The perfect birthday gift

 

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VAMPIRES

I admit, I'm not a fan of the Twilight Saga (or series, or whatever you wanna call it), but that does not give me any reason to despise it. In fact, I bought a copy of the first book and read it. It was just not my cup of tea. I read fantasy and romantic novels at times, but I just can't seem to fathom the mood or the aura it gives me. It's too romantic for me.

By the time the book and the movie franchise of the Twi series was being commercialized heavily through media, I was not one who immediately joined the bandwagon. I watched the movie first and found it promising, but not that interesting. It took me a few months before I actually got hold of the book. Unfortunately, I wasn't interested in reading the other books. I did watch the second movie, New Moon and that was it.

I am a huge Harry Potter series fan and I've read all the books a hundred times over I think. I've also watched the movies and has found the interest to check out Pottermore (but I still have to make time for that). Given that I know the books by heart, I have not let this to interfere with reality. I mean, I don't go around with a wand at hand and scream a jinx or a spell to random people, not even my friends. I've fantasized going to Hogwarts, but I never grew desperate of the idea. It was a fantasy, so as the books.

And that's why I could not imagine how someone would do this.

The arrest of an American man who broke into a woman's house and tried to suck her blood over the weekend has sparked discussion about the impact of vampire books and movies on youth culture.

Whether pop culture played a role in the attack remains to be seen, as 19-year-old Lyle Monroe Bensley awaits a psychiatric evaluation in jail on burglary charges in Galveston, Texas.

Found growling and hissing in a parking lot and wearing only boxer shorts, the pierced and tattooed Bensley claimed he was a 500-year-old vampire who needed to "feed," Galveston Police Capt. Jeff Heyse said.

 OK, maybe I'm being a bit too harsh on the whole "vampire" thing. I may not be a fan of Twilight, True Blood or the Vampire Diaries, even one of Anne Rice's vampire series, but there's one story on vampires that I appreciate, Elizabeth Kostova's The Historian.

I'm just clueless on how one person can be affected or infected with such notion of acting or being a vampire?

I guess they have to separate fiction from reality. These novels, movies and TV programs are all fragments of man's imagination, they are all fictitious accounts of these creatures. There's a reason why they're called fantasy novels, fiction stories and TV drama.

There's nothing wrong with patronizing vampire novels and the likes, but I just hope that we should know the difference between the truth from fantasy.

BRIDGE TO TERABITHIA: Not your typical children's book

Andrei had a school project where they were to do a book review of any John Newberry book. I was the one who searched bookstores after bookstores just to look for these books, but I had a hard time. Luckily, a book assistant at the Powerbooks in Glorietta REALLY knows her books and told me that John Newberry was not an author, but an award-giving institution. It recognizes children's books by giving it a Gold or Silver medal.

So this lady showed me the books with the John Newberry stamp of approval. These are books that ranges from the mundane to the surreal. Since my brother was not much of a reader, I chose a book that would somehow interest him to read and so that I will not be forced to do the book review too. The book that I chose was the Bridge to Terabithia. I know that it has been adapted to a film before and if Andrei would really not want to read the book, we can just watch the movie.

But Andrei finished the book, and even did the review all by himself, though he asked for little grammar checks here and there. He said that it "caught his heart" and that "true love flows". So I got curious, what kept my not-so reader brother to actually attach himself emotionally to this story? So yes, I read the book.

At first, it was all about normal issues that kids go through. Peer pressure, family issues and dealing with the opposite sex who wants to be friends with you.

Jess was a simple boy who only dreams to be the fastest runner in their school. But all that vanished when a newbie beat all of the boys as the fastest kid in school. What makes it more annoying to him is that this kid was a girl, Leslie. But their differences was not much of an issue as they developed an unlikely friendship. A friendship that both helped them to conquer their fears and widen their imagination.

They built the kingdom of Terabithia and became rulers, king and queen. On Christmas day, Leslie gave Jess an art set with paints and brushes, as he dreams of becoming an artist someday. Jess on the other hand gave Leslie a dog they named Prince Terrien or PT for short. PT was honored as the guardian and court jester of Terabithia.

Together, Leslie and Jess conquered the enemies of Terabithia as they face their personal enemies at school. But one tragedy changed all there is between them. Leslie died when she was trying to reach Terabithia alone. Jess has been invited by their music teacher at an art gallery in Washington. It was hard for Jess to accept this reality but then he realized that Leslie taught him that fears are to be conquered and life must go on despite difficulties.

In his attempt to continue ruling Terabithia, he brought her sister May Belle and she became the new queen of his and Leslie's kingdom, thus passing on the legacy that Leslie gave him.

I have been wanting to read a book that will thug my heart just like what The Lovely Bones did to me. I never thought that I will get this from a children's book. I was on the verge of crying when Leslie died and my heart was crushed with Jess' reactions to it.

I am still lost for words on what to say about how this book affected me. I just hope that people, no matter what their age is, would continue to open their minds into a whole new world of fantasy.

There are a lot of things that are needed to cite from this book but I suggest that it is always better that you try to read it.

As for me, I am glad that my brother enjoyed READING A BOOK. I've always prodded them to read the Harry Potter series since they enjoyed the movies. To read a book is another experience from watching a movie. It lets your imagination run wild and play your own movie inside your head.

I'm a happy sister!

Sweet Mint

My throat has been sore since last week.

I have been eating tons of sweets these past few days. This may be a tonsillitis infection, I think so.
And the culprit?

I was passing the Candy Corner stall at SM Bicutan when I saw these starmint candies, or better known as peppermint candies. I bought 70 pesos worth of these babies and ate them the whole week.

i am addicted to it now that amidst my sore throat, all I want is that minty sweet goodness parked in my mouth as it melts in my tongue.

My sister has been bringing home these candies before but they were of the cane version.

I'm all for sweet and minty nowadays. Chocomint gelato, Peppermint Mocha, starmint candies, hot choco with mint, dalandan juice with mint leaves, or even a mojito.

I need help.