i heart chicklit.

Quote Unquote

♥ My life has changed, and I'm changing with it.

6. What I Talk About When I Talk About Running

I've been meaning to read Murakami for the longest time, but I didn’t know which book to read first. Then, I saw this book, his memoir about running and writing. I loved it. I like the way he wrote stuff, how running became his metaphor for writing - for life.

I liked reading this book because I don't run and yet I get what he is saying; which totally boggled my mind. haha. But really, I liked Murakami and I can't wait to read his other works.

Quote-Unqoute:

♥ the fact that I'm me and no one else is one of my greatest assets.

♥ exerting yourself to the fullest within your individual limits: that’s the essence of running and a metaphor for life.

5. Naomi and Ely's No Kiss List

It’s a total accident that I read this book. I loved Nick and Norah's Infinite Playlist and so I thought for sure I will like this book - and I did!

Gian's List of Why She Loves this book:

5. I am a sucker of cliché' characters such as straight girl best friends with gay guy.

4. Dawson's Creek is one of my guilty pleasures.

3. I like lounging at Starbucks and people watch. I agree with Naomi, Starbucks: It's where life happens.

2. I always enjoy reading sarcastic dialogues because I wish I am cleverly sarcastic too. haha.

1. Friendships are integral to my life.

Really cool quotes:

♥ It's a total lie to say there's only one person you're going to be with for the rest of your life. If you're lucky - and if you try really hard - there will always be more than one.

♥ We always see the worst in our selves. Our most vulnerable selves. We need someone to get close enough to tell us that we're wrong. Someone we trust.

♥ It's bullshit to think of friendship and romance as being different. They're not. They're just variations of the same love. Variations of the same desire to be close.

4. L.A. Candy

I don't know what possessed me to read the debut book of Lauren Conrad. 2 chapters into it, I wanna stop but I talked myself into finishing the book. It took me a week to finish this because I was on and off it.

Gag. I don't think I'll read the next two books.

3. The Girl Who Played With Fire

Okay, I think I am addicted to Stieg Larsson. I just couldn't stop reading him. I finished the 2nd book from the Millenium-Trilogy, The Girl who played with Fire. AS usual, Lisbeth is a rockstar! :P

Unlike the first-book, this one is a cliff-hanger.

2. The Girl with the dragon tattoo

I started reading this and just couldn't for the life of me stop reading until I was finish. It took me 24 hours. It is graphic and there were parts that just stuck with me long after I finished reading it.

I wish I have photographic memory like Lisbeth!

1. Little Bee by Chris Cleave

My first book for the year is Little Bee by Chris Cleave.

I finished this book in 3 days. Sarah is my favorite character. I love that she is selfless and courageous but was falling-apart at the edges at the same time. I love the fact that although she is almost out of sanity with grief and confusion, she was able to look beyond the craziness and do what her heart wants to do, which is above all else, save Little Bee from the monsters of her past, present and future.

There were parts that I was crying but I wasn't bawling like a baby. ;)

Some of the lines that stuck with me are:

♥ However long the moon disappears, someday it must shine again.

♥ A good trick about this world, no one likes each other but everyone likes U2.

♥ People wonder how they are ever going to change their lives, but really it is frighteningly easy.

and my favorite:

♥ If your face is swollen from severe beatings of life, smile and pretend you're a fat man!

50 Book Challenge

Over at tumblr, there is a 50 Book Challenge for 2011 which I am taking part of.


Rules:

1. you have to read 50 books in the span of 12 months.
2. it could be any book you want to read. All genre included.
3. re-reads counted.
4. you may peg you goal to a smaller number if you want.
5. HAVE FUN!

Bloglove

I just wanna post a pic of my blog cloud. :)

2010 Recap

Dear 2010,


We had a wonderful run, you an I; and I cannot believe I would have to say byebye to you already.

I have to admit, it started kind of slow. Nothing special happened, I even got really sick beginning of the year which left scars - which you'd be proud to know, I have embraced already. :P

There were alot of melodramatic moments that I am already fortunately over and done with. But God has been really good and he answered alot of my prayers.  I am grateful.

Thank you 2010 for

- God's awesomeness
- the amazing EN2010 experience.
- countless chancess to start over
- my many wonderful friends that laughed with me, cried with me, gave me pep talks, scolded me and ultimately stood by me while I do all the crazy stuff I did this year.
- the surprisingly fun Anawangin trip.
- Regina Specktor and Hillsong and The Newsboys
- the marvelousness of Podcasts and Live streaming
- hugs and kisses received
- Lazy Sundays
- weheartit
- Starbucks and Yellow Cabs and Mickiedies
- my strong heart, my courage and my impossible need to get out of the rut I was in.


And so to round the year-up, here are some of my fave pictures of last year.

Love,
G