The Book Thief: A Review

I finished The Book Thief. But I am not moving on. A book can provoke a thousand different emotions all at once and I like the feeling of being scattered – happy and sad and poor. The Book Thief broke me a hundred times over but, for a million lifetimes, I would want to keep it in my heart, to stay close with the words, and to keep on loving the souls that once lived on Himmel Street.

THE BOOK

Markus Zusak’s The Book Thief sits on a huge space in my heart. As you might have read from my previous post, it stirred something in me and I held onto it. I read it and it did not disappoint. The feeling when I first wanted it stayed. It glowed and burned. I did not have a change of heart.

I don’t really know how I should start describing the book. All I have are feelings. And it doesn’t feel right locking it up into a jar of adjectives. So everything I have to say about The Book Thief, you have already read on top of this piece.

So let’s proceed to the characters. I love Liesel. A strong, brave girl. I like the part when she recalled a quote from one of her stolen books: “My heart is so tired”. In Liesel’s reality, it refers to her heart. Really, a girl her age does not deserve a young, tired heart. But how can she not be? She’s always left behind. Her parents were taken to a concentration camp. Her brother died on a train. Her foster parents were bombed. Her best friend lay dead on the street. And Max, whipped away by German soldiers on a cruel, Jewish parade.

I love Liesel but Hans and Rudy took my heart. Like Death described, they “step on my heart”. That Rudy, the boy with a hair the color of lemon. I like his honesty and innocence. He makes me hope. In many parts, there is tons of sadness in Liesel’s life but I envy her in having Rudy by her side. Always a best friend. Always a lover boy. Always real. Oh how I regretted the kiss that Liesel gave Rudy. A kiss on the lips of a dead boy. And for one last time, I’ll tell you, Rudy is the only character who made my heart ache. Even when the times are happy, I remember him dying. It kills me.

Hans is like a hero. So much of an ideal father. Not to mention he is a lucky man. Not only that he escaped death twice, but everyone loves him too. Except the Nazis, of course. He is called the Jew-lover. At that time while Hitler and his loyal people hate the Jews and the Jew-lovers, Hans is there, playing his accordion, painting the windows black, saving lives with his kindness, giving bread, and being loved.

Then there’s Max, the Jewish fist-fighter. I like Max and his drawings and words. He is brave enough to accept that he is afraid. I always thought it was a love story between Max and Liesel. There’s the age gap but I shooed the thought away. That, until Rudy died. It’s funny though, but I am guessing it’s still Max and Liesel at the end.

Many times, it makes me wonder how Markus does it. He makes all characters lovable that “even death has a heart.” Every one of the characters has left me a piece of their lives. And they felt so real I want to hug each of them. Tight.

The Book Thief is a sad story that requires a big, big heart.

THE AUTHOR

At this point, every one of my friends knows that I am in love with Markus Zusak. But they wouldn’t understand. And I don’t have to explain. I wouldn’t.

I like the familiar humor in the book. I have never been in Germany but I have spent my childhood on the streets. I also played football and I also had those fist-fights.

I like the style. It feels so free. I imagine his hand writing so lucidly and smoothly, ideas coming like running water in the faucet.

Best adjectives. This is why I feel inferior using any adjectives at all. Markus is best at putting words together and painting it clearly on my mind. I see the color of the sky just as the bombs starts to shower. I see the twitching face of Tommy Muller. I see Rudy running round the oval with his coal-covered body. I see everything so clearly. Markus did it so well I just can’t stop reading and loving him.

SOME QUOTES

And it would show me once again that one opportunity leads directly to another, just as risk leads to more risk, life to more life, and death to more death. –Page 90

The only thing worse than a boy who hates you, is a boy who loves you. –Page 53
‘After all, you should know it yourself, a young man is still a boy, and a boy sometimes has the right to be stubborn.’ –Page 235

If your eyes could speak what would they say?

