Cloud Atlas - We are All Connected (The Book and The Movie)

At the start of this year I've been searching for a new book to read, as reading has been one of my favorite ways to spend my "me" time. I had to look up some book reviews for it though because I'm looking for something new, something to take my imagination for a spin. Just like in movies, I easily lose interest when the plot or the theme gets predictable. Or maybe it's just that I want my hard-earned money to buy something that can really teach me something new.

And Cloud Atlas gave me more than I asked for. It's not just a novel, it's six (6) different stories spanning six (6) different eras. The characters are linked together by a single birthmark shaped like a comet, and a universal rule that knows no space and time.

Favorite book of 2013 :)

It was a helluvanexperience. Personally, I found it breathtaking and exhausting at the same time. Each character lived in a different era, therefore for each "chapter", one had to be accustomed to the setting, the characters, the culture, and most especially the prose. The vocabulary of the 1800's are of course, different from the 1970's, and from 2013, and Mitchell invented his own slang for the future. Mitchell, takes a delicious spin at every turn and I loved it.

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Remote Online Journal Access for UP Students >> Thumbs up :)

I went to the College of Engineering Library of UP Diliman today to do research for the 70 journals/ references that we need to read for our thesis. I try to say "70" as casually as I possibly can because seriously, this has been driving me nuts for two weeks now. WHEW. There's three days from the deadline and I am only halfway through the required number so help me Lord.

I've been on Kiji-mode (killjoy) for a week now, I try my best to minimize working overtime and I keep my eyes glued to journals as much as I can. I could go on and on with my rants but the bottomline is being a working student is definitely, definitely not easy. No matter how cool it sounds. BUT daunting tasks like these are worth it when you are interested with your topic. :) And I could use a little more discipline here.

BUT what I'd like to blog about is that I was pleasantly surprised today upon learning that:

1) It's now easier to access academic journals online because the university has their own subscription to online journals, allowing students to download the needed literature for their study, and

2) We can even access them from home! Nice! I think this has been on for a couple of years already, sayang I learned about it only now. I used to think that all academic journals can only be accessed via the University wifi.

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e-Reading or Paper-view? :-)

I did some reviewing just a while ago and was able to use my Thermodynamics textbook for the first time. The moment I opened the pages I couldnt help but smile. I missed having a real book in my hands because I've been stuck with e-books for quite a while. 

Don't get me wrong, I'm really grateful for e-books. I wouldn't have been able to read full volumes of Harry Potter or Game of Thrones if not for it (nope I'm not exactly grateful for Twilight, haha). Besides, it's really more convenient to have these around instead of bulky paperbacks. I used to think that I'd never like reading off an LCD screen but I realized it just needs some getting used to. Kindle makes a really good job of capturing the paper-feel. I'm using a Samsung Tab though (her name is Deetab :D ) and the 7" version is just right for me. But i use the Kindle app primarily for reading heehee!

Hooooowever... for a booklover, there's romance in opening the pages and taking in the scent of a real book. There's something about underlining your favorite text that 'highlight' won't match. Not to mention the random "aha!" notes you scribble here and there together with your insights, and the nostalgia that comes whenever you reread it. The texture, the scent, the experience... it's all very personal. These are the things that the e-book can't hope to match and I really wish that our next generation of readers would still be able to enjoy these. 

Nevertheless, I've always believed that technology is just there to widen our options. In as much as I would always prefer a real book, I still would like to read from anywhere I wish, and have access to a wide range of content that I don't really see on bookstores/sales. What matters anyway is how we enrich our minds and hearts with what we read. :-)

“The Book Thief”, Markus Zusak

(written june 24 2011)

When I read a book, the first few pagest are the hardest.

“Am I there yet? Am I there yet? Geez I haven’t even reached chapter 3.”

Afterwards it’s less of reading and more of experiencing.

Hearts break and flutter. Laughter emerges, suspense beckons.

I glide through the pages, I can’t even remember turning them anymore.

And then it’s over. I’m thoughtful. And somewhat tired.

Like you lived another life without even leaving your room.

Now if only things unfolded as fast in real life.

Oh God that book made me cry so hard 

***

When I was midway, I was almost comparing marcus zusak to palahniuk. The misery, the pain.

But the book was about strength of heart, strength of will, endurance.

Certainly not for the weak of heart like me. I was SOBBING for goodness sakes.

But now I realize a mistake. The Book Thief, deals with the strength of the human spirit.

Palahniuk magnifies the evil. While sprinkling it with underlying notions of strength and goodwill along the way and he’s twisted. Plain twisted. I’ll always dislike and like him. Dis/like. Lol.