[Books] Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen

Synopsis

Orphaned, penniless, Jacob Jankowski jumps a freight train in the dark, and in that instant, transforms his future.
By morning, he's landed a job with the Flying Squadron of the Benzini Brothers Most Spectacular Show on Earth. By nightfall, he's in love.
In an America made colourless by prohibition and the Depression, the circus is a refuge of sequins and sensuality. But behind the glamour lies a darker world, where both animals and men are dispensable. Where falling in love is the most dangerous act of all... 

Goodreads 

Review

I bought this book a couple of years back, and it's been on my shelf for ages. I recently found the audiobook I thought might as well read and listen at the same time to make things faster.

This was the kind of book that I thought would bored me bu I was surprised that I really enjoyed it. It was the same feeling I had when I read The Help, it sucked me in from the very first words. Though it did take me quite a while to finish the book, I just wasn't in the reading/listening mood for the past few weeks. 

I've grown to love these kind of book that not only focuses on the romance part but focuses on everything and has meaning behind it all. 

The book focuses on Jacob Jankowski and his life when he runs away from his home town and joins a circus. 

I immensely enjoyed this book. It was intriguing, adventurous and a slightly easy read. The characters were very diverse and fun; hence circus. 

As for the narrators of the audio version, they were fantastic and did a great job. They kept the listener listening. And the production was delightful, with all the soothing music that I swayed along to for that couple of seconds

Water for Elephants is a great novel, I would read it again in time. And I definitely recommend this novel to anyone, absolutely anyone who enjoys reading something outside their genre. Though I have to warn those who want to let younger readers read this, it has explicit sexual content.

[Books] The Help by Kathryn Stockett

Goodreads

Started on: July 7 2013

Finished on: July 14 2013

Synopsis

Three ordinary women are about to take one extraordinary step. 

Twenty-two-year-old Skeeter has just returned home after graduating from Ole Miss. She may have a degree, but it is 1962, Mississippi, and her mother will not be happy till Skeeter has a ring on her finger. Skeeter would normally find solace with her beloved maid Constantine, the woman who raised her, but Constantine has disappeared and no one will tell Skeeter where she has gone. 

Aibileen is a black maid, a wise, regal woman raising her seventeenth white child. Something has shifted inside her after the loss of her own son, who died while his bosses looked the other way. She is devoted to the little girl she looks after, though she knows both their hearts may be broken. 

Minny, Aibileen's best friend, is short, fat, and perhaps the sassiest woman in Mississippi. She can cook like nobody's business, but she can't mind her tongue, so she's lost yet another job. Minny finally finds a position working for someone too new to town to know her reputation. But her new boss has secrets of her own. 

Seemingly as different from one another as can be, these women will nonetheless come together for a clandestine project that will put them all at risk. And why? Because they are suffocating within the lines that define their town and their times. And sometimes lines are made to be crossed.

Review

The Help by Kathryn Stockett is a book that shows you the maids side of the story back in the 1960's. It was a time of the KKK and discrimination of other races, it was also the time of Martin Luther King and the civil rights movement. But this book mainly focuses on two black maids and one white rich girl who becomes an outcast in her town because of what she wrote. Aibileen, Minny and Skeeter

I bought this book last year because I watched the movie and thought it was interesting enough to buy the book and read it. When I started this book, I didn't think I would enjoy it so much. I thought it would be one of those boring books with meaning that would take me a whole month to finish, but nooooooo... this book was unputdownable. 

I listened to the audiobook of this, and the narrators did a marvelous job, they all did. I was speaking in a southern accent the entire time I was listening to it. 

I don't know if I've read any other books that made my heart melt just like this one did. It really touched my heart how people in this book can be so kind and patient with others. 

I highly recommend this book to be read by everyone. At least once in their life time. This book is up there with the must reads before you die list, because this book gives out a meaning that is unexplainable. 

It's an amazing book that is a must-read!

[Books] Something Borrowed by Emily Griffin

Goodreads

Started on: January 4, 2013
Finished on: January 10, 2013

Synopsis

The smash-hit debut novel for every woman who has ever had a complicated love-hate friendship.

Now A Major Motion Picture - In Theaters May 6th

Rachel White is the consummate good girl. A hard-working attorney at a large Manhattan law firm and a diligent maid of honor to her charmed best friend Darcy, Rachel has always played by all the rules. Since grade school, she has watched Darcy shine, quietly accepting the sidekick role in their lopsided friendship. But that suddenly changes the night of her thirtieth birthday when Rachel finally confesses her feelings to Darcy's fiance, and is both horrified and thrilled to discover that he feels the same way. As the wedding date draws near, events spiral out of control, and Rachel knows she must make a choice between her heart and conscience. In so doing, she discovers that the lines between right and wrong can be blurry, endings aren't always neat, and sometimes you have to risk everything to be true to yourself.

Review

Rachel and Darcy have be the best of friends since they were kids. Darcy has always been the perfect one, who wanted to be better than everyone but in the end she always puts her friends first. Rachel is the one who always puts herself down and basically doesn't have much confidence in herself. Years later, Darcy gets engaged to Rachel's good friend from law school, Dexter/Dex. It's Rachels birthday and some how, Rachel confesses her feelings to Dex and one thing led to another, they wake up naked in her bed the next morning.

I was initially excited to start this book. It was a book that I really wanted to read at some point, so I did. I don't know what's wrong with me but I just wasn't that into it but then my eyes just couldn't stop reading it. xD Lol

As I got to through the book, I got really annoyed at the characters. Darcy is just all about herself, she tries to make everything about herself, she lies to make herself better than others, and I'm just annoyed at her. I know the second book; Something Blue, is about her, I don't know how to deal with that, but she'll be the main character so I guess it'll be different.

