THIS IS JUST A CASE OF MISTAKEN IDENTITY ,

Sunday, April 20, 2008

This blog pretty much contains most of my sentiments about myself, especially my sentiments about my faults and problems. I mean seriously, I come to think of myself as someone selfless, but upon reading this blog, all I can think of is 'When did I became so conceited?' Its messed up really but I cannot find any solution to it, so I'll just try to forget about it, which doesn't really take that long anyhow.

I shall now explain to you the reasons behind my slightly mysterious and stupid title. Honestly, I can't come up with anything else to describe what I am to say and that... well, Holly Short [a character from the Artemis Fowl Series whose name became the name of my mind and my conscience] came up with it so I went along with it. If this sucks, Holly, you are to be blamed and maimed!

In a not so garish [as if] fashion, I would like to inform the world that the title of MY FAVORITEST BOOK has been defeated. If you do know me well, which I think you do since you know the address of my blog. If not, congratulations uponst finding this and I hope you read a bit before hastily leaving with your retinas burned. As I was saying, if you do know me well, you'll know that my FAVORITEST BOOK is... or are the Artemis Fowl Series of books: Artemis Fowl, Artemis Fowl: The Arctic Incident, Artemis Fowl: The Eternity Code, Artemis Fowl: The Opal Deception, Artemis Fowl: The Lost Colony. And to think, it was my father who introduced me to this series. I remember it like it was only a second ago. One night he came home, with this plastic from National Bookstore. I was sitting on my parents' bed and suddenly, when he came in, he threw the plastic to me and said, "Libro para sayo. Diba mahilig ka magbasa? O ayan. (A book for you. Don't you like reading? Then there.)" I admit that I am a bookworm but when I pulled out the book, my hopes dissipated. I voiced out my thoughts without even reviewing them. "Artemis Fowl? Title pa lang, kaduda duda na. Ayoko nian! (Artemis Fowl? Even the title sounds dodgy. I don't want it!)" Having no choice, I did start reading the book and lo and behold, I soon found myself buying the second book and finishing it in just a day. In a week, I had finished all three books. That was how I started to become a fan of the book and its maker. I was, and still am, horribly addicted to this series from the amazing Irish [gotta love them people] author Eoin Colfer. The combination of wit and adventure that accompanies these lovable characters make this series a very fantastic read and if you are looking for something to get immersed and lost in, then this series is for you. That is, if you're a fan of sci-fi. If not, then you may find yourself throwing the series across the room. Sadly enough, I would hunt you down, pull your inwards out and push your outwards in if you did that, capisce?

I didn't make this post to contemplate my addiction to Artemis Fowl though. As the title says and as I have said with subtlety, it which looked undefeatable has been defeated by a book that you did not expect to even come an inch to it. I'm sorry to the author of this book, but the cover looked plain in itself that nobody would have thought of it defeating the almighty Artemis Fowl. We had bought it from Power Books at the Mall of Asia. It wasn't the first book I wanted to buy. If anything, I didn't even know it existed. I was looking for Jango and had come across this book while I was on the search for it. The cover piqued my interest, but I didn't take it because I still believed that I was going to find Jango. When I didn't, which was about after 30 minutes of searching, I took the book and had my father buy it. I started reading it while walking along the mall and though I wasn't much a fan of 1ST POV (point of view) books, unless they were written exceptionally well), I found myself liking the story more and more with each passing page. Pretty soon I couldn't take my eyes off the words of this fantastic book. I finished it in one day! Not that that's a surprise buuuuut... yeah. I know you're wondering, "what's the title of this book she keep blabbering about? I just want to find out and leave this pathetic blog behind!" Okay, okay, I'll say it. It's...

SPUD
John Van De Ruit

Spud is the title of a 2005 book by South African author, actor, playwright and producer, John Howard van de Ruit. a comedy novel that catches the humor of life in boarding school, as the not so popular boy John 'Spud' Milton. The book is in the style of a diary, and records the experiences of a new boy, John Howard Milton (nicknamed 'Spud' because his testicles haven't yet dropped) just starting at a private boarding school in the Natal Midlands, as well as the often eccentric characters found in such an environment. This description also extends to Spud's family. The book is set in South Africa in 1990, against the historical background of the unbanning of the ANC and Nelson Mandela's release from Victor Verster Prison. The description of the school, its setting and characters, are a thinly-disguised description of Michaelhouse for boys, from which the author matriculated in 1993. This is a book that adds to the life of going to a boarding school, getting your first girlfriend, or overcoming your spudlyness.

