Here's To New Beginnings

   

Happy 2018, dear readers!

Last year was really busy for me. The move from the Philippines was extra challenging -been to places, made some new friends, and tackled some pretty weighty obstacles. I labored to realign some priorities and that helped me grow these past months since I came here in Canada. I took a couple of online courses from the University of Toronto and earned my certifications last November 2017. I had an odd job to gain a Canadian experience, which was not all that bad since I gained some good friends and connections through it.

   I managed to squeeze in a few readings, here and there. And here's what Goodreads has to say about it... (click photo)

I'm not a mathematical genius, but I'm pretty sure I counted only 37 books in there. Anyways, here are my best books for 2017 (in no particular order):

1. The Awakening by Amanda Stevens -I love how this series ended. It showed how Amelia evolved immensely and exacted due retribution in the process.
2. A Man Called Ove by Fredrik Backman - Ove’s an unlikely hero with an exceptional story.
3. Rise and Shine, Benedict Stone by Phaedra Patrick - It tackles family and communal issues, childlessness, and one's sense of self-efficacy with a good sense of honesty and depth.
4. The Love Song of Miss Queenie Hennessy by Rachel Joyce - I still cannot talk about this book. It was so painfully keen, and yet, I can't recommend it highly enough.
5. Where the Dead Lie by C.S. Harris - A favorite historical fiction series. There's no book in this series that I don't like. Every single one of them went through thorough research.
6. Salvation of a Saint by Keigo Higashino - This is my 2nd Higashino, it doesn't disappoint at all. If you want a good mystery, you have one here.
7. The Music Shop by Rachel Joyce - Another RJ book, yes. The reader has to listen to this book intently, don't just read it.
8. A Murderous Procession by Ariana Franklin - the ending of this installment got me in knots for some time. I wish there was a way to finish this series.
9. Being Perfect by Anna Quindlen - A short read, but dense in many ways.
10. And Every Morning the Way Home Gets Longer and Longer by Fredrik Backman - My second FB book. I cried without tears with this one, I don't know how else to express how heartbreaking it was.

The notable ones are:

1. I Murdered My Library by Linda Grant
2. See You in the Cosmos by Jack Cheng
3. The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern
4. Nutshell by Ian McEwan
5. Young Jane Young by Gabrielle Zevin 
6. Autumn by Ali Smith
7. Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt
8. The Way Through Doors by Jesse Ball

Wow, that's half of what I read last year. But that's exactly what I promised myself, that I'll aspire reading really satisfying books. Hopefully, 2018 will be filled with them, as well.


Let us be optimistic that my blogging will improve, too. I'll still be posting ARC reviews, some pre-Blogger reviews, Wednesday Spotlights, and maybe some Author Interviews. We'll see. Stay in touch.


Oh, by the way, it's The Page Walker's 5th Bloggy Birthday. Thank you for staying with me.

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THE 3-DAY LATE YEAR-END POST

Happy 2017, Everyone!

This is our annual welcome post, where I get to show you my year of reading, my top list for the previous year, and my wishes and perspective for this glorious year ahead of us. On top of that, The Page Walker’s 4th birthday is just around the corner. So, I bid you greet me a Happy Bloggy Birthday. Go ahead, don’t be shy.

Goodreads was good enough (pun not intended), to compile our yearly reading for us. So, simply click on the photo above and you’ll be electronically transported to that beautiful cover collage.  According to Goodreads, I read 62 books last 2016 (rereads not included). Pretty good job for a lazy sloth like me, I guess. The thing is I don’t regret reading any of these books. In fact, I’ve had some very satisfying reads. Most of them were real tearjerkers, some were bloody murder, and some were as scary as hell.

Last July 2016, I’ve already posted half of my best list, so, I’ll just add the rest here.

