The 5th life

I've been in several serious accidents within my 20 years here on Earth. I don't know if I'm an accident magnet or always been favored by the Almighty.

After a few months of separation, I finally had the chance to be reunited with my Psych friends. It was just a simple dinner celebrated at Robinsons Magnolia. It was also my first time to see my friend, JR after quite a long time. Like the usual, we shared a fine meal, reminisce, and had the all time favorite "kwentuhan" for dessert. It was a little less of a crazy night. Maybe one the first reunions we've shared as "adults."

That night made me realize how several months away from each other changed us--molded us into different persons; how we grew a lot, how we stayed the same, and how fragile beings we could be. It was a night to be remembered...and so it did.

My friend offered us a ride home. When we reached a little over the Nagtahan bridge, almost at stop...a huge gasoline truck smashed the car we were riding. I felt the tail of the truck ground to the nearest door to me. My heart was in a temporary pause, as the door endured the friction. The truck did not stop (almost a hit and run)...but we were saved by the stoplight. No one was hurt, but the car was quite totaled.

Immediately, we asked for help. We were left with crippled hopes, emotions, stranded as we were with a heavy downpour from heaven.

Definitely, we all grew from who we were. And we were given another chance to keep on growing. If people could change in a span of several months--life could also change in a matter of seconds. We just gotta keep proving with deserve every breath bestowed upon us. Because every breath is a second chance. 

Silver lining cliché

Lost, are we?

Most of us get situated in a moment when only dark clouds overhead appear to be in infinite intercept with the sun. You know, moments when we can only feel the sting of disappointments and an incomplete halt of emotions, all embedded in one silent zephyr.   

But we live in a world where life is cycle: we begin filled with questions, learning as our zenith, and living as our goal. And life goes on...and on.

And every day we remind ourselves not to feel hopeless in difficult times; that conquering challenges will always take us to the bright side.

Because it is true that, “Every cloud has a silver lining.” We can’t be in a total state of oblivion; not even an amaurotic in difficult situations. A situation—how arduous may it be, will always lead us to better days.

Even if the clouds grow darker and heavens exhibit blindness—look on the bright side of it. Look more closely at the edges of every cloud...we can still see the sun.

Life is the ultimate cliché. But life is like that—a continuous search for a silver lining.  

The Three Musketeers by Alexander Dumas

Who can forget Athos, Porthos, Aramis, and D'Artagnan? This book exhibits timeless characters which still capture the hearts of readers today. I love Alexander Dumas!!! I've always been a fan of his fearless, quite unstoppable style of writing. And this book, is definitely a page-turner (that's a rare thing for classic novels). 

If you are highly interested in sword fights, adventure, and incredible plot twist. This is the perfect book for you. It also comes with badass/kickass women. Until now, I couldn't still move on from THAT mind-blowing twist in its story plot. Sorry for the short review, I just can't spoil this one for you guys :)) 

Here are some quotes from the book:

"Never fear quarrels, but seek adventure" (M.d'Artagnan, the elder)

"All is not lost yet." (The Cardinal)

"All for one, one for all." (Athos)

Rating: 5/5

The Iliad by Homer

If you want an instant Epistaxis and brain hemorrhage, read this book! Aside from its obviously classical style of writing, this book serves as an important foundation in world literature. If you're a Greek-geek just like me, you'll read this book more than once! First reading will always be filled with fascination, but when you read it again...an in depth evaluation is a sure thing. 

I started reading Greek mythology in 5th grade. At that time, most of my classmates were busy watching cartoons and crushing on cute anime guys. Well, I seek for intellectual deviance. I've always wanted to know the sources of moral and practical heroism n different cultures. And the closest I could get to acquire that knowledge, was by reading.

There are a dozen of condensed versions of The Iliad, but I prefer the expanded one. I don't prefer "short-cuts" in reading a book. The Iliad, actually, is composed of different books (like the Bible), which still tells a continuous story. One thing I appreciate in the long version: you'd get to have a thorough insight on how the gods and goddess played with humans. Making humans, merely pawns in games of gods and goddesses. I also sensed a strange gay love between Achilles and Patroclos :))

Almost everyone I knew, who read the book chose Achilles as their favorite. Well, as for me,I would prefer Paris. I know he's a little cocky , and not the hero type but I find him very poetic. Another one would be King Priam, very regal and humble.