Even Death has a heart. -Page 262

I’m always finding humans at their best and worst. I see their ugly and their beauty, and I wonder how the same thing can be both. –Page 522

The sun stirs the earth. Round and round, it stirs us, like stew. From Page 211 of The Last Human Stranger. –Page 551

A human heart doesn’t have a heart like mine. The human heart is a line, whereas my own is a circle, and I have the endless ability to be in the right place at the right time. –Page 522

New underpass now opens to traffic

Today opens the 150-meter new underpass at the corner of Quezon and Gregorio Araneta Avenues in Quezon City.

Finally, commuters like me would not worry (I cross my fingers to this) about the heavy flow of traffic that sometimes fired up from Pantranco to Araneta bridge. I had walked a lot for the past months since I transferred to my temporary residence in north area. From this day on, I will have to enjoy some more carefree minutes in my bed before heading to my workplace in Cordillera Street. Traffic had caused my tardiness at times (I am accountable for some of the days, hehe).

During those slow-paced jeepney rides, I often pondered on why the need to construct this underpass when there is a river nearby. Was it built with strong foundation? There had been flooding in that area too; will cars float? Maybe an MRT station would have sufficed; not only will it provide faster means of transport but convenience too and hopefully less road accidents.

On the lighter side, this is my first time to witness the day-to-day progress of a road being constructed. Well, I have never seen a new underpass being constructed here in Manila and experienced for myself how is it like to ask when the construction will be done or rather wish the project was never started.

During the first day that the road was formally opened to traffic, I was able to pass there twice and it was good to get a fast and relax trip along the formerly trafficked path. I can only hope that God will bless this road and that people, drivers and commuters alike, will try their best to practice road safety.

I took this on September 27, a day before the formal opening. I asked permission from the men who were then setting up a tent to be used the next day.

Story-telling

This is a re-post of an announcement from the Philippines Daily Inquirer. If you have what it takes to tell a great story, you might shine in this contest.

Can you tell a great story?

The Philippine Daily Inquirer will hold storytelling competitions during the second Inquirer Read-Along Festival on Nov. 26-27 at the Ninoy Aquino Parks and Wildlife Center Amphitheater in Quezon City. With the theme, “The Filipino Child and the Stories of the Earth,” the contests will have three categories: For students aged 7-12;  yayas, and adult storytellers, who will all tell stories about biodiversity and the riches of the planet.

Qualified are schoolchildren aged 7-12, yayas aged 18 and above who are currently employed, and adults aged 18 and over with experience in storytelling to children. The contest is open to participants who have never won first place in any storytelling contest.

Those interested may download the rules, list of requirements and application forms athttp://www.inquirer.net/read-along. Forms may be submitted to inqfestival@gmail.com up to Sept. 30.

Schools and other organizations are also invited to send kids to any of the six Read-Along sessions during the two-day festival. For questions, call 8978808 and ask for Odeng (ext 329) or Kate (ext 331).

So there, good luck y'all!

Book review: Manix Abrera's '12': Laugh and the world laughs with you

Manix Abrera is not a happy camper. With his release of “12,” a collection of silent graphic short stories, the author of the daily comic strip Kiko Machine uses the book’s introduction to relate something his friend asked him: “Malungkot ka ba?” (Are you sad?)

It’s a relevant question. One could be forgiven for judging the stories in this book by their seemingly gloomy story arcs: in one, there’s a man who wanders through his days without understanding why anything happens; in another, a little girl is separated from her mother in a cold, faceless crowd. Humans are often portrayed as moronic beings that stumble through life like a blind man without a cane. There aren’t very many happy endings to leave you feeling all warm and fuzzy inside.

However, to write “12” off as a tiresome downer would be a huge mistake.

While the subject matter is almost always heavy—themes of mundane cruelty, celebrity obsession, greed, disgust at humanity, and even plain ol’ loneliness pervade this comic’s pages—the author usually has the good sense to throw the reader a lifeline when the mood threatens to sour.

In one such story, what starts off as a satire of artista adulation quickly mutates into farcical madness when the idealized thought projection of a woman’s celebrity crush attempts to strangle the real thing when she learns that he’s not what he seems to be on TV. In another tale, a swarm of pixies attack a drunk, urinating man en masse after he thoughtlessly stomps one of their kind to death.

