Stuck in what the reading community calls a serious "reading slump" I decided to reset my reading progress and pick out a paperback from the Philippine Literature section of my book shelf. Majority of the books were unread poetry collections and novels I acquired and received as gifts over the years. One such gift is The Mango Bride by Palanca awardee Marivi Soliven, who won the grand prize for the Novel category and taught creative writing at numerous universities, including the University of California. The title and the Golden Gate bridge on the book cover promise a story about the Filipino in diaspora and the woman's experience as a bride/wife living away from home. I grew curious as I read the blurb at the back: Like Amparo, Beverly . . .

While scrolling through a local book-loving Facebook group, a member posted a recommendation for Better World Books in case we were looking for secondhand books to buy at a discount. It's the first time I've heard of Better World Books and considered the option to buy from an online secondhand book store. I really, really like the idea of giving old but good-quality books a new home, plus the fact that this for-profit company funds literary programs all over the world. [Better World Books was] founded in 2002 by three friends from the University of Notre Dame who started selling textbooks online to earn some money, and ended up forming a pioneering social enterprise — a business with a mission to promote literacy. The company offers . . .

Reading Mario Puzo's biography on Goodreads, I was struck by what motivated him to create his most famous work, The Godfather: Puzo's most famous work, The Godfather, was first published in 1969 after he had heard anecdotes about Mafia organizations during his time in pulp journalism. He later said in an interview with Larry King that his principal motivation was to make money. He had already, after all, written two books that had received great reviews, yet had not amounted to much. As a government clerk with five children, he was looking to write something that would appeal to the masses. It was initially difficult for me to swallow, the idealistic writer in me still raising her nose up at the thought of producing work meant solely to . . .

The Penguin Leatherbound Classics are some of the most mouth-watering books to have in one's library. There are 14 volumes designed by Waterstones Book of the Year awardee Coralie Bickford-Smith, featuring some of the world's most beloved classics: Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland by Lewis Carroll, and Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. I searched far and wide for these books, only to find my way back to Waterstones.com, a family of specialist bookshops spread across the UK and in Europe. They feature books of a wide variety of genres, new releases, book-of-the-month highlights—all meant to encourage the community to step in and immerse themselves in the joy of reading. I purchased my first book . . .

https://www.instagram.com/p/Bh1DQZtHzGR/ Stephanie Garber’s Caraval is the first young adult novel I picked up after many, many years, bypassing the genre for the classics, crime, and other modern fiction. I discovered her work when I saw the limited edition of its sequel, Legendary, at Goldsboro Books’ website (already out of stock). Intrigued, I bought the book for its promise of a spectacular adventure filled with magic, wonder, treachery, and dark secrets. The genre itself has grown exponentially in popularity over the years, so much so that one can expect a new release or debut novel each year. In fact, a quick search on Instagram will reveal several YA-specific book box subscriptions meant to delight reading enthusiasts around the . . .

The first half of February whizzed by completely because of a hobby I reconnected and fell in love with again. Ever since I received my first Barnes & Noble leather-bound book in the mail, I felt the same throb of passion for rebuilding and collecting rare and beautiful books. It's like meeting with an old but tender flame over the summer. I completely lose my grip once I become so engrossed with something, be it an object or a new hobby. I remember spending hours—days even—on goldfish and fish care when we first set up an aquarium at home. ? I guess I took it from my dad, who's just as passionate about his interests and hobbies. His are along the lines of high-powered motorcycles, drones, and expensive DSLR cameras. It's nice to see . . .

Blinkist is a go-to reading corner for quick and bite-sized summaries of the best non-fiction books. The library spans a wide range of topics, from productivity to relationships, so there's something for everyone. In my case, I searched and gobbled up as many books as I could find that relate to my current situation as a writer: creativity, failure, rejection, productivity, and self-encouragement. I've picked up 21 Blinkist books that address important aspects of the creative life. You might find quick and actionable answers to problems you've been dealing with for a long time. You need to subscribe to the Blinkist service to be able to access these books. You can try it out for three days. That's plenty of time to go through . . .

"You should get this book," my sister wrote at our THE SCHMEXY SISTERZ Facebook chat room. She then sent a snapshot of Elle Luna's The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion. Reading the blurb on Amazon, I was very interested in this dichotomy and what exactly they mean and represent. Eventually, I did pick up a copy from my local bookstore and dove right into it. It's filled with beautiful photography, inspiring quotes, lovely illustrations, and most important of all, insights on honoring our calling — MUST — and how to live a life driven by what moves us forward. Conclusion: It's a refreshing way of expounding on a classic war cry that many creatives continue to fear and turn away from. . . .