Book Stars (a book review): Frozen by Melissa de la Cruz

                I am quite familiar with the works of Melissa de la Cruz.  I also know that she is a Filipino and came from the Visayas, coincidentally the region in the Philippines where I am.  I have always wanted to read her books and knew that her first series, that of high society vamps, Blue Bloods has constantly been in the top selling list but I was just a little hesitant to read books because the covers were too “girly” for my taste (there goes my penchant of judging books by their covers, hahaha, but then again, it is my preference so nobody really should comment). I have never read any of her so-called hits.  Then came … Frozen, her new book and (thankfully) the start of a new series.

                The cover is simple; that of a girl in profile, hair slicked behind her as she seemingly immerges from a pool of water.  There is an emblem, a swirl of gold that looks so much a like a miniature dragon and the title, Frozen.  Finally, a Melissa de la Cruz that I can stomach to read (duh, such a stupid reason as how the cover looks to label a book I can stomach, again, so what? That’s how I want it…and yes, I judge people by their looks too…hahaha).

                Now, I always believed that I am a sort of an authority on the draconian mythology having read almost all the known series that features this race of majestic lizards.  Anne McCaffrey’s Dragonriders of Pern (my own collection of numerous titles donated) being one of my earliest reads in the genre of magic, fantasy and science fiction; not to mention, Eragon and its succeeding titles, Dragonlance (I also donated these books), and the newly popular Song of Ice and Fire series by George R.R. Martin (for the clueless, it’s the basis for the HBO hit, the Game of Thrones which is the title of the first book).  I never really thought that there would be a new take on the dragon stories but as what the reviews say about de la Cruz, she can sure spin a whole new take on what is old, traditional and classical and make it seem like it’s really possible in the world of reality.  And not only dragons (which I falsely thought this books is centered on) but also elves, dwarfs (for the uninitiated, this is the correct plural for dwarf, the word “dwarves” was created or used by J.R.R. Tolkien in the Lord of the Rings trilogy to describe the race) and even zombies.

                This story is written by a goddess of world building.  The realities and nuances of the characters are so real that I almost can see them onscreen as a movie.  The adventures and the back stories are so believable that I had to stop for moments and imagine what was happening within the pages.  It is Waterworld, Tombraider, and the Day the World Stood Still combined all in one.  It is a dystopian tour de force that will surely transport you from where you are reading to where the action is. This book is to be believed and I can’t wait for the next one.

                *I’m reading one of Melissa de la Cruz’s earlier series next, she is a gem of a writer and I’m not entirely convinced that Frozen is a collaboration with her husband. But then again, I can be wrong like I am with the covers (I’m reading her earlier book covered with a non-transparent covering, hahaha).

                

ON THE JOB

(Reaction in lieu of Review)

                Honestly, I was planning to watch Erik Matti’s latest film, On The Job the first day of showing. But because plans have a way of changing as days come, other plans overlapped and so I was not able to see the film.  Nevertheless I kept hearing about it that I had to see it for myself. 

                Before I went inside the movie house, I promised myself that I will try to write my own (amateur) review of this much talked about film.  Almost 3 hours after seeing the movie, I still don’t know how to make a review so instead, I’ll just write my reaction.

BILATIBAY YA!

                Forgive the expletives, but those are the exact same words I exclaimed as soon as the cinema darkened and the credits rolled. 

                The movie is dark, gory & bloody but damn did it shout of truth and rawness and pain.  The dialogues were natural and carried underlying tension in the words chosen that hearing the prevalence   of even swear words painted the scenes with nuances that worked with the dirt of the settings and the dirt of what was happening on screen.  The director, part of the tandem who wrote the film managed to squeeze the innards of society (both from those seating in political seats and from those seating in the bowels of poverty) for fodder to fuel this reflection of what could very well be plain truth.

                I have never enjoyed a Filipino film for its story, depth and unpredictability more than this one. From the first 5 minutes where I swore to the scattering of brains I stayed at the edge of my seat never really knowing what to expect next.  To think that it’s an action film only adds up to its beauty having enjoyed none of action films ever; Hollywood made or not.  The actors were perfectly cast that I did not recognize the Gerald Anderson, the Piolo Pascual, the Joel Torre but instead was taken for a ride with the characters that propelled me from jaw dropping scene to the next “Putangina!”