1. Stormy Weather by Dermot Davis – This is a philosophical challenge. I chose it for my TFG Bingo card because it posed a very intriguing storyline. I had a huge take from this story because it tells the story of a therapist struggling with his own priorities.
2. Leave Me by Gayle Forman – I connected with this book. The main character voiced every exhausted mother’s plea and call for validation.
3. The Sinner by Amanda Stevens – This is the 5^th installment of the Graveyard Queen. And I admit to loving this series too much because it scared me out of my pants (and out of my bed, too).
4. The Guernsey Literary and Potato Peel Pie Society by Mary Ann Shaffer, Annie Barrows – Another book for the TFG Bingo. This is a sweetheart. I dearly love all the exchanges.
5. All In  (The Naturals #3) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes
6. Bad Blood (The Naturals #4) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes – The Naturals is one freakin’ psyched series. I love it.
7. Stay Where You Are And Then Leave by John Boyne – The same guy who wrote The Boy In the Striped Pyjamas wrote this book, so, I don’t need to tell you to grab a huge roll of tissue when you read this.
8. The Devotion of Suspect X by Keigo Higashino – This book is deceptive, I tell you. It lulled me into believing that it’d be the perfect murder. Then, the ending happened, and I totally lost it. Bloody murder and a tearjerker, rolled into one. What a punch!
9. A List of Cages by Robin Roe – This debut novel crushed my heart most assuredly. It made me cry, it made me angry – I felt absolutely helpless. The roll of tissue failed to rescue me from this one. I highly recommend this.

I’m proud of my TFG Bingo Challenge, even though I’m 4 books shy of completing a blackout. I finished 21 books, with 5 patterns.  I had great times exploring books to fit into each category and enjoyed most of my choices. Kudos to the mind who sacrificed both time and effort in creating such challenges. You can click on the pattern below to embiggen.

2016 turned me into a very lousy blogger, averaging to 2 entries a month. There is no excuse, really. Simply, lazy and uninspired. As I said earlier, The Page Walker is turning 4 this January. So, it’s time to seriously put the -ING into ADULTING. I’ll do my best to post something significant every week.

As to my reading, I still aspire to read satisfying books -those books that wounds, scars, and mends; those that will scare the wits out me; and those that will keep me at the edge of my seat (or perch, or wherever). I may even read a lesser number this year, but I want to make sure that all of them are those I've really wanted to read. Like the literary awardees I've been keeping an eye on; those series I've been missing; and those short story collections that have been gathering dust on my shelves. I'd be random and eclectic as always.

Again, thank you for putting up with me all through these times. I appreciate all the emails, the shy people who prefer not leaving a comment, and those who share my links. Sorry for not replying promptly to your emails, or for ignoring most of them. I am an awful, awful blogger, sorry. Yet again, to all the publicists and authors, kindly read my policy thoroughly before sending me an email. And if you could maybe get my name right sometimes, that would be awesome.  😉 Goodspeed!

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THE CHILDREN ACT by Ian McEwan

You have to forgive me if I do this review using a long pole. You may have realized by now that I shy away from reviewing renowned books by high-profile authors. It is as if my inadequacy might somehow contaminate its spirit, and that’s the last thing I wanted to do. Besides, books of that caliber, more or less, have already been dissected and autopsied by listed review sites. Still, this book has been niggling at me for some time now, I am reluctant to open another McEwan unless I get to say something about it first. And hopefully, that something will be significant.

THE CHILDREN ACT moves around a childless High Court judge, Fiona Maye, distinguished for her accomplishments at adjudicating delicately knotty cases in the Family Courts. One of her most difficult has recently been served -a life and death decision for Adam Henry, a 17-year old Jehovah’s Witness, in need of blood transfusion.  Fiona decided that a personal visit to the hospital is in order to determine whether Adam is mature enough to make his own decisions; or that the implementation of the Children Act of 1989 is duly necessary, which means junking both the parent’s petition and their religious precept.

