Ligo na u, Lapit na me by Eros Atalia

Normal lang ang buhay ni Intoy/Dude/Karl hanggang sa makilala niya si Jen. Friends with benefits yan ang status ng relasyon nila. Ok si Intoy kay Jen. Alam niya kung pano sakyan ang mga trip nito. Madalas moody si Jen. Tinatanong ito ng kung anong weirdong bagay gaya ng kung anong pinakamagandang date na magpakamatay. Hindi naman pinapalampas ni Intoy na sakyan ito at sinasagot niya ang mga tanong nito kahit na gaano pa ito kaweirdo.

Weirdo din naman si Intoy. Iba ang tingin niya sa mga bagay-bagay pero hindi niya ito ipinapakita at sinasabi sa iba. Astig ang image ni Intoy. Dahil dito hindi din niya nasasabi kay Jen ang tunay nitong nararamdaman hangang isang araw ay nagtapat si Jen sa kanya na ito ay buntis, pero hindi siya ang ama.

Pagkatapos ng pagtatapat na iyon, nawala na si Jen. Pinabayaan lang ni Intoy ang ilang araw na pagkawala nito. Pero hindi nagtagal ay hinanap na niya si Jen. Pero hindi na niya ito nahanap. Walang closure ang relasyon nila kaya hanggang sa huli nangangapa si Intoy kung ano na nga ba ang nangyari dito at kung paano siya magmomove on sa feelings nito sa misteryosong si Jen.

Analisis

Bilang prequel ng kwentong It’s Not That Complicated: Bakit Hindi pa Sasakupin ng mga Alien ang Daigdig sa 2012 , nagkaroon ako ng obligasyon na basahin ang kwentong ito at mas makilala pa si Intoy at si Jen. Hindi ko inasahan na maiinip ako sa pagbabasa at mahihirapan sa pagtapos nito.

Ang kwento

Maganda ang kwento. Simple, napapanahon at relatable. Yung tipong makikita mo ang sarili mo sa ilang mga eksena at sa ilang mga karakter. Bukod pa diyan may social impact/implication ito kaya may sense kumpara sa ibang mga libro sa tabi.

Magandang subaybayan ang kwento ni Intoy at ni Jen na umiikot sa persepsyon ni Intoy. Maganda ang flow at development ng kwento. Resonable ang pagkakasunod. Ang kwento sa kabuuan ay interesante. Yun nga lang merong unnecessary stretch sa ilang parte ng kwento. Merong mga pagkakataon na nakakainip na ang paglalarawan ng ilang mga bagay o eksena.

Ok na sana ang pagkakapresent ng ideya or concept ng isang specific scene, pero inilawak pa ito ng sobra sa puntong nakakainip na.

Mga karakter

Ang basahin ang kwento sa punto de vista ni Intoy ay isang magandang idea. Bilang isang mambabasa mag-eenjoy kang malaman ang mga naiisip nito at mga nararamdaman. Mababasa mo ang tunay na nararamdaman nito at ang totoong naiisip nito sa isang sitwasyon. Yun nga lang, may mga pagkakataon na nakakainip ng malaman ang iniisip nito.

Ang image niyang “astig” ay sobra kung ihahambing ang illogical thoughts or imagination nito. Pero successful naman ito sa pagachieve ng ganitong characteristic ni Intoy. Napakita sa kwento ang pagkaastig nito sa ilang mga pangyayari.

Ang disadvantage ng kwento na nasa punto de vista ng isang karakter ay hindi naipapakita ang ibang mga emosyon o pangyayari dahil nga iisa lang ang puntong tinitignan o binabasa. This disadvantage turned to be a good thing for this book kasi napakita nito ang pagkamisteryoso ni Jen.

Gusto ko ang karakter ni Jen. Kakaiba at misteryoso. Ang karakter niya ay hindi typical na damsel in distress kung ikukumpara sa ibang mga nobela. Sabagay ang nobelang ito ay hindi naman ordinary at hindi naman maikukumpara sa ibang mga materyal sa tabi.

Ang karakter ni Jen ay isang magandang repleksyon ng mga kababaihan ngayon. Independent, smart and active. Malaya at may kakayahan. May pagkadominante na din.

Tema/boses/istilo

Kitang kita ang istilo ng manunulat sa ganitong mga likha. Sa pagpili ng salita, pagbuo ng pangungusap may style na kanyang kanya lang.

Magaling niyang napakita ang isang kwento na character centered. Medyo mahirap gawin ito lalo na kung ikokonsider ang kabuuan ng istorya. Pero walang nawalang importanteng elemento sa kwento, kung meron man iyon ay sadya at para magbigay ng kulay.

Pagdating sa humor, ok sana, kaso may pagkakataon na hindi ko gets ang pagkahumorous nito. Hindi ko alam kung ito ay dahil lang sa hindi ko panahon ang ilan sa mga references na ginamit. Pero naramdaman kong parang pilit ang humor.

Meron namang pagkakataon na sabog ang karakter. Sobrang sabog na pati ang pagbabasa ko ay sabog din. Sa mga ganitong pagkakataon naiinis ako.

Maganda ang ginawang ending. Walang closure pero appealing pa din.

Rating:

3 out of 5. I like it hindi sa kabuuan nito, pero sa maliliit na detalye na talagang nagpakabog sa akin sa kwento.

The Rosie Project by Graeme Simsion

Unconventional and non traditional love story, humor in all levels of intellect, appealing character and engaging plot, these are some of the characteristics that make up a good quality and utterly entertaining book. These elements were captured by Graeme Simsion and encapsulated it in one single and wonderful story – The Rosie Project.

Theme

The theme of the story appeals to all. Despite the uniqueness of the characters and the situation, the story is still something that we can relate to. Some of the story scenes remind us of familiar experiences in our own life which makes the story more interesting.

Furthermore, the story also highlights how special it is to be unique and different. It reminds us that being different is not bad and sometimes it can even help us to stand out and make a mark in this world. The story is a good reminder that being different cannot stop someone from meeting or interacting with other people, even in meeting his/her own partner. You just have to accept who you are and be proud and happy with it.

Friendship was also portrayed in the story in a very interesting with-not-so-much-drama way. It was really fun to read the main character’s POV when it comes to dealing with his friends and preserving the relationship he has with his limited number of friends.

Lastly, the book also gives us a glimpse of how men sees women, dating and relationships. It was very entertaining and relatable.

Plot

The plot could have become complicated if not for the brilliant narration and sequencing of events. A supposed complicated story was delivered in simplest and humorous way, and it was very effective. The mystery/suspense of unraveling the story is very sustainable. The twist is also well delivered. And the humor – EPIC.

Narration

The author did a very good job in choosing to tell the story in the first person POV. Because of this, the characters and the scenes became more real. What makes everything even more interesting is that the readers have the chance to know how the main character thinks and acts towards people and situations.

The choice of words is perfect. Despite the complexity of some words and phrases (because of the main character’s ingenuity) the whole story is still clear and easy to understand. The flow of narration and the sequence of events are both fluid and clear.

Characters

The characters, individually, are amazing. They are real and identifiable.

The protagonist has its own charm that you will easily fall in love with its character. He is perfect to the point that his perfection has become his major imperfection. It was a well-developed protagonist. He is definitely a very interesting character.

Furthermore, the heroine is also a fascinating character. Her sense of independence, strength, wit, hard work and dominance is admirable. Having this kind of riveting heroine is a surprise considering that the author of the book is male. (Clap! Clap!).

The Story

Believing in the statistical probability that there is someone for everyone, Don Tillman, a geneticist, embarks in a project that would help him find his future partner – the Wife Project. However, being socially challenged plus the high standards set by the said project, Don was left with a slim result of meeting his mate.

Then Rosie Jarman came. On their first date, Don discovered that Rosie is unsuitable for him as a wife, as she is a total opposite of the wife project. Don thought that their first date will also be their last, until Rosie opened up to him about meeting his biological father. As a geneticist, Don has suddenly become interested in Rosie’s case thus the birth of the Father Project.

Doing the project has given them a lot of opportunities to meet again and spend time with each other. Don who is socially challenged and who follows a strict daily routine has felt a sudden change in his life as he continue to mingle with her.

However, being different and believing that he is wired to not fall in love, Don is oblivious to the feelings that is starting to bloom inside his heart.

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You may want to check this wonderful marketing campaign for the book by Penguin Classics.