This month is perhaps one of the most interesting months in terms of reading for me. I read a graphic novel and a play for the first time. I’m trying to venture into other formats aside from novels, and I did pretty well in that area this month. Here are the seven books I finished in April. Tell me your thoughts about them if you’ve already read them, and feel free to leave book recommendations in the comments.
The Advance IQ Challenger by C. S. Canonigo
I bought this book as part of my preparation for the PhiLSATlast month. It’s the first IQ challenger book that I’ve answered completely. I learned a lot while going through the exercises, but for the most part, the best thing I got out of it for the exam is the speed and the test-taking practice. It’s been a while since I took an exam, and I needed to practice. This book definitely helped a lot.
Nimona by Noelle Stevenson
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| Source:https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/19351043-nimona |
This is my first graphic novel ever. I borrowed it from a friend and had wanted to keep it for myself. Nimona is a shape-shifter who applied as a sidekick to the most infamous villain in their world. The government soon finds out that she was far too strong for them, so they resorted to other methods that were against the law. Lord Ballister Blackheart, the villain Nimona was working for, was training to be a hero, but something prevented him from doing so. The past is then uncovered, the secrets are revealed, and the true motives of the ruling power are known.
The book is funny but is also packed with emotions. The backstories of the characters made the book even more entertaining and heartwarming. I started out laughing and ended up thinking about the deeper things in life.
The Art of Thinking Clearly by Rolf Dobelli
I have never heard of a book like this before. It was not only entertaining; it was also very informational. This is a nonfiction book that’s been recommended multiple times in different magazines and blog posts and for good reason. Rolf Dobelli discusses ninety-nine common mistakes and misconceptions that we might be doing, the reasons why we do them, and how to combat them when we are faced with the situations again. It opened up my eyes to a lot of the factors that affect my everyday decision-making.
Although the book is nonfiction and talks about a lot of studies, it is definitely worth the read. You won’t even notice that you’re reading a lot because each issue is discussed in around three pages only, and since it’s written well, it won’t bore you to death. You’ll enjoy discovering more about yourself and get to laugh at the many times you decided wrong for the silliest reasons.
El Bimbo Variations by Adam David
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| Source: https://curiouscouch.wordpress.com/2009/03/11/ultraelectromagneticlit/ |
This is one of those books that you could read in an hour or so. The El Bimbo Variations is a collection of different versions of the chorus of the Filipino song Ang Huling El Bimbo by Eraserheads, which goes, “Kamukha mo si Paraluman / Nung tayo ay bata pa (You looked like Paraluman / When we were young). (Now that I translated the lyrics, Adele might have stolen the title here.)
The Tales of Beedle the Bard
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| Source: http://harrypotter.wikia.com/wiki/The_Tales_of_Beedle_the_Bard |
For Harry Potter fans, The Tales of Beedle the Bardwill be an amazing experience. Yes, J. K. Rowling wrote the HP series, and we got to experience the story as if we were really there, but this book makes it even “more real.” It tells stories that were passed on from generation to generation in the wizarding world. While we have stories like Cinderella or Beauty and the really creepy monster that turns into a really hot prince, the young wizards and witches also have their own stories that teach them, at a young age, the importance of goodness.
What I like the most about this book is that it seems like a legit book from the wizarding community. It feels like I got hold of something that was of a different world. There are notes from Dumbledore on every story, and Jo added her own notes to better explain the points Dumbledore was making, which made the experience more fun.
Miss Peregrine’s Peculiar Children by Ransom Riggs
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| Source: http://www.ransomriggs.com/ |
Yes, I know the movie just came out, and you might have seen it. If you did, here is what you need to know: the movie is worlds apart from the book. You might have read the differences online too. Emma’s and Olive’s peculiarity were interchanged. That was perhaps one of the biggest changes. However, aside from the plot and the character modifications, there is one particular aspect that, to me, is the biggest difference between the book and the movie—the overall feeling you get.
The movie was fun and colorful, and although we get to see scary monsters there, the creepiness is nothing compared to the book. I remember the feeling I had when I read the first few chapters. It was scary. It made me feel like I was with Jacob, and I had just entered a place that I was not supposed to be in. First of all, the children aren’t that attractive. Fiona doesn’t have those perfect braids. Instead, her hair is likened to a bird’s nest. Bronwyn is not that cute. She’s a bit masculine and hates dressing up like a girl. Secondly, you get to feel the emptiness more in the book. The loop they had lost allowed them to start a new life in a new place and in a new time. After decades of experiencing the same thing every day, the children are finally able to live another day (literally).
The creepiness and poignancy that you can experience in the book is worth the time and effort. The ending definitely made me speechless.
Death of a Salesman by Arthur Miller
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| Source: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Death_of_a_Salesman_(2000_film) |
This is one of those classics whose synopsis alone had me hooked. It’s about a man who had reached old age, thinking that he was already someone and who thinks so highly of himself. But the truth is that he has no job and, at his age, still needs one. His delusion drives him crazy. Secrets from the past are uncovered, and the story ends sadly. This is my first play ever, and I loved it.
I almost cried while reading this because the message resonated with me so much. Willy is the very person I am trying not to become. The play paints a portrait of a man who worked hard throughout his life and, in the end, had nothing to show for it. For me personally, it’s not about what other people think or say about you. It’s about the satisfaction that you get when you can honestly say that you’ve done what you needed and wanted to do in life and you’ve done it well, not regretting a single day. I don’t want to find myself someday wishing to go back and turn back time because I was living a life that is not of my choosing. This book makes me want to try harder and push myself more.
It's a Ping Thing 