Meanwhile, on the domestic front, Jack, Fiona’s husband for 35 years, announces that due to their lack of sexual intimacy for the last seven weeks, he has decided he needs a passionate affair.  “I need it. I’m fifty-nine. This is my last shot,” he argued –apparently, he already has a young statistician waiting in line.

What will follow is the author’s scrutinized account of the protagonist’s self-confidence and power beset by betrayal and self-pity. In her years of separating herself from sentimentality and insignificance, she had never been threatened by this kind of crisis before. In that disarrayed condition, she was stirred by Adam’s condensed naiveté. Adam, in return, was enraptured by Fiona’s genuine servile attention. With music and words between them, they found a kindred spirit in each other. In McEwan’s prose, I was carried by the same emotions, akin to Fiona. In those moments, they seem inescapable for me too.

That the world should be filled with such detail,
such tiny points of human frailty,
threatened to crush her and she had to look away.

In her review for The Guardian, Tessa Hadley wrote that Ian McEwan is fascinated by “the great institutionalized authorities”, choosing characters that belong to the echelons of their profession. This is my first McEwan novel, so I have to rely on her with that information. What awed me, though, is his view of the conflicting powers of an individual –commitment, resilience, compassion. People, even people of power or with great advocacy, will be subjected to vulnerability, one time or another.  Threats and problems arise when the personal blur the professional lines.  Sometimes, a single act may tinge a purpose or may even turn a whole event. On how we face and move on from these circumstances are the questions that we need to ponder.

The ending was unpretentious. It quietly glided along.  Nevertheless, the paradox of the title screams at me.  

Instead, she found her argument in the “doctrine of necessity,”
an idea established in common law that in certain limited circumstances,
which no parliament would ever care to define,
it was permissible to break the criminal law to prevent a greater evil. 

Book details:

Title:  The Children Act

Author:  Ian MacEwan

Publication:  September 9th, 2014 by Knopf Canada

Genre:  General Fiction

Rating: ★★★★★

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BEST BOOKS of 2016 ...so far

  As we reach the middle of 2016 -notwithstanding my expedient tardiness- it's time to take a look back at the best books  I've read so far. Presented in no particular order, here are the reads I've to shelve from January to June with my highest rating.

• The Visitor by Amanda Stevens - This 4th installment from the Graveyard Queen series is the creepiest the author has come up with, and it made my (eager) wait really worth it.
• When Falcons Fall by C.S. Harris - I can't remember a book from this series that I don't like. Mostly, because the author is a great historian, and with the full knowledge of her subject, she's able to seamlessly weave historical facts and fiction convincingly together. And the suspense here was killing me, so I read it overnight.
• Escape from Mr. Lemoncello's Library by Chris Grabenstein - A fun, fun read. I love how this book does its best to encourage children to experience the joys of reading and appreciate the many things a library can offer. Makes me wish I am a kid again. But sad that children in the Philippines will not fully experience this since city/public libraries are close to nil.  This book has a good range of book recommendations, from different genres, it's just wonderful.
• The Children Act by Ian McEwan - This first encounter with the author is totally awesome. He is a great conductor that masterfully directs words into playing what wrecks the heart in the most compelling way. Now, I'm a fan.
• Call Me By Your Name by André Aciman - I am simply in awe of the love this book contains. Probably, one of the major influences why I loved the London Spy series so much. 
• 15th Affair by James Paterson, Maxine Paetro - This is probably the most conflicting installment in the series. I stayed awake until almost two in the morning just so I could finish and close the book in peace, but I ended up tossing and turning miserably in bed instead. If you are familiar with the series, you'll know where I am coming from.
• Faithful Place by Tana French - When I started with the series, little did I know that I'd be very interested with tough Frank Mackey. I learned, later, underneath all that hard shell is a tender heart afflicted by a past, and I felt his ache.
• Surrender, New York by Caleb Carr - After four years, Carr's new novel is well-timed and worth waiting for. I highly recommend it. 

