that she usually needs a large holdall to carry the essentials: phone, condoms, lube, and makeup. Other items include spare underwear and stockings, a spoon(?), and nipple clamps(!), ball gag(!!), and whip(!!!!!).
3. The modern-day madam (or pimp) is a highly competent webmaster. She's online most of the time.
4. It helps if you have a college degree. You may get customers who just want to talk. And some want to talk about intellectual stuff. Things that have nothing to do with real life such as literature and algebra.
   
5. Call girls are prepared to swing both ways and, sometimes, in many directions. They get customers who are men and women; sometimes they get hired by couples and groups too.
6. Call girls can buff your nails for free, especially if your chipped nails hurt their sensitive body parts.
7. A call girl who poses a picture of herself with her legs crossed hasn't waxed. One whose picture shows her wearing an evening wrap or fur has fat arms. And if she's wearing pigtails and has teenage clothing sense, she's most probably in her thirties.
8. Work schedules significantly differ from office jobs. They're busiest Friday nights and weekends. Mondays and Tuesdays are slow days.
   
9. They've captured the essential difference between good sex and bad sex. Good sex is when you get everything you want. Bad sex is when someone else gets everything he wants.
10. Men give a larger tip when you give them a massage. So it helps to carry a bottle of oil for this. But remember, oil is never acceptable as lube.

My first contest!

As I told you guys earlier, you can have this book for free! It doesn't matter whether you're in the Philippines or not -- I promise to send the book to you by courier. All you have to do is answer these questions about call girls, prostitutes, and courtesans:

1. Who is this Oscar-winning actress who played a teen prostitute in the 1976 movie by Martin Scorsese?
2. Before she was known as Sayuri in the novel Memoirs of a Geisha, what was the full name of the young girl who would grow up to become the most famous geisha of Gion?
3. Did Julia Roberts receive an Academy Award nomination for her role as a prostitute in Pretty Woman?
4. Which Seinfeld character is in Pretty Woman?
5. The character of Linda Ash appears in what movie?
6. Who is the author of The Crimson Petal and the White, a novel about a prostitute named Sugar?
7. Complete the title of this novel by Gabriel Garcia Marquez: Memories of My Melancholy __________
8. The novel The Honest Courtesan is set in which Italian city?
9. Toni Morrison's novel The Bluest Eye feature how many prostitutes?
10. Who played the prostitute in the movie Leaving Las Vegas?
    

All you have to do is email your answers at peter.sandico@gmail.com. I'll raffle off the book to those who answered the questions correctly. The contest ends on Wednesday, 29 April. (Sorry, I had to revise the original question to the contest, as I found out that my mom has been reading my blog. Oh the humanity!)

Special mentions:

• Maan, if you win, I'll send the Borat book together with this one. Tell your friends!
  
• Gege, Blooey, and Honey, I'm so sorry I wasn't able to attend the FFP gathering. I promise to attend the next one. Hope you guys join the contest!
  

Books I can't seem to finish

Every once in a while, we come upon books that take us forever to finish, if we finish reading these at all. It seems like that these books have been forever at our bedside tables. We may occasionally pick them up, but after reading a page or two, we move on to the next book.

Sometimes I can't even figure it out why I find finishing certain books difficult. They may be by our favorite authors or written in a familiar language and yet we don't have the stamina to read them. Here's my list of some of the books that I can't seem to finish. Perhaps, you, dear reader, will give me the motivation I need to finally take them out of my to-be-read pile.


I think what killed my eagerness to read the first of the Sookie Stackhouse series was the TV series. I brought Dead until Dark when we went on vacation during the Holy Week, which was the same time the TV series premiered on cable here in the Philippines. I saw the first few episodes and they didn't make any impact. I know I shouldn't be comparing the TV show with the book, but still...


The Descent is supposed to be a horror-slash-technothriller. Well, the horror bits aren't that scary at all, and the technothriller parts are, at best, amateurish. The novel, based on the 50% I've finished so far, seems disjointed. There's just too many improbable ideas being thrown around -- Satan is among us, devils really live below the surface, and the shroud of Turin is actually Satan's image. For a novel that mostly takes place several miles below the Earth's surface, The Descent is quite shallow.


I've read the first three Shopaholic books, and I can say that the fun factor of the books decreases significantly as you progress through the series. Becky may have a new challenge ahead of her (after all she's finally a mother), but it seems unbelievable that she continues on with her shopping urges. Shopaholic and Baby feels so contrived.

Too much of a good thing

Real-life shopaholics

I must admit that, for one time, I was into those Shopaholic novels by Sophie Kinsella. I read Confessions of a Shopaholic and Shopaholic Takes Manhattan in just three days. The first book was really quite good; it was a pleasant surprise. I gave it to my female friends as gifts and most of them liked the book too. The second book was all right too, although it bordered on being overdrawn. Somehow, Becky Bloomwood's quirks in the 2nd book wasn't that catchy and hysterically funny anymore.

Nevertheless, I decided to read the third and fourth books of the series since I had quite a bit of fun with the first two. I would eventually finish the fourth book feeling dismayed at how shallow the story lines and characters have become. Kinsella was able to map out her characters and their signature traits in the first book quite effectively. After finishing the fourth, it seems that the characters have not only reached a plateau in terms of their being instrumental to the story, but that they have actually devolved into stereotypes. Becky's shopping tendecies, while whimsical in the first two books, have now become pathological. They're not even one bit funny. Kinsella, by having Becky's character marry a handsome millionnaire, has provided a ridiculous excuse for Becky to go on unbelievable shopping sprees.

There's a fifth book by the way -- Shopaholic and Baby. I've a copy somewhere, but I just haven't gotten to reading it yet. I probably never will though. Somehow, the thought of going on carefree shopping sprees seems obscene in these tough economic times when everyone wants to hang on to their cash and snip their credit cards. And you must admit, if you can't even handle your finances well, you probably shouldn't be having a baby.

We wanna watch Watchmen

Thanks to a very dear friend, I've been introduced to the world of comics, now more popularly known as graphic novels. I haven't read that many though, since graphic novels are quite pricey and I realized that I don't pay much attention to the illustrations. Nevertheless, I've read THE graphic novel -- Watchmen by Alan Moore.

Graphic novel readers in their teens and early20s probably would not like the book's pace. Nothing much happens in the first few pages of the book, and the story only fully reveals itself in the second half of the book. This book has been described as "groundbreaking," and frankly I'm confused by this label. I think probably it's because Watchmen was one of the first graphic novels to have a well-written plot and well-developed characters that do not rely on their superpowers to propel the story. In the world of Watchmen, superpowers are an afterthought. I did enjoy reading it though; the suspense builds up effectively and the ending is very satisfying.

And speaking of superheroes, click here to make your own. I managed to come up with this: