No freedom nor love

Freedom to choose is already taken from us. Everything we would do or say must be according to rules and orders. There will be no hate, but you won't feel love either. Even the one you'll have to spend your life with will be chosen by the government. What will you do? How will you survive?
 

I do not know if that would make you pick up a book, but that would certainly grab my attention. I don't get to read much as I want to nowadays because of school stuff, but whenever I get a chance, I spend some time with my new love: Young Adult Dystopian Novels.

Sappy love stories have been my "favorite" genre until I discovered YA dystopian. Although most of my favorites still have a romance side to it, I find them more enjoyable and exciting reads than Segal, Sparks and Ahern. I mean, don't get me wrong, I liked the stuff those three authors wrote but adult novels tackling  adult problems are tiring to read. 

Now, we all know what young adult novels are, but whatdahey are dystopian novels?

A dystopia (from the Ancient Greek δυσ-: bad-, ill- and τόπος: place, landscape) (alternatively, cacotopia,[1], or anti-utopia) is a vision, of an often futuristic society, which has developed into a negative version of Utopia. A Dystopia is often characterized by an authoritarian or totalitarian form of government. It often features different kinds of repressive social control systems, a lack or total absence of individual freedoms and expressions and a state of constant warfare or violence. --Wikipedia

They're usually mistaken or categorized by Sci-fi, but I don't really like the hard-core science fiction. I like the ones with empowered women and a little "kilig" on the side. Below are my top 5 Dystopian YA books.  Only one of them has a male protagonist because I don't really feel connected with the book if the lead is not a female. I included the blurbs, hoping you'll be encouraged to read them too. 

1. Divergent

In Beatrice Prior's dystopian Chicago, society is divided into five factions, each dedicated to the cultivation of a particular virtue--Candor (the honest), Abnegation (the selfless), Dauntless (the brave), Amity (the peaceful), and Erudite (the intelligent). On an appointed day of every year, all sixteen-year-olds must select the faction to which they will devote the rest of their lives. For Beatrice, the decision is between staying with her family and being who she really is--she can't have both. So she makes a choice that surprises everyone, including herself.

2.  Delirium
Before scientists found the cure, people thought love was a good thing. They didn’t understand that once love -- the deliria -- blooms in your blood, there is no escaping its hold. Things are different now. Scientists are able to eradicate love, and the government demands that all citizens receive the cure upon turning eighteen. Lena Holoway has always looked forward to the day when she’ll be cured. A life without love is a life without pain: safe, measured, predictable, and happy.

But with ninety-five days left until her treatment, Lena does the unthinkable: She falls in love.


 3. Hunger Games trilogy

Katniss Everdeen, who lives alone with her mother and younger sister Primrose, regards it as a death sentence when she steps forward to take her sister's place in the Games. But Katniss has been close to dead before — and survival, for her, is second nature. Without really meaning to, she becomes a contender. But if she is to win, she will have to start making choices that will weigh survival against humanity and life against love.




4. The Sky Inside

 A stranger has come to take away all the little children, including Martin's sister, Cassie, and no one wants to talk about where she has gone. The way Martin sees it, he has a choice. He can remain in the dubious safety of HM1, with danger that no one wants to talk about lurking just beneath the surface, or he can actually break out of the suburb, into the mysterious land outside, rumored to be nothing but blowing sand for miles upon miles.





5. Matched and Crossed

Cassia always trusted the Society to make the right choices for her: what to read, what to watch, what to believe. So when Xander's face appears on-screen at her Matching ceremony, Cassia knows with complete certainty that he is her ideal mate, until she sees Ky Markham's face flash for an instant before the screen fades to black.

The Society tells her it's a glitch, a rare malfunction, and that she should focus on the happy life she's destined to lead with Xander. But Cassia can't stop thinking about Ky, and as they slowly fall in love, Cassia begins to doubt the Society's infallibility and is faced with an impossible choice: between Xander and Ky, between the only life she's known and a path that no one else has dared to follow.

 If you have questions about any of the books, leave me a note. I didn't include my review because I'm not good at that, but I'd be very happy to answer any of your queries.

Books, toys and gifts

I can't believe one and a half week passed and I wasn't able to post anything. I just didn't have inspiration and urge to blog. 

Anyway, here I am again and for starters, I want you guys to meet:

 

The cat in the hat

The Cat in the hat is the most famous book character made by Dr. Seuss. I bought the adorable plushie two months ago, for only 150Php (roughly $3).

Yesterday, the boyfriend and I went out to buy Zagu. Being the Librarians that we are, we got sidetracked and went to second hand bookstores before actually getting the drinks. I saw a Horton plush toy and I really wanna buy it but we didn't have enough moolah with us. I'm crossing my fingers that Horton will still be there when I come back.

Aside from Horton, I have also seen a lot of children's books in excellent condition and very affordable prices. I thought, if we have kids at home -- cousins, nephews or nieces -- whom I can share my love for reading with, then I'll have a valid reason to buy more children's books and plushies! :)

Parents, soon-to-be parents, godparents and hoping-to-be-parents-someday (or whoever you are), I beg you. Please do not deprive children of good books. It is such a pity that our country won't can't provide for public libraries, but that should NOT be a hindrance to children experiencing good books. It doesn't matter if they get it old or brand new. 

Christmas is just around the corner and if you're thinking of what to give children this year, please give them books. Foreign ones might be a little expensive, so check out the locally published ones! But if you happen to have extra money to spend, get a plush toy to accompany the book. Not only is it a good reading buddy, it will also be a good prop for storytelling sessions!

The Cat in the Hat and Are you my mother? are my favorite books that were gifted to me as a kid. What are yours?

From the Manila International Book Fair

 

I got some storybooks because I'm catching up on Philippine Children's Lit. (Sampung Magkakaibigan, Pambihirang Buhok ni Raquel and The butterfly who did not want to fly are all signed!)

GH because I love their recipes.

It's a Mens World. No that's not a typographical error. See the blurb:

Interesting, eh? I simply loved the playful use of words! The last two books on my loot are just for laughs and those were signed too :

 How about you? Did you get a chance to visit MIBF? What were you able to bring home? :)

How do you fit reading in your busy schedule?

In one of the blogs I recently followed, I've seen some comments saying they are experiencing reader's block. They do have books but haven't read one in months. Given my work, I can always find a very gripping book that would take me out of reading slump. Aside from that, I  believe there are just too many great books out there and I just don't have enough time.

Which brings me to my question, how do you squeeze in reading on your busy schedules? I've got a goal to finish 100 books with more than 250 pages (no.10 in the list) in two years. But until now, I haven't finished my first book, Eat, Pray, Love by Elizabeth Gilbert.

I would love to get your ideas so leave your comments down there, thanks! :)