Thursday, March 12, 2009
Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Weekly Geeks: A Quote a Day #5
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Teaser Tuesdays: 10 March 2009
Lilibet, rebelling all of a sudden, and goaded by boredom to violent measures, had picked up the big ornamental silver inkpot and placed it without any warning upside down on her head. She sat there, with ink trickling down her face and slowly dyeing her golden curls blue.
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Weekly Geeks: A Quote a Day #4
Monday, March 9, 2009
Weekly Geeks: A Quote a Day #3
She laughed. "Oh God no. I've maybe read a third of 'em. But I'm going to read all of them. I call it my Life's Library. Every summer since I was little, I've gone to garage sales and bought all the books that looked interesting. So I always have something to read."
Mailbox Monday (1)
The Bought
I found a lot of books at bargain prices at Booksale and National Bookstore this week:
A History of London
The Middle Ages
Thornfield Hall: Jane Eyre's Hidden Story
The Sixth Wife: A Novel
In Maremma: Life and a House in Southern Tuscany
What I Believe
Plan B
A Certain Age
I lovelovelove Doulos, but I have to admit that I am not a huge fan of Christian fiction and non-fiction, which mainly what was sold at the floating bookstore. So I was really glad to find The Literature Lover's Companion, an index of authors and their works, and The Little Princesses: The Story of the Queen's Childhood
by Marion Crawford, a memoir and account by "Crawfie", Queen Elizabeth II's governess.
The other three books are Christian fiction romance and historical titles. I would never have bought them if not for my dad having a wet Php 200 bill, which he didn't want to keep in his wallet. So he gave it to me and I used it to buy these books. A Lady of Hidden Intent
My favorite buy at the floating bookstore was Doulos: The Story of a Remarkable Ship. I really love what they do and admire these volunteers who bring knowledge, help, and hope to every city they visit. This little book features historical facts of the ship, what these people do on the Doulos, and stories from the crew.
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The Color of Magic
The Light Fantastic
Equal Rites
The Shadow of the Wind
La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind
Finally I will be able to read some Terry Pratchett (thanks, Mia!). I'm saving The Shadow of the Wind for a certain mood. And La Bella Figura is another addition to my growing Italy-love book collection (thanks, CZ!).
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The BorrowedA bunch of borrowed books this week:
The Graveyard BookCoraline
Remember Me?
A Is for Atticus: Baby Names from Great Books
It's a Mall World After All
I have never read any of Neil Gaiman's books before, except the first third of Neverwhere. I don't think Gaiman is my cup of tea, but I am now willing to try him again after I found out that my sister has these two books that I could borrow. I do not like creepy covers, but I will read these books anyway.
My sister lent me two more books, a baby names book and a little chick lit. A is for Atticus is very, very interesting because all of the baby names are from great literary works. Another book I borrowed from her is Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me. My sister didn't like the book, but I got it anyway. (I finished it already and I didn't like it too.)
And the last book borrowed is It's a Mall World After All. I'm not too fond of the cover or the title, but since I had an evening free and I wanted something quick to read I borrowed this from the pile of books that were on their way to public library the following day.
My sister lent me two more books, a baby names book and a little chick lit. A is for Atticus is very, very interesting because all of the baby names are from great literary works. Another book I borrowed from her is Sophie Kinsella's Remember Me. My sister didn't like the book, but I got it anyway. (I finished it already and I didn't like it too.)
And the last book borrowed is It's a Mall World After All. I'm not too fond of the cover or the title, but since I had an evening free and I wanted something quick to read I borrowed this from the pile of books that were on their way to public library the following day.
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Sunday, March 8, 2009
Weekly Geeks: A Quote a Day #2
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Weekly Geeks 2009-09: A Quote a Day
"You may want to come up with a theme, such as favorite passages from books, author quotes, political quotes, quotes about books or reading, humorous quotes, whatever. Or you may not want a theme at all; maybe you just want to gather up seven assorted quotes that appeal to you. You may want to start each of your posts of the week with a quote, or you may want to give quotes posts of their own in addition to your regular posts. It’s all up to you!"
