Anne-Di's blog

07/25/2010

Just Listen by Sarah Dessen

Just Listen

Sarah Dessen

Title: Just Listen

Author: Sarah Dessen

Genre: Young Adult

Nos. of Pages: 371

Annabelle Greene seems to be the girl who has everything. After all, that is what she projects on her latest modelling gig for a local department store. But, things don't seem to be that way in real life. Annabelle's sister has an eating disorder that's jeopardizing their family. She and her "best friend" Sophie stop speaking to one another over Sophie's boyfriend. Annabelle's all alone and just when she thought she has no friends to talk to, enter Owen Armstrong. A music-obsessed schoolmate who seems to get pass all the facade that Annabelle projects and see her just as she is. With Owen's help, Annabelle began to carve a new life but can she tell Owen what really happened during the night she and Sophie stopped being friends?

I LOVE Sarah Dessen!

In general, Ms. Dessen is a master storyteller of teen angst for she can vividly narrates what her characters are thinking and feeling. Because of this, readers are drawn to what are her characters are experiencing as if they too are feeling the emotions. Readers are effectively transported to the world of the character, in this book, Annabelle as if her problems are our problems too. Her agony over her terrible secret is painful and disturbing. She feels so ashamed of it that she can't ask for anyone's help. Her pain is being experienced by a lot of woman - whether they are a teenager or an adult because such experience is really very humiliating and degrading. She can't turn to her family since she can't afford them to worry. After all, her older sister's problem isn't over yet and her parents are having difficulties because of this.

Help or friendship comes in the form of Owen Armstrong. Owen unexpectedly turned Annabelle's world upside down and for the better since she found in him a friend who seems to understand her like no one else before. But as they become more than just friends, Annabelle begins to doubt if she's worthy of Owen's attention since she has a past she can't seem to run from. I love Owen and his unique taste of "enlightened" music. I love how he sticks by Annabelle's side and ignores all the rumors about her. I love how he tries to help Annabelle find herself. His younger sister is funny and provides comedy in a story with dark aspects underneath. I also love how Ms. Dessen used music in a lot of her novels to convey her character's emotions and epiphanies.

My favorite line in this book is about running from the past and it goes like: when you try to run from the past, it just doesn't catch up: it overtakes, blotting out the future, the landscape, the very sky, until there is no path left except that which leads through it, the only one that ever get you home. The book is all about letting go. It's hard to do it sometimes because some things are just too painful to resist like the past creeping up. It's hard to tell everyone especially when you know that your reputation is at stake and it's your word against the world. This book deals with a very serious issue so it's not really for the faint-hearted.

Sometimes disturbing, sometimes funny and sometimes romantic, JUST LISTEN is a coming-of-age story of a young woman who discovers herself despite the perilous path she has to take to find her own strength.

Rating 5/5

Posted at 03:51 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

Where The Heart Leads by Stephanie Laurens

Where the Heart Leads [WHERE THE HEART LEADS] [Mass Market Paperback]
Stephanie(Author) Laurens
Warning: Spoilers!

This is the novel by Stephanie Laurens that I read and boy, I was impressed! Ms. Laurens created very convincing characters and the way she described their journey of discoveries (as a team and as man and woman) was a delight to read.

Barnaby was the third son of an earl and he was an accomplished crime-solver among the ton. However, after solving successfully another crime, he found himself sitting in his bachelor's pad, alone, and nothing to do. Feeling restless, he wished for another case to wet his appetite for solving crimes...

Penelope was a sister of a viscount and was a headmistress of Foundling House, a charitable organization that took care orphans from the East End. There, they educate and groom these orphans so that one day, they can have decent jobs instead of straying away and plaguing society with crimes. When prospective charges started to disappear one-by-one, Penelope knew exactly whom to ask for help...

So the disappearances of several boys from the East End was what provoked Penelope to come unaided one night to Barnaby's bachelor's pad. She came to Barnaby without warning and straightforwardly told him of her problems. This Barnaby found admiring of a woman of the ton. Not only that, Penelope was a very very attractive and marriageable lady. So what's a guy gotta do? Help her ofcourse!

Penelope wasn't your typical damsel-in-distress. She's articulate and intelligent. Not only that, she can speak several languages. Plus, she knows her worth-making it impossible for would-be suitors to charm her. This factor on Penelope doesn't really appeal to me since she's kind of intimidating. Don't get me wrong though, I love it when a heroine is witty and can be an equal of her partner but Penelope so called intelligence is not believable for me. Aside from this minor quibble, her dedication to her charges is commendable. She just doesn't do it to gratify herself, she's really a genuine philanthropist. Plus, I love it when she sets her sight on ensnaring Barnaby, she really made him literally fall.

Barnaby... what can I say about Barnaby? He's tall, blonde, handsome, muscular, and he knows how to handle Penelope. I love it when a man knows how to handle a very strong woman! I love it that he's the one who first realized that he loves Penelope and the way he made her realized how fitting they are for one another is just brilliant! Really, piquing one's curiosity is really the best way to wet someone's appetite!