You don't even have to think twice about where I got that plot. Haha. You'd be surprised to find out that Eoin Colfer also has a book with Spud on it, entitled, "The Legend of Spud Murphy" but that has no connection to this. I tell you, this book is pure genius. You just can't help but love Spud because everything about him: his quirks, his spudness, his talents, make him look so... human. Anyone who has been to any kind of school or even just a teenager can definitely relate to what John Milton (the character, not the author) got into. Accompanied with the Crazy Seven (which makes them the Crazy Eight), they managed to give color to this book and make life in a boarding school sound so much fun than how they depict it in movies. I think John Van De Ruit is probably one of the most brilliant authors of this time and I can say that with as much conviction as I can say that Eoin Colfer is also one of the most brilliant authors of this time. There is something about this book, the thought of going through what he goes through (especially his birthday and the bit at the end. won't spoil it for some!) and understanding his feelings and maybe, the decisions that he makes that you think are stupid when you hear it, but when you read it from his POV, you seem to understand. Spud is a very interesting read and I recommend it to anyone who wants to have a good laugh about the oddness... or shall I say the spudness that is adolescence.

I don't just want to get into that though. There's so much more to Spud that I want to indulge to you all but I don't want to be the one to relate the story. I want to be the one to convince you to buy the book, read it, love it then buy the second one and love it just the same, or even more. You'd think that Spud is just that, a book about boys growing up. Spud is a... series. I'm not sure if it will become like a real lengthy series like The Chronicles of Narnia (which I also love), The Lord of the Rings (amazing), The Harry Potter series (the 5th and beyond were disappointing), The Artemis Fowl series (CHYEAH!) or the A Series of Unfortunate Events (fortunately beautiful). It only has a sequel to it as of yet but I do believe that John Van De Ruit would find it within himself to think of a sequel to the sequel, or we numerous countless fans will convince and torture him to do it otherwise. Behold the sequel to Spud, the book who defeated Artemis Fowl from his throne...

SPUD: THE MADNESS CONTINUES

John Van De Ruit

(want a preview? go here: EXCERPT)

I have yet to buy the sequel but I assure you that if I do, I will post a lengthy review about it in this blog. Take heed to await it because when it comes... I don't know what will happen. I happened to have read some reviews of this sequel around by fans and new fans, and I have to say that their words have gotten my intrigued to no end about it. If only it wasn't so late (or early), I would come up with a more dignified review of SPUD, but my fingers are tired and my brain is malfunctioning, so I'll make that awesome review of the first book later. Anyhow, Spud: The Madness Continues relates of the story of Spud's Second Year in boarding school with the Crazy Seven (you have to read the book to find out why from Crazy Eight, they became the Crazy Seven), severe bullies, erratic teachers and convoluted women. Indeed, I am beginning to get excited about this book and will start my hunt for it tomorrow... or later, since its already April 21st.

Strolling away from the topic of Spud, I would like to greet an extremely important person to me. Ladies and Gents, let us greet this incredibly talented and awesome person because today is the day of his birth.

HAPPY 29TH BIRTHDAY,
JAMES ANDREW MCAVOY!

You don't quite look your age, but it doesn't matter. I am one of your biggest fans and admirers! To think that I used to have no idea as to who you are, but upon seeing you on The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe and on Becoming Jane, I immediately concluded you as an incredibly talented and versatile actor and dashingly handsome too. To James Andrew McAvoy, who is probably going to celebrate his birthday with his wife, Anne Marie Duff-McAvoy, the best of luck to you and all your future endeavors.

.C U R R E N T L Y.

READING: Twisted by Jessica Zafra. I consider her one of the most amazing Filipino authors.
FEELING: elated, excited. James McAvoy's birthday!
LISTENING: Loose Lips by Kimya Dawson from the JUNO soundtrack. Astonishingly good.

Making the world a fan-filled place,

devast8ed.dreamer

4/20/2008 11:55:00 PM