Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties by Camille Pagán

MY RATING: 3 of 5 stars

Maggie Halfmoon and her husband, Adam, is nearing their retirement and their 28th year of being married. However, Maggie’s worst nightmare came when Adam just suddenly dropped the bomb that he’s leaving their home because he no longer loves her. Aside from this, he told her that there’s another woman in his life; he sent a divorce paper few weeks after he was gone, and Maggie was left thinking what went wrong in their marriage. She kept on wishing that Adam will have a change of heart; that he will come back and they will fix their relationship.

Maggie went through the stages of grief: denial of what happened; anger to the man he loves since college; she even bargain with Adam when she drunk called him while he was in Rome; she had a mild depression, it was shown when she was slowly becoming an alcoholic particularly in the beginning, and she finally comes to acceptance after she met Adam again in the hospital.

While reading Woman Last Seen in Her Thirties, it reminds me of the bestselling novel of Elizabeth Gilbert. Although I haven’t read the aforementioned, I was able to watch the movie based on the book; hence I was able to compare this novel of Camille Pagán to it. The similarities between the two are that both protagonists went to Italy; they went through grief and confusion, and they both want to know what they want in their life now that they are single.

The story of Maggie in this novel and those other divorced women will teach us that it’s not the end of the road if your marriage failed. Hence, we should relish every phase of grief; seek peace; try to forgive those who hurt us, and keep moving forward because behind those failures might be a better life ahead.

Girl in Hyacinth Blue by Susan Vreeland

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I bought this book from 2008 to 2010. I just stored it in my box of books and never even bother to read it. Then I found this while I was sorting box recently. I never expected that I was deeply engrossed in the stories most especially Morningshine, From the Personal Papers of Adriaan Kuypers and Still Life. This is one of those books that is a page-turner and you'll still definitely love to read after several years have passed.

Big Nate: Silent But Deadly by Lincoln Peirce

My rating: 5 of 5 stars

I've tried to read one book from the Big Nate series before, but I don't know why I didn't like and finished it. I thought that would be the first and last time that I would have the chance to read any book from this famous graphic novel series. However, when I saw that there's an available ARC of the latest book, I grabbed the chance to check if it would change my view. And compared to the previous book in the series that I've read, which I can't remember the title, this latest installment is much better and funnier.

Although it is meant for middle-grade readers, young adults and even older readers will love the comic panels and banters among the characters. Reading this change my opinion about this comic series and I would definitely check the previously released books of Big Nate.

Lies We Tell Our Kids by Steve Hoover

MY RATING: 4 of 5 stars

This book of compilation of some of the witty things that parents tell their kids is really entertaining to read. While reading, I just remember some of the silly lies used by my sister and cousins as a way to scared me when I was still young. Some of those are: a snake or worm will come out of unhealed wound; a monster will try to get me if don't take an afternoon nap; and lastly if you cross your eyes, they'll get stuck that way.

I would definitely recommend this to my friends who already have kids on their own. Let's see if they will also use these lies to scare their child.

For Audrey with Love by Philip Hopman

For Audrey with Love by Philip Hopman
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Well, I thought this children's book is sort of a memoir of Audrey Hepburn. Instead, it tells us about how Hubert de Givenchy and Audrey met; how their relationship transcends from just a designer and the muse. I always admire Audrey Hepburn for being a philanthropist and she even became a goodwill ambassador in UNICEF when she was still alive.

That is what I think lacks in this children's book. I know that this is just a brief story of the two icons, but they should have included something more about Audrey being a humanitarian because that will be instill in the mind of the young readers.

Disney Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas: Special Collector's Manga by Jun Asuka

Disney Tim Burton's the Nightmare Before Christmas: Special Collector's Manga by Jun Asuka
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I was in grade school when I've watched Tim Burton's movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. Without knowing the synopsis and I was really young then, the characters of Halloween Town are quite scary to watch. Moreover, I think it really scared me to the point of what are the odds that what happened in the movie could really happen in real life. That was undeniably a terrifying scenario for a young kid — indeed a nightmare.

Reading this manga adaptation of the Tim Burton's work is like reminiscing the storyline. Yet, I only gave this four stars because it didn't capture the movie's thrilling atmosphere. However, reading this made me want to re-watch the movie soon and compare this manga to the original.

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown

Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos by Monica Brown
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

The Frida Kahlo and Her Animalitos is a wonderful children's storybook that not only young readers will get to enjoy, but adults also will appreciate this.



I'm not quite familiar with Frida's biography, although I knew some of her famous paintings such as The Two Fridas, The Wounded Deer, and The Broken Column. If ever this would be available in local bookstores here in my country, I'll definitely purchase copies of this charming book to give to my niece and godchildren.

Heart and Brain: Body Language: An Awkward Yeti Collection by The Awkward Yeti

Heart and Brain: Body Language: An Awkward Yeti Collection by The Awkward Yeti
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This compilation of the comic strips of Heart and Brain's repartee is really hilarious to read. Also, I've learned that there are previously published books of The Awkward Yeti; I'll try to check those later and indulge myself with a good laugh.

Lastly, I can relate to Brain's personality because I'm an introvert, a bookworm, and I carefully plan everything first unlike Heart. Yet, I have the same characteristics as Heart also, for instance, he likes relaxation and animals such as dogs and other pets. So, after all, I'm really mixed of Brain and Heart.