Their friends, Inspector Stokes and Griselda who were also helping them solve the case were two characters who were also secretly enamored with one another. Like Barnaby and Penelope, the chemistry between these two were palpable and the sexual tension were very evident. I just hoped that Stephanie Laurens made more time for them to really discover their relationship. But I think that Ms. Laurens purposely didn't make theirs so not to overshadow Barnaby and Penelope since it can potentially overtake them, really!

The mystery in this book was who was the mastermind behind the kidnappings?! You wouldn't guess who it is until 3/4 of the book and the character of the antagonist is one of split personality. You wouldn't expect it from him that he's actually leading a life of a reliable assistant at day and a reckless gambler by night.

Overall, I loved the book despite my minor complaints. If you like strong, independent women and intelligent, hunky men... this one is for you!

Rating: 4/5

Posted at 03:50 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

First Love Never Dies

I have another blog which I created for my book reviews. Sadly, I haven't updated for 3 months now so I decided to delete it and post my reviews here in Vox. This has been the second time that I abandoned a new blog that I created. Yet, I'm still very active here in Vox despite my busy schedules. Vox is my first ever blog and what can I say, in this case, it's really true that FIRST LOVE NEVER DIES!!!

Posted at 03:47 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

My First 5 Days of Teaching

It's tough, challenging, and you need to have a lot of patience when dealing with young girls! You're not just their teacher but you're also their mother/assistant/yaya...

I'm still adjusting with this new life that I'm living and I should be very careful because I don't want to inflict any damages with these girls since one wrong move might left an indelible mark on their young lives. I'm scared that one day, I'll snap and say or do something regrettable to them! Anyway, I STILL HAVE LOTS TO LEARN specially in the Classroom Management department because these children are so active and have short attention span.

BUT...

All feelings of tiredness and anxiousness disappear when they call you in the corridors, shouting your name, just to get their attention. When they embrace you and give you a kiss that you know is genuine... everything makes sense!!!

Because of that, you feel assured that this profession is FOR YOU!!!

Being a teacher is truly a test of character. It's not for everyone!!!

Posted at 01:59 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/21/2010

QotD: If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go? Why?
Europe
Where else but in Europe! I'll visit all the countries that make up the continent from the Pyreenes up to the Ural Mountains, from the British Isle to the Balkans, from Scandinavia to the Mediterranean, from the Baltic Sea to the Iberian Peninsula... I'll explore all that Europe can offer! According to one of my college professor who frequently travels to Europe, she can't get enough of the continent because it's like a HUGE MUSEUM with so much sights to see!!!

Posted at 07:09 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/20/2010

Sun Fei Fei for Vogue Korea July 2010

Sun Fei Fei - Vogue Korea July 2010 - 5

Photo from Asian Models

Posted at 03:29 AM | Permalink | Comments (0)

07/17/2010

Liu Wen Smiling

Liu Wen's Candid Shot

Whenever I see her smile, I can't help but feel warm inside.

It's because her smile looks so genuine!

Posted at 08:57 AM | Permalink | Comments (1)

Scared, Excited, and Nervous

These are the three words that currently define my state-of-mind. I will now officially start my new life as an employed (well, semi-employed) teacher at a Catholic school for girls here in the Philippines. I may not be teaching my majorship which is History but I'll teach English to Grades 1 and 2 pupils. The thought of teaching the girls is quite scary because I might fail to deliver. I know that I can depend on the Subject Team Leader (STL) and the English teachers in Grade 2 but still, I'm quite apprehensive about it. What if my students can't learn anything from me? Sure, I have a background in Reading and I took several units about it but still...

Another thing that's making me worried are my colleagues. I've met them already and it seems like there are a wonderful lot but what if in the long run, I might disappoint or unknowingly do something offensive to them? This is the scariest part of all actually. As a teacher, I must also secure my relationship with my colleagues. I have to learn to get along with them since they are the people whom I will turn to most of the time.

Gosh, I'm not even starting but I'm already a nervous wreck! What's with Virgos that make them such worrywarts?!

I really really hope that all my worries are all in vain because I hate to be a failure and I loathe being a disappointment!!!

Wish me luck guys... Wish me luck...

Posted at 08:27 AM | Permalink | Comments (2)

07/12/2010

FIFA 2010 World Cup South Africa

FIFA 2010 Logo

I've never understood the game and soccer has never been popular here in the Philippines. But this year, I've been following the World Cup for a month just like many people around the globe! FIFA fever caught me by surprise! One minute, I was just switching channels then suddenly, I got hooked! I still needs to learn what a midfielder and an offside is, but this year's World Cup got me totally interested!

Last night was the FINAL night of this most-watched sporting event in the world and I saw how Spain defeated Netherlands 1-0 with a goal by Andres Iniesta. Both are considered football powerhouse yet both have never won the most coveted trophy at all! Many fans from both countries flooded the streets of Madrid and Amsterdam, waving their flags and wearing outrageous costumes! The Dutch may have lost but kudos to them for wearing proudly those ridiculous orange wigs, shirts, hats, etc! The football fever is not yet over in Spain since their boys will return home tonight for a celebration in Madrid.

Another reason why the World Cup caught my attention is because of the unbelievable amount of gorgeous men in the field! Hot men running and sweating, being all so competitive and driven... YUM!!! hahahahaha...

Ok, ok... Here are some pictures of the men that made me smile every time I see them play: