Perfume - Patrick Suskind

This is one of the best stories I've encountered recently.  It's a tale of a man who was born with an amazing ability - an acute sense of smell.  Life takes him along a path that leads him to learn the intricacies that will make him the world's greatest perfumer, and eventually to commit several murders, in search of the ultimate scent that he hopes will bring him triumph and affirmation.

I love how the story is told - almost like a fairy tale - so graceful and restrained.  Grenouille, the main character, was not portrayed as something to be reviled, nor something to be pitied.  He was never made to sound like a hero nor a villain.  All of his actions were the consequences of his nature, the nature of the people whom he encountered in his life, and the nature of the milieu of the time.  You will feel that he is blameless and innocent, a victim of fate - just like how we think of ourselves and all the rest of us here on this earth.  He merely did what he had to do to seek that which he thought would make him happy.  Isn't that exactly what we all want out of life?

I recommend this book to people who are not afraid of truth, and who prefer their stories to be free of cliches and stereotypes.  Those who will like this book are open-minded, who do not think that all beauty is goodness, and that all that is good is beautiful.  Readers of this book will learn that redemption doesn't necessarily mean being saved, and that success may not be as sweet as we thought it might be.  You must have time to read this book from start to finish, for you will not want to let it go.  If I would rate it, I'd give it a definite 10/10.  Happy reading.

My Girl (TV Asahi)

A family drama about a struggling photographer who doesn't really follow any direction in his life until he encounters a little girl who claims to be his daughter.  It all starts from there. 

I liked the pace of this series - it doesn't drag out too long.  The conflicts presented are also quite realistic.  It also asks the fundamental question of parenthood - how much are you willing to sacrifice for the happiness of your children?  There are some moments that are really thought-provoking and emotive. 

The actors did a pretty decent job.  I didn't have any particular favorite among the characters, but I particularly disliked the senpai he had at the office (with that ridiculous hairstyle).  But I guess that character was tailored to be exactly as he had been portrayed.  I wonder why Japanese dramas cannot seem to leave off with exaggerated comic types like these?  Sometimes it's really overdoing it, I think.  The whole thing could have done without such a character.

Not too bad.  If I were to rate it, I'd say 8/10.

The Castle Corona

I love reading books for children.  I've read so many that I'm quite regretful that I never kept track of all of them or wrote a list of the books that I've read.  Nevertheless, I would like to start talking about them some more.  I have a great love for the classics and for folk and fairy tales.  They just feed my imagination and color the world inside my head.  I hope more people, especially adults, would indulge in the pleasure of literature for children.  We all deserve to feel young again, and what better way to do it than to travel the world of magic and innocence once in a while?

The latest book for children I read was "The Castle Corona."  I immediately bought this book once I saw it because of the beautiful colors and illustrations.  It's so reminiscent of those illuminated texts from the medieval age.  Don't judge me for judging a book by its cover, though; half of the fun of children's literature is in its illustrations and pictures, right?  Judging by the cover alone, don't you feel that this book is just full of magic and mystery?

The story goes around the royal family (who live in the splendid castle), a pair of poor sibling children (who live as peasants with a cruel master in the village), a thief, a story-teller, hermits, and well-kept secrets.  Ooooh. Not bad to start with. 

I like the way the author portrayed the characters.  It's hard to be poor, but even royalty have their own woes.  Everyone here in this story is simply human.  And they learn more and more about themselves and about their misconceptions as the intrigue behind stolen treasures and concealed identities are slowly revealed.  All in all, a well-paced, entertaining read, quite hard to put down.  Give it a try.

The Vampire Tapestry

I happen to love the idea of vampires, but when they became fodder for mass teenage hysteria, I had almost given up on them.  For a long time I thought I'd gotten tired of all this vampire business, and then I found this book -

WOW!  "The Vampire Tapestry" by Suzy McKee Charnas.

Every once in a while you encounter something so wonderful - it's almost miraculous.  I don't remember when it was that I read Elizabeth Kostova's "The Historian," but at that time I thought it was just the best vampire story I've encountered.  There was nothing cheesy and corny and sugary about it.  It didn't glamourize the image of vampires and turn them into teenage pop mascots.  The same is true with Charnas' take on this enigmatic image.  These two stories are about struggles with something much more than human control or comprehension.  They portray battles within the self, and with external conflicts.  A look within and beyond a nature that is too often immediately perceived as evil and unnatural.  What is evil?  How do we confront evil, both within and outside of our human nature?  Who are we to say what is evil and unnatural?  Are we not just as wicked as the monsters we label?  These two books go way beyond the question of love and immortality.  They make you look at what it means to be alive - human or not, to grapple with the humanity inside and not to become the monster that we all have hiding within our darkest fears.

