Book Review: Taste

Title: Taste
Author: Kate Evangelista
Genre/s: Young Adult, Paranormal Fantasy, Romance

Synopsis:

At Barinkoff Academy, there's only one rule: no students on campus after curfew. Phoenix McKay soon finds out why when she is left behind at sunset. A group calling themselves night students threaten to taste her flesh until she is saved by a mysterious, alluring boy. With his pale skin, dark eyes, and mesmerizing voice, Demitri is both irresistible and impenetrable. He warns her to stay away from his dangerous world of flesh eaters. Unfortunately, the gorgeous and playful Luka has other plans. When Phoenix is caught between her physical and her emotional attraction, she becomes the keeper of a deadly secret that will rock the foundations of an ancient civilization living beneath Barinkoff Academy. Phoenix doesn't realize until it is too late that the closer she gets to both Demitri and Luka the more she is plunging them all into a centuries old feud.

Filipino Friday #3: Reading Habits and Book Format

It's friday again and you know what that means, right? Filipino Friday! Oh yeah! So last weeks topic is about School of Reading which is about how I began to love books and who inspired me to read. This Friday our topic is this:

Reading Habits and Book Formats. Where and how do you read? Can you read anywhere and everywhere, or do you need a certain place/mood/state of mind to get reading? Do you read more in the morning or at night or any minute that you can? Where and how do you usually read? Are you exclusively for print, or do you go for ebooks more than print? Have you ever tried audiobooks?

Believe it or not, I can actually read anywhere even in the loudest, most chaotic environment. I don't know, whenever I started reading a book, it's like I entered a portal to another world. I'm not exaggerating this, you can ask anyone who knows me.

I often read at night because I have more time in the evening. My morning is really busy because of school and house chores, you know, college life and all. And also there's something really peaceful in reading at night. Makes it easier for me to sleep.

And regarding about the format of book, I read both, printed and ebooks but preferred printed more. I just love the feel and smell of printed books and it's much easier for me to read since I don't have an e-reader or kindle. I can finish a printed book within 2 to 3 days regardless of its page but in ebooks, it would take me 1 to 2 weeks to finish it.

I haven't tried audiobooks yet but I would love to try if I have one.

Filipino Friday #2: School Of Reading

This meme is created by Filipino Reader Con in accordance with the upcoming 2nd Annual ReaderCon: United We Read. So every Friday, a topic will be posted and all Filipino readers are encouraged to make their own post about that topic. This is the second week of Filipino Friday and this weeks topic is:

School of Reading. We all started reading somewhere, and more often than not, we were influenced by someone. Who got you into reading? Your parents? A friend? A librarian? One teacher who always lends out his/her books? How helpful was your school in helping your reading habit / fueling your book addiction?

Since I was a kid, my father always encouraged me to read. He always told me this quote that “the one who reads, leads”. He always added an explanation to it in order for me to further understand what he meant but it’s not until high school that I proved that my dad was right.

Indeed, a reader has more edge over those who don’t like to read. Their vocabularies were richer than others. If only words could worth a penny or a peso, I think they will become millionaires, heck billionaires. They can use highfalutin words without sweating. They know places which they’ve never been. Their imaginations were vivid, it’s like they’re watching a movie rather than reading a book.

This is what I realized and learned in reading books. And I’m thanking my father for his never-faltering words of wisdom and undying encouragements. Because without him, I may not be who I am now because books has taught me a lot more than my teachers did. (*Sorry ma'am, sorry sir but its true.)

Filipino Friday #1: Introduction

This meme is created by Filipino Reader Con in accordance with the upcoming 2nd Annual ReaderCon: United We Read. So every Friday, a topic will be posted and all Filipino readers are encouraged to make their own post about that topic. This is the first time I'm going to do this meme, so let's begin. 

 Introductions. As with every start of a weekly meme, we need to know a bit about you! Talk about your top 3-5 (or more!) favorite books of all time, the genres you read and would never read, the books that surprised you this year. You can also talk about how you became a reader and why you love it so much! And finally, if you were in the ReaderCon last year, talk about your experience too! If you weren’t there, but you’re planning to go this year, then what do you expect for the upcoming ReaderCon?

About me and how I became a reader.

I'm Erleen Alvarez, a 4th year student BS Information Technology student. I was really not fond of reading when I was a kid. It bores me to sleep especially long stories. But when I started high school, there's a certain book that captures my attention and that is "Mythology: Timeless Tales of Gods and Heroes by Edith Hamilton". It fascinates me. I never knew that reading could be that much fun until that time. You can travel places without leaving your house. It's like you've entered a portal to another world and that's how I started to became a reader.

Genres I like and dislike:

I like fantasy(because of the mythology), science fiction(because I love science), mystery(because it's mysterious, duh?), thriller(because I like action and fast pace story) and YA(because I'm young and young at heart).

I don't like nonfiction and erotica, enough said.

Top 3 Favorite Books of All Time!

1. Like the Flowing River by Paulo Coelho

2. Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

3. Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver

About ReaderCon 2012

I would love to go to the ReaderCon but I can't. I'm graduating this year and there's so many things to do. So the best thing I could to is to promote it by spreading the word. Goodluck to all the nominees for the Filipino Reader's Choice Awards! :)