Meanwhile, my runner ups are:

• Miller's Valley by Anna Quindlen - the narration is very akin to having an intimate conversation with a friend. The author is very insightful.
• The Girl from Everywhere by Heidi Heilig - Incidentally enough, this appeared to be on Book Riot's Best Books for 2016, so far.
• My Name is Lucy Barton by Elizabeth Strout - This too appeared in Time's Best Books for 2016 So Far.

And with that, I bid you "good hunting" for your next best book, while I go back to my slothful existence. Ta-ta!

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TFG BINGO

The Oracle is at it again! Our Reading Challenge for 2016 at the book club is called TFG Bingo. Each one of us chose a number (1-75), and each number represents a card. No two cards are alike, I presume. Now, the card is very tricky. Instead of numbers, each box could represent a book genre, topic, setting, or a certain book list found in Goodreads.

Here’s my card:

As you can see, I’ve already marked the set I wanted to pursue. I am posting this here so that I can keep track of the challenges I’ve set upon myself. Each mark will be replaced by a book title if I finish a challenge, so I think I’ll add this to my sidebar for easy access.

There is no strict rule on when each challenge should be accomplished, except that we finish it within the calendar year. But I guess I should add for myself, on this challenge, any Advanced Reading Copy (ARC) does not apply. That would be like hitting two birds with one stone, and it wouldn’t be an honest challenge at all.

TFG had been doing these challenges for years now. It’s not only fun, but a good way to further stretch our reading horizon or step out from our comfort zones. I’m glad that a good number of members still enlist themselves. And, I highly appreciate the people who take time to conceptualize and initiate these challenges (Yay!).

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What's Next For This Bookish Person

What does a bookish person want for the New Year? Now that is really difficult to articulate since a bookish person like me would tell you that I want to read all of those books on my TBR pile and review them all as soon as I am done. It’s more like a fantabulous wish, really. Most of us bookish people live in fiction if you know what I mean.

Taking a good look at 2015 will probably make a good sense of what I do want for 2016, then. Goodreads made a beautiful illustration of each member’s Year 2015 in Books, and here is mine (click on the photo below).

 Last July 2015, I posted the best books I’ve read for the first half of the year. And to that I am adding these beauties:

• To Kill a Mockingbird by Harper Lee – This will always be beautiful, maybe, no matter how many times I reread it. I will always love Atticus, I guess.
• The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence – I’m so enamored with the kind of friendship Alex showed here. It is a story not easily forgotten.
• Slade House by David Mitchell – This one is short but an unrelenting thrill. Just brilliant!
• Night Study by Maria V. Snyder – I am ridiculously biased toward this series. I love every detail, every character, and the development of the story. It just keeps getting better every time. Release date on January 26, 2016.
• The Curious Charms of Arthur Pepper by Phaedra Patrick – Arthur Pepper is one hell of a guy to root for. He is curiously charming –all heart and nothing less. He’s coming out this May 2016.

For special mentions:

• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven
• Family Life by Akhil Sharma

The Goodreads’ illustration and this list will tell you that I almost read anything, although I still prefer seeking the books I want to read for authentic enjoyment. So, what does this bookish person want for the New Year? I want satisfying reads. It doesn’t necessarily have to make me happy. It may leave me in a pile of tears and snot, for all I care, as long as I’m fully satisfied. Satisfied in that sense where I am able to hold on to something substantial and not easily forgotten.

On that note, I may have to forego my yearly challenge. I’ll read how many books I can read. Sure, 75 was a good number. I was not really pressured, or anything, to reach that number. But having an actual number out there seems restricting as it is. So, no more numbers.

I’d like to add more buddy-reading this year. Last year limited me to Perdido Street Station and When We Were Orphans; and that’s so sad. I miss the ‘Wenches of TFG’ very very much!

The TFG Dare To Read Challenge could have been better. Yeah, sure, I’ve accomplished them, but I’m hoping that this year’s challenges will be better.

