Books of the Month- January

Hi G,

Remember the time when I told you that one of my goals this year is to read at least 50 books? I did the Math and I found out that to accomplish this, I need to read at least 2 books in a month. It's a struggle even if I used to read books a lot because I need to find time for it and look for books that I really like (okay, I have to lower this standard because I'm not really picky when it comes to books. But hell no will I read self-help books!). 

So anyway, good news is: I read three books this month and I want to share it with you. I read this during the Papal visit when I had my injury. So, let's start. Again, I'm doing a "review" chronologically, okay?

This is the first book that I read this month. I've been looking for this book since last year, but National Bookstore doesn't have one in stock so I asked Met to buy one for me. This is just $6 on Amazon, would you believe? Amazing!

So, this book is up my alley--Craig, the main character, is a jolly 16-year old whose absolute goal was to enter a prestigious high school in Manhattan. He got in alright, but that's also the start of his downfall because he can't keep up with the school works, social life, and weed. Add to his dilemma is that his best friend got in on the same school without studying (he studied so hard for the exam). It made him feel like shit, useless, and bobo. I think this is the start of his depression. 

He thought of ending his life, but instead, because of a phone call to the Suicide Hotline, he checked himself in to a psychiatric ward. There, he met a bunch of interesting characters and Noelle, a girl who is also suffering from depression. Craig got to know the other patients and rediscovered his love for drawing maps. After his stint (just 5 days), he decided that drawing will be his release and that he will start seeing Noelle. 

Honestly G, I wanted to read this book when one of my fave IGers (@pinkyparra) posted this on her feed. I expected that this book will be dull and depressing, but it was funny in its own ways. I expected that Craig will be all over the place and so emo, but all he wants in life is simplicity. This book took me back to the time that I was really depressed and just told myself that "Damn girl, you got your shit together and I'm proud of you for doing that!" 

In the end, Craig somehow got over depression and he found his light at the end of the tunnel; but I'm not so sure because I think that he will relapse (OMG.. another point for this book for leaving questions in my head). After reading this book, I was glad for Craig because somehow, he became happy even if for just a while. I felt hopeful for him.

BTW, this book is I think based from the author's experience. Did you know G that Ned Vizzini is depressed for almost all his life and after four books, he killed himself? I feel bad for Ned, I think he could have written more cool books.

You might have heard of this G. This is a popular book last year and I got to read this up to page 34 in Powerbooks. The next day, when I'm supposed to finished it, it was already sold out! Grabe di ba? 

It has the same theme as the one above--depressed kid who wants to get over it--but his friends are more "visible" in the book. Met said that she got sad after finishing this book, but I was indifferent to this. I think I've read sadder books and it did not have any profound impact on me. I honestly don't know what's the fuzz about this book. Although, this is one of the weirdest formats I've encountered because the main character is writing to someone and he addresses to "Dear friend". Some philosophical shit, if you ask me. I won't recommend that you read this book. This is for teenagers to early 20's. Not my kind of tea.

This is easy reading because it's all just photos. Chris Hadfield is an astronaut at the International Space Station and he photographed the Earth and this is the result. It's amazing how the Earth looks like from orbit--you see the wonderful slopes, cheeky topography, different colors, and even the destruction. It amazed me how we look like from orbit, but at the same time, I was also sad because of all the pollution and destruction that we've done to our planet. 

That's it for me this month, G. I already have 2 books lined up for February: Inferno by Dan Brown (is it any good?) and the Fault in Our Stars (another block buster book and movie last year). It's not like its my choices G, those are the only books in the house. The other ones are hardcore, like presidents of the United States,etc.

PS. What do you think about my photos? Artsy, eh?