Sometimes You Just Need to Dare

Vision Board#3

One of my dreams is to travel to another country just for the food. I think Vietnam is the best bet! Also, I think this is the most amazing interview with Obama.

 

The French Way

I don’t speak French but I prefer the French way of beauty.

Oh My!!

I am sorely tempted to get this. Or is it a repeat of the tv series? Releases on Nov 22, 2016.

Norse Mythology by Neil Gaiman

Hi Mjolnir, you look good! I am interested to read on Gaiman’s take on Odin, Thor, Loki and Ragnarok. Didn’t Odin appear in the Sandman series. I kinda miss Gaiman’s books, it has been a while since I was blown away by his stories.

The book is set to release in 2017.

Historical Non-Fiction I Want to Read

I just finished the love story of Princess Charlotte and Prince Leopold so I am in the mood right now to read more biographies of English royalty like Empress Victoria of Prussia and her father Prince Albert of Saxe-Coburg-Gotha (I need to remind myself he isn’t like Tom Hughes in the tv series Victoria). Also I want to learn more of women’s lives during Georgian England.

Hygge

Mood lighting? Cinnamon buns? Coffee?

Books I Have Read (October 2016)

1. No Fond Return of Love by Barbara Pym – This was so disappointing! Characters that I just did not like. A woman who intentionally meddles in other people’s lives for reasons I cannot understand. A separated man who makes advances to a 19 year old girl. The only scene I enjoyed was when Dulcie realizes that Aylwin has fallen for her niece! And in the end it looks Dulcie ends up with Aylwin who I can’t find anything redeemable about him.
2. Angel CatBird Vol 1 by Margaret Atwood – Don’t be fooled that this is written by Atwood because it read like a campy B-comic.
3. The Beige Man by Helene Tursten – Finally a Nordic detective not as screwed as Hole or Wallander. Interesting working relationship with the team. I need to find more from this author.
4. The Diving Pool: Three Novellas by Yoko Ogawa – Since I haven’t read a lot of Japanese authors, I had to compare this to Murakami. We do get the female perspective but still dysfunctional characters in ordinary situations. I found it creepy in some ways.
5. Purple Hibiscus by Chimamanda Ngozie Adichie – This was a better constructed book that Americanah and I wished I read this first. However I still feel distant from the story. Maybe because being Filipino I have a different experience?
6. The Redbreast by Jo Nesbo – One of my dreams is to visit one of the Nordic countries but reading all of these Nordic crime books don’t give a very good picture of those countries. Neo-Nazism, assaults, assassinations, etc. In this book, Harry has a very interesting relationship with his partner Ellen which was unfortunately cut short. I wished there were more books with Ellen since they make a good team.
7. Magnus Chase and the Gods of Asgard: The Hammer of Thor by Rick Riordan – This was still fun but if I didn’t read this right after it was released some of the pop culture references would fall flat. If I want to distract myself and need a quick book, this series would be it. I enjoyed that there wasn’t any big romance in it like most YA.
8. Silent in the Sanctuary by Deanna Raybourn – This was a good combination of Victorian mystery interspersed with smoldering scenes between Julia and Nicholas. If this was a regular historical romance, the mystery would most likely be sub-par. I do wish I read this quickly instead of putting it down for a couple of days because I lost the momentum of the story. This would be a wonderful series to go back to if I can find more books!
9. Ten Years in the Tub: A Decade Soaking in Great Books by Nick Hornby – I am always fascinated with what people read. This book is a collection of columns that Nick Hornby wrote about the books he bought and read. Just like any ordinary person, Hornby also has a tendency to buy aspirational books, things he wants to read but probably will never read. Most of the books he talked about don’t interest me (music, sports, etc) but I always look forward for his reviews on books that I have read. Interesting to note that he was introduced to YA and enjoyed it! I wish I did not read this book as a novel but as a collection of short stories because it took me forever to finish.
10. Shrill: Notes from a Loud Woman by Lindy West – There were essays that I liked and could relate however there were those that I was ambivalent with.

Easy Soft Riley Flats

Last night I got caught in a sudden downpour. The rain lasted only for 30 minutes but the wind was very strong and the water rose up quickly. I got drenched up to my waist and my black loafers were soaked beyond redemption. Today I put on my sports shoes when I walked to the office and used my blue Indian flats at work (it immediately gave me blisters). I knew that my black loafers would still be wet so I bought a pair of Easy Soft Riley flats (P399.75). This brand is touted to be waterproof, flexible, durable and shock absorbing. I wonder if this will last me a year. This is my fourth pair of shoes in 2016 and one pair is already in the dust bin. My black loafers doesn’t look to last another six months. I bought these flats because it is waterproof and the weather this week is expected to be wet and muddy.

Stranger Things Ala Peanuts

If you were afraid of the Demogorgon in Stranger Things, I think you would find it a tad more bearable when it appears in this Stranger Things and Peanuts mashup as Snoopy!

P.S. I love this version of the Stranger Things theme.