                To say that this is a good film is an understatement, to claim that it has a lesson that subtly gives emphasis to choices, family, ambition and helplessness is expected.  What I can say though is that, this feels like a new birth for the types of films we will get to see from Filipino film makers.  I would certainly wait for the next “Directed by Erik Matti” or for the next film that will convincingly present mainstream actors in the next off beat but laudable role.

                On the Job is currently my gauge for a 5 star out of 5 movie!

BILATIBAY YA!  

What Really Happened in Peru : Fan Review

She really did it again!

   Honestly, I only started reading the Mortal Instrument series when I chanced upon the eye catching covers of the boxed set of the first three books in a local bookstore.  In fact, I was not familiar with Cassandra Clare or any of the titles but as I am admittedly a sucker for uber attractive book covers, I took the first book from the bookstore shelf and read it there and then.  Lo and behold, I was carrying the boxed set when I went home later that day and read through the initial trilogy in a very long weekend (my boss was not entirely convinced I was sick that time, tsk tsk tsk).

   Now, three years from my initial interaction with Shadowhunters and she did it again; took me out of my present and transported me to somewhere totally unexpected.  This time, in Peru!

    The first episode in the planned ten-part ebook collection starring the enigmatic Magnus Bane just blew me away. It grabbed me from the very first word until I finished the whole fortyish pages of adventure, surprise and drunken glimpse on who our favorite cat-eyed warlock really is. It is as expected.  Colorful, flamboyant, weird, fun and one of a kind.

   The last word left me wanting for more and the month long wait is too long for the next installment, but then the imagery that was created by Cassie Clare and Sarah Rees Brennan left me with so much that my sketching hand is itching to grab a pen and paper and maybe transfer my imagination to vision. Who knows!

   Until next month then, and the next adventure of my Magnus Bane!

5 out of 5 stars…(no questions asked)

TIGER'S CURSE by Colleen Houck

Fantasy YA books are treasure troves of romantic stories that often drive the readers into fits of daydreams of mortal-immortal/supernatural relationships.  More often than not, this is the main seed that grabs the reader's attention and grips at it until one is addicted enough to read through the sequels of these series of stories that if we really look at it are repeated themes of love between two unlikely "individuals".  Mortal to vampire, mortal to werewolf, mortal to angels, etc. these pairings have made a killing in book sales not to mention the almost countless movies and television shows that these works of literature spawned these past few years.  

Honestly, I am one of those who has gotten my interest hooked to these books and series.  The Mortal Instruments and The Infernal Devices of Cassandra Clare, The Wolves of Mercy Falls and The Raven Boys by Maggie Stiefvater, The House of Night by the mother-daughter Cast tandem, (not to mention the infamous Twilight which is really crappy writing, even if the movie were good enough), these are just a few of my own personal favorites.  

These all have very good and attractive covers which is the very first thing I look for in books; nice, simple and intriguing. (hehehe, just shows you how weird I am)

While looking through the available books in a local bookstore (and National bookstores in Bacolod have really limited titles) , I chanced upon an unfamiliar author by the name of Colleen Houck.  While she may be unfamiliar to me, the cover really took my breath away.  On it is a close-up picture of blue-eyed white tiger.  If that did not prompt me to buy the book and start reading, then the summary did:

"The last thing Kelsey Hayes thought she’d be doing this summer was trying to break a 300-year-old Indian curse. With a mysterious white tiger named Ren. Halfway around the world. But that’s exactly what happened. Face-to-face with dark forces, spellbinding magic, and mystical worlds where nothing is what it seems, Kelsey risks everything to piece together an ancient prophecy that could break the curse forever.

Tiger’s Curse is the exciting first volume in an epic fantasy-romance that will leave you breathless and yearning for more."

I read through the 402-page book in a breeze.  Though it started really slow and I kind of though about Twilight writing at first, it was a really fun read.  It introduced me to Indian myths and legends that made me want to experience India in a very good way.  In fact, the imagery and descriptions were very vivid that as soon as the pacing of the story became better (after about the first 5 chapters) the whole reading experience was fun.  

Its about falling in love and the insecurities that sometimes come with it.  It is also the about sibling rivalry, first love, magic and a whole lot of heartaches and romance.

Tiger's Curse is a already optioned to be a movie by Paramount with a screenplay to be written by the writter of the top rating Vampire Diaries series.

4 stars out of 5.

RAVEN BOYS

Raven boys grabs the readers into the story as soon as the prologue introduces the premise filled with mysterious spirits, ley lines, death and divination.  It introduces characters that leap out of the pages and become real; not only because of their roles in the excitement within the words but simply because they contain traits that the readers will feel a part of. It uses popular English folklore which may prove unfamiliar to readers from other parts of the world but accepted and embraced nonetheless simply because of the beautifully woven premise.

