Message in a Bottle - A Short Review

*Spoiler alert*

Message in a Bottle is a story about. . . Well, I suggest that you read its summary somewhere else. The blogger is too stubborn to give you a glimpse of the whole novel. But here's a short review:

Like any other Nicholas Sparks novel, it has these several "predictable" scenes. Maybe it has something to do with his style of writing or maybe it has just something to do with the way I foresee the events happening in the characters' lives. 

But I'm glad that despite this "little" disappointment I felt as I was reading the novel, I've got to learn and realize something about love. 

Garrett, despite his grief and great love for Catherine, was able to move on after years and began to love again. Theresa, despite her sadness and heartbreak after Garrett had died, was able to realize after some time that she, too, would be capable of having something beautiful too in the future. It wouldn't be easy, it would take time, but Garrett has given her hope...

We can really never live competing and comparing ourselves with the people that our "boy/girlfriends/husbands/wives" have loved before. At one point in their lives, they have let go of and moved on from them. What matters is that they love us now, and we have the hope that in the future, they still will. Both people involved in the relationship have to make it work, because the moment one has stopped trying, we'll never know when it'll be all to late... Just like what happened to Garrett and Theresa. They've taken too much time when they could have worked it out...

- E.

Jesus: Savior of the Lost, Last, and Least

Gotta Keep Reading (I Gotta Feeling)

I got my book!

Do you have yours?

What is the title?

And who’s it by?

Where is it set?

Maybe in Spain?

Is it fiction?

Or is it real?

Will it be happy?

Or maybe sad?

Let’s see what happens

By reading on

Open that book

And have a look

It’s an adventure

So keep on reading that book

The World of Books

The Joy of Books

My Passion, My Obsession

by: April Eunice L. Brillante

Passion is a very strong emotion about someone or something. It entails a feeling of enthusiasm and desire for something we love or have  just learned to love. Reading, of all other things, has been one of those which unusually excites me. Books have been one of the best companions I've had, and I'm not letting them go. Wondering why?

When I was a high school student, I was completely amused by these people who can manage to work for their academics while reading novels for their past-time activity. I'm a slow reader and I don't usually spend money to buy books other than those being required for school. I doubted my capability of understanding this other world where some people are going crazy about. I never imagined myself being so in love with books. I never thought that these sheets of paper would take me to various places where I've never been.

My passion for reading actually started when the Twilight Saga by Stephenie Meyer has been a fad. I was driven to read her novels because of my friends' reviews about this vampire-ish series. At first, I just really want to know what the story is all about. I never knew that this would be the start of my journey as a bibliophile.

Since then, I became a fan of various authors like Nicholas Sparks, Mitch Albom, Cecelia Ahern, and Suzanne Collins. Their books have made me live through different eras for every chapter in my life. They made me experience a lot of things from various characters and stories that they talk about. They made me learn and understand myself more as well as the people around me. My life has been different since then.

To be honest, I usually freak out and feel so excited every time I'm inside a bookstore (Powerbooks and Fully Booked in particular.) I'm completely obsessed, as my boyfriend would say, but it's normal and he understands. We all have this one thing where we completely go crazy about. We all have this passion for something, that despite our busy schedule, we'd still find time for it. 

Oh, how I love not to let go of this passion. Because a time spent for doing something that we love is never a wasted one. And since the day I have learned to appreciate reading books, I know that I made the right choice of letting myself fall deeply into it. 

"Experience has taught me that people only give value to a thing if they have, at some point, been uncertain as to whether or not they'll get it." - The Winner Stands Alone, Paulo Coelho

Books are the Ultimate Dumpees

“Books are the ultimate Dumpees: put them down and they’ll wait for you forever; pay attention to them and they always love you back.” 

― John Green, An Abundance of Katherines

by: Robert Joseph M. Isles

When I was young, I love comics. It actually came out to be my favourite hobby collecting superhero comics particularly Spiderman, Batman, and what else? SUPPPPPERMANNNNN! (I actually got a little “S” bangs during that time and put a blanket at my back.)  I HATE reading extensively long black and white books. I HATE published materials which do not have pictures in it. I totally, severely, brutally, rigorously, ferociously, inhumanely HATE them. To cut a long story short, I WAS NOT BORN A BOOKWORM. 

It all began when I was in third grade and was asked to represent our school at a science quiz bee in our district. I was so depressed because I was assigned to read thick piles of boring, monotonous history books! Goodness Gracious! They we’re so heavy, and thinking of my height that time, it’s not easy. And carrying them in my knapsack EVERYDAY---suffering. During that time, I was not focused and told myself that winning that contest won’t help me and engraved to my mind that after the contest I’ll throw them back to the library and shout “GOOD RIDDANCE!”

Two weeks before the contest and was scolded by my grandma for not doing my task in reading the books. I did not obey her. Instead, I watched television the whole weekend. The next day, I was I was disciplined by my mom and dad. I was so sluggish but I have no choice but to read them the whole night. I was shocked when I enjoyed the first three chapters of the first book. But for a young man like me, two weeks was impossibly enough to finish (and memorize) them. I was so disheartened that I was only able to read a book and five chapters of the second one. During the contest I got chills they’re multiplying and I’m losing control (wow! GREASE). I only got the 13^th place and do you wanna know how many are we in the contest back then? 15! SO EPIC! JUST GREAT!

That failure didn’t let me put my guard down. I just prayed and said to myself: I SHALL RETURN! Do you know what I did when I got home? I CRIED A LOT. But with determination and guidance, a year after, I won the second place. But I wasn’t able to compete in the regionals due to diarrhea. BOOM!

Many years gone by and my interest in books intensified. I am able to read books with the generous help of my pocket and sometimes, parents. I am not a mom-dad-give-me-money type of guy. If I can afford it, I’ll buy it on my own. Reading books benefited me too much in terms of my vocabulary, reducing stress and improving my memory. I so love books. It helps me to escape the reality and bring me to a new world. It’s so ironic to think that a thick black and white book can give you colourful experience and make you imagine worlds that you didn’t knew ever exist. Books are one of my best buddies and they helped me to create new friends who have the samedesire especially the YA novels.

Reading is one of the best hobbies a person can have. But it’s saddening to know that majority of us aren’t introduced to the fabulous world of books.Why don’t you read now? No time? No money?

If you think that you don’t have enough time to start reading, you’re wrong. How do I know? Because we make time for the things that are important to us. How much TV do you watch? How much time do you spend trawling the web? You could easily replace reading with those activities.

If you’re worried about the cost of books, check ‘em out at the local library. And even most bookstores have book sales every season. Take advantage!

There’s really no excuse to start reading on a regular basis. The benefits far outweigh the costs, and more knowledge never hurt anybody.

So when you got bored, grab a cup of coffee, curl up on your chair and start reading. Turn the pages to explore a new world filled with information and ingenuity.

I’m Robert and reading is my passion.

Chaps and Mustache: An Introduction

"What is your passion?"

 Our professor asked. And the moment we heard this, we already knew what we'd love to write about. Books. 

So welcome to Chaps and Mustache, where you can find the musings of two bibliophiles. We are Eunice Brillante and Robert Isles, 2nd year Bedan Accounting students. Our passion is reading books, and we'd love to share that passion with you. :)