I may also have to make some changes on the book requests. I’ll make a separate post for that one, including my plans for this blog.

For now, I’m happy to be up and about and blogging once again. Thank you for staying with The Page Walker all through 2015, and hope that you keep on visiting. 

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2015 Reading Challenge | December

So, here we are. December finally caught up with us. Days are already filled with listing, planning, shopping, and gift wrapping. I'm still hoping to include reading on that list.

Here's what I read last November:

• Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen - 5/5 stars - I love the tone of the narration, and I simply breezed through this.
• The Undoing by Averil Dean - 3.5/5 stars - Surprised by how good this book was. I just wished for a better intro. Book release on the 29th this month.
• Alternative Alamat  edited by Paolo Chikiamco - 3/5 stars - TFG's book for November, which we happened to discuss last FilReaderCon. This is an average rating. I should probably write a comprehensive review on which stories I liked best and which I don't. 
• The Forbidden Wish by Jessica Khoury - 4/5 stars - I was granted to take a sneak preview, and I am looking forward to its release on February 2016.

And that concludes my Reading Challenge for 2015 of 70 books. Although, I was not able to read Winter People like I planned last month; and I've put both The Invention of Wings (64%) and The Golem and the Jinni (68%) on hold. I'm still thinking of finding ways to finish them within the year.

Before I go, allow me to be the first to greet you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year ahead!

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2015 Reading Challenge | November

A friend, The Book Hooligan, posted his essential reading list for November late last week. It was only then that I realized that I haven't had the chance to post mine. So, here I am, in the middle of the night, typing away, whilst my dog sleeps beside me through my clicking keyboard.

Last October, I was able to finish the following books:

• Monstress by Lysley Tenorio - 4/5 stars -  TFG 's book for the October.
• Nirvana by JR Stewart - 3.5 stars - The story has a great premise based on the extinction of bees and how it affected our future. I had the chance to read both the 1st draft and the final revision, which calls for a new review. 
• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson - 4/5 stars - The book tackled the issue of PTSD from a young adult's point of view. 
• The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - 4/5 stars - I really enjoyed the adventure. Looking forward to reading the next book soon.

For November I've lined up the following:

• Winter People by Jennifer McMahon
• Still Life with Bread Crumbs by Anna Quindlen
• The Undoing by Averil Dean
• Alternative Alamat  Edited by Paolo Chikiamco

I've put The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd on hold, indefinitely, because the plot is turning tedious for my present state of being. Busy people cannot afford to be dragged down altogether by the plot, speaking from experience. 

Meanwhile, review requests are still suspended until January 2016. And although some requests try to find me in different avenues, the said schedule and the policy still applies. 

Live long and prosper!

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2015 Reading Challenge | October

Aaannnddd we are down to the last quarter! Three more months to go and my reading challenge is down to eleven books. Yes, folks. Eleven more books to conquer my reading challenge for the year. But before I start counting chicks, let me list down what I read last September.

• Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier - 3/5 stars - The premise and prose were undoubtedly good, but for some reason, it can't hold my interest together. It was just probably me, right?
• Go Set A Watchman by Harper Lee - 5/5 stars - TFG's book for September, which we discussed with FFP. 
• Family Life by Akhil Sharma - 4/5 stars - A bittersweet story that will stay with me for a while.
• All the Bright Places by Jennifer Niven - 5/5 stars - A really sad book with a good, good purpose.
• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill - 3.5/5 stars - An examination of the life and (mostly) of its attachments, leaping from observation to observation.
• Warren the 13th and The All-Seeing Eye by Tania del Rio - 4/5 stars - A delightful read for all ages. 

And while we're at it, here are the books I chose for the Banned Books Week this year...