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I am going to pick quotes from books I liked and/or loved, but I won't say where they're from! If you can guess from which book I got it, I just might give you a little something.
I will post my Quote a Day in separate entries.
I will post my Quote a Day in separate entries.
Friday, March 6, 2009
Doulos: The Floating Bookshop (in Manila this March!)
Doulos is the world's oldest active ocean-going passenger ship (and is recognized by the Guinness Book of World Records as such). Owned and operated by Gute Bücher für Alle e.V. (Good Books for All), a non-profit, charitable trust registered in Germany, Doulos is now used as a floating bookshop with the purpose of bringing knowledge, help, and hope to the people of the world.
I remember reading about this in the newspaper the last time they were here---back in January 2007---and the words "floating bookshop" sealed the deal for me. I was there the next weekend I was free, dragging my parents, my sisters, and my cousin. Of course, me being so excited over the idea of a floating bookshop, I thought that the whole ship was going to be filled with books, from the bow to the deck to the rear. I was a little disappointed that it was just the rear, but I think it lasted for only for 2 seconds. It was still a bookshop and that was enough for me!
The Doulos bookshop shelves are filled with over 6,000 books (there are actually 500,000 books in the hold) on Literature (more of the classics), Science, Mathematics, Geography, Sports, Hobbies and Crafts, Cookery, Music and the Arts, Philosophy, Christian Living, and Children's literature. Besides books, there are also mugs, pens, notepads, journals, and music CDs for sale.
The last time I was there I came home with Doulos pens, notepads, an origami book, a Doulos "construct-your-own-ship" activity book, and a few children's books for my niece. There wasn't really much I was interested in since there weren't any general fiction titles available---they have a different purpose after all. Nevertheless, I really enjoyed being there and shopping at one of the most interesting bookshops in the world.
The MV Doulos is now on its last visit to Manila and its last world tour (Doulos will be decommissioned in 2010). From March 6 to March 30, the floating bookshop will be docked at the Manila South Harbour, Pier 13 (enter through gate 1). Store hours: 10:00 am to 9:00 pm.
I am definitely not missing their last visit to Manila. I will be there with my dad and cousin in tow tomorrow morning!
I am definitely not missing their last visit to Manila. I will be there with my dad and cousin in tow tomorrow morning!
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Some interesting facts about Doulos from www.mvdoulos.org:
- Doulos was built in 1914---only two years younger than the Titanic.
- The ship was originally built to carry cargo and has undergone many name changes (and purposes). She has sailed under four names: Medina, Roma, Franca C, and Doulos. The ship has been used for four different purposes: freighting goods, transporting emigrants, for cruises, and most recently as a floating bookstore and a vessel to bring knowledge, help and hope to the people of the world.
- Doulos visits port cities throughout the world, supplying vital literature resources, encouraging inter-cultural understanding, training young people for more effective life and service, promoting greater global awareness, providing practical aid and sharing a message of hope in God wherever there is opportunity.
- Volunteers from over 40 countries serve on board Doulos. They are mostly young people who have chosen to dedicate two years of their lives to be on board, learning to live and work together, and serving the communities in the ports visited. Every single person on board is a volunteer, from the Captain to the cook to those scrubbing the floors.
- Doulos is more than just a bookshop. The volunteers get off the ship once a week to bring knowledge and hope to those around them by reaching out to orphans, young children, prisoners, and underprivilieged communities. Some of the practical knowledge that they teach are lessons in wood-working, welding, and soap-making.
- Doulos has been to Manila six times.
- Over 20 million visitors have been welcomed on board for tours, programmes and visits to the floating book fair. With stops in over 500 ports of call, this unique ship has visited more than 100 countries in Africa, the Americas, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East and many island nations.
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