In order not to lose my Japanese...

I watch Japanese anime, dramas, and movies online.

It's been two years and two months since I came back from a two-and-a-half-year stay in Japan.  I learned to speak quite fine during that short time, and managed to even pass a proficiency test.  Though slowly but surely, as expected, I'm losing my Nihongo.

Watching Japanese anime, dramas, and movies have been such a big help in retaining what little I have left.  I have hardly any use for a third language here.  Being able to speak Nihongo is something very dear to me - a beautiful memento of the dream-like days I spent in that splendid country.  Just hearing the language being spoken aloud is a priceless experience.  I don't know how many anime, dramas, and movies I've seen so far - too many to remember right now.  I do regret that I didn't bother to keep a record of all the series I've seen to date.  But what better time to begin than now? 

Most recent anime: Nodame Cantabile Finale
I've loved this series since the beginning.  It helps that I have a deep love for classical music as well.  This anime is a hilarious romance centering around eccentric Nodame and the colorful and musical love she shares with Chiaki.  I'd say the story is mostly character-driven, but I would be remiss if I didn't mention that it is the music that gives this series all the more energy and vitality.  It also has a live action version that I've also seen through.  Highly recommended for a good laugh and an inspiring, revitalizing dose of great classical music.  It will lift you up in every way.

J-drama of the moment: Yokai Ningen Bem
"Unexpected" is the most appropriate word I would use to describe it.  One must not be fooled by the premise - this is far from a shallow adventure/hero story.  I can't recall many other stories that have dealt with the suffering, pain, and beauty of being human more deeply and emphatically than this series.  Each episode looks at life from a very different perspective - what would it be like to WANT to be human?  Being human is not easy, and people deal with their difficult lives in very different ways.  Who would want to be human when it seems that all we have is grief, fear, and suffering only to end up dying anyway?  Such questions.  This series is truly worth watching.

I'll try to recall most if not all the other series that I've seen; all those wonderful stories that I've managed to experience in a language foreign and yet so beloved to me.   This is just a beginning.  Let it be good.

Mamma Mia!

I got the chance to see the musical "Mamma Mia!" last Saturday night.
It cost me a lot, but I enjoyed it well.  I also bought a ticket for my sister as a birthday present.
Since she also enjoyed the show, I was glad I didn't hesitate to spend that much for her.

I'm not that big of an Abba fan, but I do recognize the more popular tunes, of course.
My favorite part of the show was "Slipping through my fingers" because it was such
a touching scene - a mother grooming her daughter who is about to be given away in marriage.
The funniest part was definitely "Take a chance on me."  It was just hilarious, and the
song was perfect for that scene.  Next would come "The winner takes it all."  What a powerful
vocal performance that was.  I hope more people all over the world get a chance to see
a show like this.  I wish they would stage something like this for people who live in poverty.

Internationally acclaimed musicals don't often get to be staged in Manila, and when
they do, most only the rich can afford to see them.  I'm lucky to be able to see the few that
I have.  They say "The Phantom of the Opera" is coming soon.  I can't wait to see it.
It's a great favorite of mine.  I'll definitely start saving for that. 

Florence and The Machine - Never Let Me Go

Looking out from underneath,
Fractured moonlight on the sea
Reflections still look the same to me,
As before I went under.
And it's peaceful in the deep,
Cathedral where you cannot breathe,
No need to pray, no need to speak
Now I am under.
And it's breaking over me,
A thousand miles onto the sea bed,
Found the place to rest my head.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.
And the arms of the ocean are carrying me,
And all this devotion was rushing out of me,
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me,
The arms of the ocean deliver me.
Though the pressure's hard to take,
It's the only way I can escape,
It seems a heavy choice to make,
Now I am under.
And it's breaking over me,
A thousand miles down to the sea bed,
Found the place to rest my head.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go. And the arms of the ocean are carrying me,
And all this devotion was rushing out of me,
And the crashes are heaven, for a sinner like me,
The arms of the ocean deliver me.
And it's over,
And I'm going under,
But I'm not giving up!
I'm just giving in.
Oh, slipping underneath.
Oh, so cold, but so sweet.
In the arms of the ocean, so sweet and so cold,
And all this devotion I never knew at all,
And the crashes are Heaven, for a sinner released,
And the arms of the ocean,
Deliver me.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Deliver me.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Deliver me.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.
Never let me go, never let me go.
And it's over,
And I'm goin' under,
But I'm not givin' up!
I'm just givin' in.
Oh, slipping underneath.
Oh, so cold, but so sweet.