• And Tango Makes Three by Justin Richardson - 5/5 stars 
• Drama by Raina Telgemeier - 4/5 stars 
• It's Perfectly Normal by Robbie H. Harris - 5/5 stars

For October,

• Monstress by Lysley Tenorio -  TFG 's book for the month.
• The Invention of Wings by Sue Monk Kidd - A carryover from September, 47% thru the book. 
• Nirvana by JR Stewart - A carryover from September, 57% thru the book.
• The Impossible Knife of Memory by Laurie Halse Anderson - From my 2014 to-read-books.
• The Invisible Library by Genevieve Cogman - From my  2015 to-read-books.

I hope to cross these off from my lists before the month is out, so keep your fingers and toes crossed for me. Thanks!

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2015 Reading Challenge | September

Hello! Isn't it exciting, the BER months are here? If time indeed flies, it zoomed. I went back to what I've read so far and realized that no matter how fast I read, there'd be more books that I need and want to read. The pile just kept on adding up. Same old story, 'no?

Here are the books I've read last August.

• Everlasting by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - 3/5 stars - The author's last book and this my closure.
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - 5/5 stars - A reread. I still love it after so many years.
• A Bottle of Storm Clouds by Eliza Victoria - 3/5 stars - A short story collection from one of our local speculative fiction writers. I breezed thru this.
• The Universe Versus Alex Woods by Gavin Extence - 5/5 stars - A heartfelt tale of an extraordinary friendship. In spite of the expected ending, I was still caught off guard and cried. I can't entirely blame it on hormones.
• Slade House by David Mitchell - 5/5 stars - ARC. Releasing this October 27. The whole reading community should be very excited.

To cut off some books from my TBR, I've decided to read a book off my 2014 list and a book off my 2015 list simultaneously, starting this month. Although, I may add more along the way as time permits. This way, I can closely monitor how I'm doing. 

• Dept. of Speculation by Jenny Offill 
• All The Bright Places by Jennifer Niven

I'm currently reading Cold Mountain by Charles Frazier, a book club dare-to-read challenge. I'm terribly slow at it so I may take a while finishing. Meanwhile, TFG is reading and discussing Go Set A Watchman this September with FFP. Listened to it a week ago and Reese Witherspoon did a wonderful narration. 

Unexpected circumstances happened some time ago, and my commitments took a drastic change. It was because of these circumstances that I missed some book club F2F discussions.  Same reason why I have not been replying to most emails and review request lately. Forgive me for cutting down on requests.

Until next time! Meanwhile, have a wonderful September.

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2015 Reading Challenge | August

Last month, I took a slow reading pace. Mainly, because I am ahead of the reading plan I set for myself this year. Two, because I wanted to focus on some ARCs and write my feedback. Three, because I need to finish the module for the Sunday School needed this conference year for our church. And yay, because somehow everything is lining up as it should be. But still keeping my fingers crossed *sigh*. 

Before you truly get bored with my life story, here are the books I've read last July:

• The Quiet American by Graham Greene - 4/5 stars - A razor-sharp exploration of moral conflict on both personal and social affairs. TFG's choice for July.
• Two Years, Eight Months, and Twenty-Eight Nights by Salman Rushdie - 4/5 stars - A deep dive into strangeness, shattering all barriers between the jinn world and ours. Coming September 8, 2015.
• Everything You & I Could Have Been If We're You & I by Albert Espinosa - 4/5 stars - A beautifully flowing story with grief and hope at the center. The English translation is now available via Kindle.
• This Is Your Life, Harriet Chance by Jonathan Evison - 5/5 stars - Witty and charming. A character study reflecting on human goodness and flaws.  Coming September 8, 2015.
• Fuzzy Mud by Louis Sachar - 4/5 stars - A Middle-grade book that tackles how our defiance to have unlimited energy sources can be dangerous. Released today!