Here are some quotes from the condensed version I've read:

"It is not a bad temper that keeps me here, but a bitter heart." (Paris)

"That is fate's decree." (Zeus)

"You hope to destroy our ships, but we also have hands to defend them." (Aias)

Rating: 4/5

The Picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde

This is the only book I've read from Oscar Wilde's collection of great literature. Honestly, I watched the movie before I read the book. Both were pretty amazing. This book presents a dark theme: murder, sex, blasphemy,vices ...you name it. Despite its morbidly dark presentation, Wilde managed to incorporate the consequences of every evil presented in the story.

If you're a fan of suspense, scheming, and death, this is the perfect book for you. Well, because of its mature content, I recommend this book for open-minded young adults. Wilde's style of writing is quite similar to Edgar Allan Poe (And I just made an overgeneralization). The scenes in this novel are vividly illustrated, you wouldn't find a hard time imagining the settings of the story.

Wilde wrote a handful of striking lines that will make a human being evaluate every word written in the text. This is the most quotable suspense book I've read so far! Here are some of my favorite lines (condensed version):

"People are afraid of themselves nowadays. they have forgotten their duties, their own selves. Although they are charitable--they feed the hungry and clothe the beggar--but their souls starve." (Lord Henry)

"Nothing can cure the soul but the senses, just as nothing can cure the senses but the soul." (Lord Henry)

"You know more than you think you know." (Lord Henry)

"Youth is the one thing worth having." ( Lord Henry)

" That's one of the greatest secrets of life. Nowadays, most people hardly seek common sense, and when it's too late, they discover that the only things one never regrets are one's mistakes." (Lord Henry)

"People are very fond of giving away what they still need themselves." (Lord Henry)

As you can see, my favorite quotes came from just one character in the novel. Lord Henry is one of the most morally corrupted character in the novel yet you can learn great things from him.

Book rating: 4/5

Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux

Since this is an unofficial book review, I'd be very casual. So yeah, I'm a big fan of this novel. I even watched the stage musical in VIP, bought a phantom mask necklace, and bought the limited edition DVD. I also tried to master playing most of the songs in piano.

Gaston Leroux was known for being a great author in detective fiction. I've been a great fan of his writing style. He knew how to manipulate flashbacks ingested with suspense. I loved the way he combined mystery, love, and fear in this particular novel. Like Shakespeare's work, books like The Phantom of the Opera may be hard for kids to digest. I recommend this book for young adults.

The novel is very much different from its movie/theatre adaptation. The Phantom's life story has been taken fore-granted in movies and musicals. The book is quite brutal and morbid, but it provides more insight on the Phantom's character unlike in movies.

This is a very creative novel...a true original. You can feel the pain of every character given the omniscience in reading.

Here are some of my favorite lines in the novel (condensed version):

" I think she does love him. But the reason I despair is that I'm not sure the man she loves is worthy of her love." (Raoul)

" We'll either leave here together or die together" (Raoul)

"I longed to become someone 'like everyone else'." (Erik, the Phantom)


Book rating: 5/5

Classic Novels Unofficial Book Reviews

I decided to start making book reviews on my favorite classic novels because:

1. I'm obviously bored.
2. I need to go back in writing.
3. I'm wondering if there are people out there who have the same level of Geekness as I do.
4. I'm trying my best to reinvent myself and revive this blog.
5. For the nth time, I'm obviously bored.

I have always loved classic novels ever since I was in 5th grade (Circa 2003). Side by side with Harry Potter, I'd been reading a lot of classic novels in a very young age. Not your typical kid, indeed.

Going back to this project, I've been re-reading classic novels since Summer vacation started. I purchased quite a few classic books too, to keep me occupied for the rest of my 'Summer-Bummer' life.

I have been laptop-less for 3 weeks now. Sucks big time. Good thing, my sister bought me a brand new iPad.

For my first five book reviews:

1. Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux
2. The picture of Dorian Gray by Oscar Wilde
3. The Iliad by Homer
4. The three musketeers by Alexander Dumas
5. Treasure Island by Robert Louis Stevenson

Feel free to comment your suggested books.

A little dose of heavy drama

(C) Mikka Marcaida

            Before we realize, time has passed by already—making four long years seem so short. The reason will remain unknown, like a variable we call “x”, as our memories become something infinite. We see each other day in, day out, for four years...and our experiences in college are endlessly complex. Still, there is so much about each other that we will never have time to learn. At least, we are all privileged to see little puzzle pieces of each others’ inner lives. Of course, thoughts of the past will come and go...the future will cloud the present...but our memories will never fall in the bad habits of silence. We can never fully express the feelings we long hold close, but what we shared was beyond what language can construct. And now, where are we? We are situated in a place where time and space have become both limitless and meaningless. It’s graduation, not good bye! We’re just a memory away :)

Thank you, PSYCHOLOGY 5 2013 :)