Review: High Fidelity

High Fidelity by Nick Hornby
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Ending my 2017 reading challenge with a book I highly relate with. Brings back memories with all those mixed tapes and top five lists.
* * *
I lost the plot for a while then. And I lost the subplot, the script, the soundtrack, the intermission, my popcorn, the credits and the exit sign. p17

Only love can break your heart - Neil Young
Last Night I dreamed That Somebody Loved Me - the Smiths
Call Me - Aretha Franklin
I dont want to talk about it - anybody
Love hurts
When Love Breaks Down
How can you mend a broken heart
The speed of the sound of loneliness
She's gone
I just dont know what to do with myself
p18

What came first, the music or the misery? Did I listen to music because I was miserable? Or was I miserable because I listened to music? p19

All my life I have wanted to go to bed with-- no, have a relationship with-- a musician: I'd want her to write songs at home, and ask me what I thought of them, and maybe include one of our private jokes in the lyrics, and thank me in the sleeve notes, maybe even include a picture of me on the inside cover, in the background somewhere, and I could watch her play live from the back, in the wings (although I'd look a bit of a berk at the Lauder, where there are no wing: I'd be  standing on my own in the full view of everybody).
p50

To me, making a tape is like writing a letter-- there's a lot of erasing and rethinking and starting again
p69

I've done it all, lived through the whole relationship in my head. I've watched the film on fast-forward; I know the whole plot, the ending, all the good bits. Now I've got to rewind and watch it all over again in real time, and where's the fun in that?
p239


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Revived

Props to me for being able to re-link my sub domain to my blog, yey!

Once a blogger, always a blogger.

Review: The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel

The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto: A Novel by Mitch Albom
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Worth reading again while listening to the musical companion playlist in spotify.

As always, my takeaways from the book:

The song gave him comfort. That is often why you come to music, isn't it? To feel that you are not alone. p123

Every loss leaves a hole in your heart.. If he could have unplugged his heart and shut the lights on his memory, he would have. p126

Silence enhances music. What you do not play can sweeten what you do.
But it is not the same with words. What you do not say can haunt you. p147

All lonely roads lead back to music. I embrace you. I forgive you.
I will never leave you.
Can humans say the same? p229

👧 Not everything is a song.
👦 Yes, it is.
👧 Okay. Everything is.
p271

Stop crying. Start playing. p329

One day our secret
Will not be a secret
Because everybody will see
That my secret
Is your secret
I will love you
And you will love me, too.
p336

Music is about communication, see? It's about baring your soul in the notes, telling your tale. That's how you play. p421


First rule of friendship, mates. Learn how to keep a secret. p357

The greatest thing, you'll ever learn
Is just to love, and be loved in return.
p373

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Review: Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West

Wicked: The Life and Times of the Wicked Witch of the West by Gregory Maguire
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

So I braved to enter the world of Mr. Maguire. I sure missed this genre but proved to be quite a heavy reading for me but I do the love the world of Oz and the characters in it. I might not read another one from his offerings for the year but will include should I finish my 2017 reading challenge.

But first, some quotes:

I'm just trying to behave as I think a friend should behave. p141

Ask me no questions and I'll spell you no lies. p237

I loved you too much to keep in touch. p240

There was so much to hate in this world, and too much to love. p294

Nothing is written in the stars. Not these stars, nor any others. No one controls your destiny. p308

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It's elemental my dear!

Among other frustrations, I wanted to be a scientist.. astronomer or a chemist if you will. However, I was born a romantic so I focused more on boys and love more than my studies and here I am.

I have always wanted to visit the Mind Musuem since it's opened. Bought a fair deal on all-day pass at half price and went with D.

Four hours spent exploring the place, learning and having fun at the same time. Not sure though if we will be back soon. I will have to make a mental note not to miss the science museum on our SG trip.

Sea of Clouds

It's been more than a decade since my last night trek and I think it's high time to get my fix again. I am still at a loss of words as to how surprisingly unforgettable this climb came out to be. As the sky full of stars quietly gave way to the morning sun spraying the horizon with an orange glow teamed up with crawling soft white clouds at the foot of the moutain will no doubt leave one breathless (literally after climbing hundreds of feet teheh).

My desire to climb mt ulap or mt pulag is currently satiated but for how long.. that is the question. Meanwhile, I have these moments to look back to should the calling of the outdoors hit me again.

Review: Will Grayson, Will Grayson

Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

I was dubious of my fairly new reading buddy's intention as she handed this book to me.  I was not in the mood for a too gayish read but for the lack of options, I paged on and on and on.  It was surely fun to discover two will grayson and their friends.  Didn't expect to cry at the end but I must say I couldn't help but let a couple of tears fall.  I was so inspired, I decided to collab with a friend on a writing project.  So here goes my fave quotes:


I got dumped  by status update. p16
* * *
Tomorrow makes everything a little better. p19
* * *
<3 you think that looks like a heart? if you do, that's only because you've never seen scrotum. p28

* * *
so i close my eyes and listened to my ipod, but it's like it's been programmed by a mean-ass cupid, because every single song makes me think of isaac. he's become the one the songs are about. and while part of me knows he's probably worth that, another part of me is yelling at me to slow the fuck down.
p105

* * *
But such is life. We grow up. p224
* * *
Being in a relationship, that's something you choose. Being friends, that's just something you are." p260

* * *
In some ways, you are who you are because other people observe you; but in some ways, you are who you are inspite of other people's observations of you.

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Never Be Alone

And so we sang along to Shawn's song, one hand holding my fone with the torch turned ON and the other with my heart.



I looked at her and she looked at me, she's no longer holding back and truly enjoying herself, and I knew we will always have this moment to look back to.

L'Atelier

Kicking off the year with music from the Guitar Prince.

I wanted to buy the cd and have it signed but opted to go home so Baby V can rest already.  Plus, there's always next year.

Super loved his cover of UDD's Tadhana and Goblin OST.

https://youtu.be/krf_dsojmiI

Six Strings

There's so many things I could've bought instead of this guitar. Iba talaga ang sayang naidudulot ng pagtugtog ng musika.

No regrets.

Did you miss me?

I sure did miss you. I got over my online paranoia and got the courage to write again as part of my Happiness Project.

I cannot ensure that I will blog more often but the intent was always there. If not for you at least for me to be able to offload my thoughts and generate some more crazy ones hehe or probably I just have too much time now or I really just want to escape reality for awhile or just want to express my creatice juice thru writing. Ha! Whatevs.

Review: The Return of the Young Prince

The Return of the Young Prince by A.G. Roemmers
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I felt happy and hopeful after reading the book. A timely and perfect read to start the year. The author was able to get his message across without sounding too preachy. I'd definitely go back and visit the Young Prince and his new friend soon.

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Fire Rooster

A welcome post for the new year! Sijakhe! 🙌