For August, here are:

• Ubik by Philip K. Dick - TFG's book for this month. Gosh, this one is really hard to put down. When I reached half point, there's no stopping. So, I finished it last week. But habit compels me to include it here. 
• Everlasting by Kathleen E. Woodiwiss - A favorite writer, and this was her last book before her early demise. The book was a gift from Maria, two Christmases ago. I just couldn't face the fact that this was KW's last book. So, I am reading this now as my way of closure. 
• To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee - A re-reading (or listening) is in order since TFG will be reading Go Set a Watchman, set on September of this year. I just purchased both audiobooks and I am good to go.

Hey, set aside some ample reading time. Remember,  

"Books don't offer real escape,

but they can stop a mind scratching itself raw."

~ David Mitchell, Cloud Atlas

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2015 Reading Challenge | July

Here are the books I read last month:

• The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett -3.5/5 stars- TFG's book for June. Mentioned as the starting point for the "detective noir" sub-genre.
• Home by Marilynne Robinson -5/5 stars- I love going back to Gilead, going back to the solemn and fervent narration, and meeting old characters. This turned me into a sappy sack, but I don't regret it.
• Lila by Marilynne Robinson -5/5 stars- It is really astonishing how Robinson gave this a different voice while retaining that certain quietness found in the first two books. 
• Flawless by Sarah Lemmon -3/5 stars- This SF debut has some good potentials.
• Arrival: From the Sky by David McGowan -3/5 stars- Part I of a series, with an interesting array of characters.
• Moon Over Manifest by Clare Vanderpool -5/5 stars- This is a gem of a story and the characters stick like glue. 

It's July, we are halfway through 2015 already.  For the past 2 two years, I posted a list of my best reads as a mid-year report. This year I've decided to include it here instead since there are only four books that reached that special mark this time. 

• Home by Marilynne Robinson
• Lila by Marilynne Robinson
• Perdido Street Station by China Miéville
• The Good Girl by Mary Kubica

* For special mention, I have to include Ready Player One by Ernest Cline. It was such a fun, fun read that I can still picture it in my head.

According to my Goodreads Stats, I've read 41 books for the last six months, which put me ahead of my reading plan. Yay! So, I'm going to take it a little slow and give attention to some promised ARC reviews this July. I'm not going to post the list here since most of the publishers asked that all reviews should be scheduled to run after the publication date. The list is not exactly a secret, that is, if you are checking my current reads, every now and then. *wink *wink

The Quiet American is TFG's book for the month. We're having our online discussion here and will meet-up on July 25th, at Ba Noi's Vietnamese Cuisine in Makati, for the face-to-face discussion. Come join us. 

Happy July, everyone!  Update me on your reading list, okay?

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2015 Reading Challenge: June

June here in the Philippines means "back to school." Commute and traffic will be frustrating again when all the school starts opening. Blessed are those who enjoy reading because it would be less exasperating for them. 

Before we move on, here are the books I read last May...

• Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the Universe by Benjamin Alire Sáenz - 5/5 stars - TFG's book for May, and it was a wonderful read.
• The Shadow of the Crescent Moon by Fatima Bhutto -3/5 stars- A good look at the people of Mir Ali, Pakistan.
• Ready Player One by Ernest Cline -4/5 stars- Astounding creativity and imagination.
• 12th of Never by James Patterson -4/5 stars
• Lucky 13th by James Patterson -4/5 stars
• 14th Deadly Sin by James Patterson -5/5 stars- I still love the suspense in this series. Now, looking forward to these new characters.
• The Ghost Writer by Philip Roth -4/5 stars- I was totally caught by surprise by this book. I need to put my thoughts in writing soon.
• The Good Girl by Mary Kubica -5/5 stars- I bawled over this one, really.
• Pretty Baby by Mary Kubica -3/5 stars- I like this one, but love the 1st.
• The Werewolf Prince and I by Marian Tee -0/5 stars- Uggghhh!

For June, I lined up two of Marilynne Robinson's books, Home and Lila. And of course, TFG's book for the month, The Maltese Falcon by Dashiell Hammett,  though I already read it last week.

I'd be happy to peek at your June reading list, too!

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