Rachel annoyed me towards the middle and end of the book. It really seems like she has no confidence in herself at all! And she's very very naive.

The storyline is new to me; book wise , but I did watch the movie before I read the book. There are times as I was reading when I wanted to just close the book and stop reading. It just seems so dramatic for me... and I enjoy watching gossip girl. I don't know whats wrong with me.

[Review, Books] Gossip Girl (1) by Cecily von Ziegesar

Goodreads

Started on: July 5 2012 

Finished on: July 9 2012 

Summary
Older teens and adult readers can't get enough of Gossip Girl, the anonymous narrator who made her catty debut in the bestselling Gossip Girl and titillated readers in the juicy sequel, You Know You Love Me. Now in All I Want Is Everything, readers will love her even more as Gossip Girl dishes up dose after hefty dose of dirt on all her friends-New York's wealthiest private school teens. Sharp wit, intriguing characters, and high-stakes melodrama drive the action of this wildly popular new series.


Review

I’ve always been into Gossip Girl since the TV series stated. But I didn't actually want to read the books, but when I saw it on the bookshelf at the bookstore in the Philippines, the book just looked too tempting for some reason, so I just had to get it.

Once I picked it up and started reading it, I couldn't put it down. As I was reading I was replaying the whole first episode of the first season in my head. I actually thought that the first book will have at least 2-3 episodes in it. I was slightly disappointed that it was only 1 episode. Well, it is a small thin book.

The storyline was good, as I said, it was just like the first episode of the first season. The return of Serena, Blairs jealousy, and the Kiss on the Lips Party. The reason why I love reading the books rather than watching the TV Series or the Movie sometimes because you miss out on what may seem like small tiny details but are actually pretty big ones. I think the reason why I couldn't put down the book was because of how the story line was suppose to be.

I was very surprised at how much these kids smoke, drink and swear. And that their parents even allow them to do so much of it. I just find it very shocking compared to my teenage years.

The first edition of the Gossip Girl series was great, in my opinion and I recommend it to young adults who enjoy reading about Gossip, Drama, Chick-lit, and of course the upper east side of New York City.

★★★★

Drama's of the Season.

There are so many new Japanese drama's that came out in the beginning of January, and I still didn't watch them...But, I am planning too.

The jdrama's I'll be watching this season are
Lucky Seven
Risou no Musuko
Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata~Ending Planner~
Hungry!
Renai Neet~Wasureta Koi no Hajimekata~
*links to their drama wiki

5 new drama's to watch this season. How am I going to keep up? some of them have already released Episode 2. 

Lucky Seven 

Matsumoto Jun shirtless in the first minutes of episode 1. I scanned through the first episode, and that's the first thing I saw. Some people say that they expected more from the series. They got kind of disappointed for some reason. But, since I haven't seen MatsuJun act in a while, I am going to watch it. 

I didn't know Koyama Keichiro is in this? I was scanning through the first episode and there he pops up. 

Risou no Musuko 

The only reason I am going to watch this drama is because of Yamada and Fujigaya. (how bias is that? Lol) The story line is great, its something that is outside and inside the box. The scenery stays in a high school, but instead of the typical; new teacher comes in and disciplines the students, like Gokusen and Misaki no. 1, its about this woman who works in a cafeteria at an all boys school and her son (Yamada) leaves his prep school and attends the school his mom is working at to protect her. 

And apparently Fujigaya has a thing for Yamada's mom. That's...no... I don't like it, its just weird. 

Saikou no Jinsei no Owarikata~Ending Planner~

A reason I'm watching this is because of Yamapi and Chinen. I haven't seen Yamapi act in a while and I have never seen Chinen act. I know he's been in other drama's but this the is first time I've seen him.

The story line is kind of depressing, because the main character (Yamapi) works in a funeral service shop. It just gives me the shivers. But what caught my eye is the relationship between the main character and a rookie female detective. I am such a girl for just watching a depressing series because the summary said "Romance". 

I hope the series will turn out well. 

Hungry!

A drama about food! Who wouldn't watch something about food?

A bassist gives up his music career to take over his family's french restaurant. I think its a good concept. There will be a love triangle between the main character and obviously 2 other ladies.
I am looking forward to this drama. <3

Renai Neet~Wasureta Koi no Hajimekata~

It's a Romantic Comedy. After watching Watashi ga Renai Dekinai Riyuu last season, I wanted something completely romantic to watch this season. What can I say? I'm a hopeless romantic. 

Looking forward to watching this drama as well as the others. 

I hope you guys will be watching new drama's this season. Jdrama, Kdrama, Tdrama.

Blog for all, that's why Interested in ALL

Alright.
I have decided......*imitates Tree bread from LOTR2*
Yes, I have decided to turn my blog; not that it kind of already is, into a Blog when I post all types for things. They will be categorizes into:

• Drama/Series (New release of Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese drama, and TV Series, my certain views on the series, etc)
• Books (New release of books, Books I would like to read, Challenges, my reviews)
• Fashion (I think I'm just going to be posting the Outfit of the day, and the clothes I buy)
• Food (Dishes that I make, Reviews on dishes that i taste, new dishes, Food shows, recipes)
• Music (mostly Japanese pop and sometimes rock, reviews, updates)

As you notice, I have already been posting up my Outfits of the day. They aren't as good, but, I'm still working on it. Winter ain't my season to dress up. 

Note the name of the blog; "Interested in ALL". I just realized what that really meant and what I can really do with that name. Awesome. 

I'm thinking of posting videos as well...hmm.. still thinking. 

Also thinking of doing a separate food blog, but I guess this will do. 
This will still remain as my personal blog. I think...we'll see. xD

That's it. I'll be looking forward to the recent changes on my blog
Love all everyone. 

xoxo