Some scenes in the books felt like something you saw in a movie…at times, I can visualize THE COVENANT with the presence of prep boys saturated with the mysticism of magic. Sometimes, the DEAD POET SOCIETY comes to mind, although the boys here are much more interesting than the scholarly teenagers of the classic intellectual drama.

And just when you least expect it, some character’s dialogue jump at you with brilliant wit and oftentimes cynicism that you can’t help but laugh yet continue to think about the line until several paragraphs after. Then in the next chapters you get immersed into the angst, pains and growing up obstacles of teens, both boys and girls as they search and discover their very selves.

Not once but often, you begin to wonder if this is a fantasy book hiding the realities of life or is this a slice life filled with the fantasies that drive everyone to dream to make life easier? The characters are separate individuals; learning, growing and coping with whatever realities they have in their hands and striving to make something out of themselves, but all of them created like they were flesh and blood and not a string of words seemingly pulled out of thin air and made corporeal.

It shouts of friendships wanting to be heard over the din of the frailty of truth, it touches of pride of one’s self and of individuality and more importantly it screams of what friendship really is, raw and pure; to trust who, what and when all these are most important.

5 stars out of 5…

MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN

Synopsis:

A mysterious island. An abandoned orphanage. A strange collection of very curious photographs. Fiction is based on real black and white photographs. The death of grandfather Abe sends sixteen-year-old Jacob journeying to a remote island off the coast of Wales, where he discovers the crumbling ruins of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children, and explores abandoned bedrooms and hallways. The children may still live.

My Review: 

There is something curiously nostalgic about old, sepia-colored photographs that most often than not show people that we never knew in our lifetimes but still somehow reminds us of days gone by; sometime they even take us to a brief trip within the thin strip of black and white peeling paper that recorded that instant for all eternity.  Peculiar are some of these pictures might be, they still carry within the grainy images that they show, a glimpse of a story that truly happened to someone way before we are creating our own. It is this touch of nostalgia that invited me to grab one of the copies of Miss Peregrine’s Home for Peculiar Children on display, a haunting cover with an eerily levitating girl looking towards me as if she knew I was looking at her.

          This first novel by Ransom Riggs, a collector of antique/vintage photographs speaks volume on the poignant quality of old pictures.  It is done in a unique interweaving of created premise and situations and the use of old pictures from his collection and those of others. Written as a YA story that promises a creepy thrill ride down the supernatural, the prose somehow does not agree with the cover.  What takes place instead is a “tour de force” of psychologically charged situations that if you only place yourself in the shoes of the main character then you will understand how the horror of the peculiarities of the fading shots can bring about the creeps.  It may not be something that a lot of horror YA fans would love but then the book never promised a Halloween worthy trip but something that softly whispers of what might happen beneath the shadows of twilight.

          Reminiscent of Peter Pan and his Lost Boys, Alice and the eccentricities of Wonderland, or even XMen if it happened in the 60s, the book delivers a wallop of visions both by the pictures and those of the words that surprisingly work hand in hand.

**** (4.5 stars)

BABAYLAN FESTIVAL 2012

Bago City was once again alive with myths and legends as the 46th Charter Anniversary of the City was given the spectacle of the annual Babaylan Festival, a streetdance cum dance drama that features the central figure of the village shaman.  Winning 4 of the minor awards and grabbing this year's Championship is the 3-barangay merger of Alianza, Malingin and Don Jorge.  Tribu Madjal, as the group is called presented the urban legend of the Santermo and was awarded the Best in Choreography, Costume, Music and Streetdance.

The Babaylan Festival happens every 3rd week of February and is usually the Sunday nearest February 19, the city's Charter Anniversary.

Marthy Melos as Haring Araw
Photo by: Jo Aunzo

Three of the men behind the production
Photo by: Deborah Natalia E. Singson

Tribu Madjal during the Streetdance competition
Photo by: Jo Aunzo

The Babaylan, Marty Luntad
Photo from the album of : Deborah Natalia E. Singson

The Santermos with the Babaylan & Haring Araw
Photo by: Jo Aunzo

Santermos during the Streetdance Competition
Photo by: Jo Aunzo

Tribu Madjal during the Arena Performance Competition
Photo from the album of: Deborah Natalia E. Singson