Abrera’s timely use of humor balances out the sometimes overbearing inertia of the stories’ messages.

With so many unsavory characters meeting grisly endings, there’s a lot of schadenfreude to be had at the expense of humanity’s ugliness. The karmic justice held inside “12”’s pages is intensely cathartic to read and was probably just as cathartic to write: you get the sense that, if the author is indeed sad, he feels a lot happier once he lampoons his demons on a piece of paper.

Every once in a while, the book allows the subtext to slide in favor of pure whimsy: there are trips into outer space on a balloon, adventures inside a human body, and terrified frogs that alter the course of world history. The pared-down drawing style is a lot of fun to look at, especially when illustrating flights of fancy, but the uniformity of the panel layout sometimes results in sequences of samey-looking shots. It’s a shame that, once finally free from the restraint of broadsheets, Abrera forgot to fully utilize all of the space at his disposal. There’s a missed opportunity here to really bring his excellent drawings to life.

Since what really makes the stories enjoyable is their ability to laugh off, or at, misfortune, the book stumbles when it dives into more serious territory. In particular, one story of unrequited love on the train struggles to find a reason to exist; while the loneliness brought on from a missed connection is universally relatable (who hasn’t had a crush that didn’t reciprocate?), the narrative doesn’t say anything insightful about it. Here, the author would do well to mind Carl Yung’s self-admonition in “A Dangerous Method”: “I don’t want to just open the door and show the patient his illness, squatting there like a toad.”

That I’ve gotten this far into the review without mentioning at length that there are absolutely no spoken words in this book speaks volumes of the author’s ability to distill concepts into their purest form. Far from obscuring meaning, the lack of words means that there’s no clutter to get in the way of telling the story. Doing away with dialogue also reinforces the fact that the themes explored in the book belong to a universal heritage: five people speaking five different languages could read “12” and walk away having shared a mutual experience.

Despite its uneven execution, “12” is a triumphant snapshot of regular life’s common problems extrapolated to their extremes. Here, Abrera finds himself in the company of Japan’s legendary Yoshihiro Tatsumi as a fellow chronicler of human malaise; but while Tatsumi’s outlook was unrelentingly bleak, Abrera is cultivating a knack for making heavy burdens feel light as a feather. –KG, GMA News

Originally published on http://www.gmanetwork.com/news/story/265318/lifestyle/reviews/book-review-manix-abrera-s-12-laugh-and-the-world-laughs-with-you

Silliman University's National Writers' Workshop

For the 51st time, the Silliman University will be holding a National Writers Workshop set on April 30 to May 18 , 2012 in the Silliman University Rose Lamb Sobrepeña Writers' Village.

Fifteen fellowships will be offered to promising writers who wish to enhance their writing skills including style.

To get involved in this 19-day writing workshop, you must be able to submit manuscripts in English on or before February 24 of this year. (10 more days before the deadline)

All applications must adhere to the following guidelines: (Failure to do so will automatically eliminate their entries)

Manuscripts should be submitted in hard copy on short-size bond paper, using Times New Roman or Calibri in 12 pt. font type.

Applicants for Fiction and Creative Non-Fiction fellowships should submit three to five entries.

Applicants for Poetry fellowships should submit seven to ten poems.

Applicants for Drama fellowship should submit at least a One-Act Play. For plays beyond the one-act length, a scene accompanied by a synopsis of the entire work should be included.

Each fiction, non-fiction, or drama manuscript should not be more than 50 pages, double spaced. We encourage you to stay well below the 50 pages, since a submission half that length is more than sufficient as a critical gauge.

Manuscripts should be accompanied by at least one letter of recommendation from a literature professor or an established writer.

Together with the manuscripts and recommendation letter, you should also include a resume, a notarized certification that the works are original, and two 2X2 ID pictures.

If considered as an official fellow, you will be provided with a housing, a modest stipend, and a subsidy to partially defray costs of your transportation.

You may send your applications or requests for information to Department of English and Literature, attention Dr. Evelyn F. Mascuñana, Chair, Silliman University, 6200 Dumaguete City. For inquiries, email us at nwworkshop_su@yahoo.com or call 035-422-6002 loc. 350.

So there, let that writing talent come out in you and grow your career through this writing workshop. Goodluck! :) -bp-

World's largest floating book fair to visit Manila

MANILA, Philippines - Following in the footsteps of her predecessor MV Doulos, which has visited Manila seven times since 1988, MV Logos Hope is the newest vessel in the GBA Ships fleet. She carries the world’s largest floating book fair and will soon visit Manila on her maiden voyage around the world. This newer and larger ship features a greater space for visitors and more comfortable browsing in the air conditioned book fair and café area.

The book fair on board Logos Hope offers an expanded selection of over 5,000 books at affordable prices. They cover a range of subjects including science, sports, hobbies, cookery, the arts, medicine, dictionaries, languages, and philosophy. With children’s titles, academic texts, dictionaries, atlases and more, the book fair is something the whole family can enjoy. Additionally, the rest of the Visitor Experience Deck is also open for the public to explore. From the Welcome Area, which introduces the new vessel through a short movie and interactive displays, to the International Café, which has ice cream, drinks and snacks for sale, there is sure to be something for everyone.

MV Logos Hope will open to the public at Pier 15, Berth 4, South Harbor from Feb. 17 until March 13. Opening hours are from 10 a.m. - 9:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, and from 1 p.m. - 9:30 p.m. on Sundays; the ship will be closed on Mondays. Tickets cost P20; children under 12 are allowed for free, but must be accompanied by an adult.

Logos Hope is operated by GBA Ships e.V., an international, charitable organization registered in Germany. In almost 40 years of service, the organization has welcomed 40 million visitors up the gangways in over 160 countries and territories around the world. The visit of Logos Hope is conducted in partnership with Operation Mobilisation Philippines.

N.B. This is a repost from: http://www.philstar.com/Article.aspx?articleId=775748

*****

I am excited for this. Well, not once have I ever been to a floating book fair so how can I not say "WOW" for this? Knowing it's being done by an NGO for a span of 40 years already, I can say this is a good strategy for a charitable organization to promote itself. Let's get involved. See you there fellow booklovers! :) -bp-

2012 PBBY-Alcala Prize

Please know that the Philippine Board on Books for Young People (PBBY) already opened the 2012 PBBY-Alcala Prize that runs from January 1 to February 24 in celebration of the National Children’s Book.

The contest will be a fun experience for unpublished and yet to be published writers who will showcase their most creative children's stories.

Let the children in you come out and take home P25,000.00, a gold medal and an opportunity to be published.

Entries for this contest must be based on “Anong Gupit Natin Ngayon?”, the 2012 PBBY-Salanga Prize-winning story by Russell Molina. You may ask a copy of it from the PBBY Secretariat or you may upload the PDF version here. :)

Why Alcala Prize? Learn it at http://pbby.org.ph/alcala.html.

Here are the mechanics for the contest:

1) All entries must be original unpublished illustrations that have not won in any previous contest.
2) All entries must consist of three (3) illustrations that are of the same size and medium.
3) A contestant may send in more than one (1) entry.
4) Each entry must be signed by a pen name only, preferably on a small piece of paper pasted on the back of each artwork. Entries with a signature or any identifying marks are automatically disqualified.

Together with each entry, contestants must submit a separate envelope, on the face of which only the pen name of the contestant shall appear. The envelope must contain the contestant’s full name, address, contact numbers, short description of background, and notarized certification vouching for the originality of the entry and for the freedom of the organizers from any liability arising from the infringement of copyright in case of publication.

All entries must be sent to the PBBY Secretariat, c/o Adarna House, 109 Scout Fernandez cor. Scout Torillo Sts.,Quezon City by February 24, 2012.

Winners will be announced on or efore March 30, 2012. Awarding will commence during the actual celebration of NationalChildren's Book Day on July 17 this year. Non-winning entries must be claimed no later than May 31, 2012, after which they will no longer be the responsibility of the organizers.

For more details, contact PBBY through 3526765 local 203 or emailing pbby@adarna.com.ph.