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Your Bookshelf: Best Summer Reads to Take with You This Summer
Our list of tomes will take you to places, whether within or outside the Philippines.
By: Karen Grace Libao | April 18, 2017
Mention summer vacation, and people automatically think of having more free time to do whatever they want. But vacation can also mean higher power bills due to the intolerable heat, so some might probably prefer doing activities that don’t require consuming electricity.
If you can’t think of anything to do this summer, then it’s a good opportunity to read wonderful stories written by notable writers of this era. We’ve got a good list of books that will introduce you to amazing characters and bring you to places you’ve never been.
A Little Life digs into a deeper understanding of friendship, childhood trauma, and everything in between. (Image: Good Reads)
A Little Life follows the story of four young men who, bringing only their dreams and ambitions, take chances in New York after they graduate from a prestigious Massachusetts university. There is Willem, a handsome actor wannabe; Malcolm, an aspiring architect; JB, a Brooklyn-born painter; and Jude, a lawyer who gets the spotlight among all the characters in the novel.
All friends remain connected as each of them trace their paths to becoming successful in their chosen fields. But Willem and Jude’s friendship is different. Both coming from poor families, they share the same room to save money while struggling to reach the top of their careers. But despite the closeness of their friendship, Jude remains strange to them. Masked beneath Jude’s brilliance and success is a traumatic childhood that will leave him scarred for the rest of his life.
Big Little Lies by Liane Moriarty
A shocking event will bring three women in one place. (Image: Good Reads)
This New York Times best-selling novel follows the story of three women going through similar circumstances. Madeline is a passionate and funny mom who does not forgive anyone. She sends her youngest daughter to the same school where her ex-husband’s daughter (with his new wife) also studies. Trouble comes when her teenage daughter chooses her ex-husband over her.
Then there’s Celeste, a stunning woman who becomes the queen of the school’s parent body, with his husband as the king. But prominence comes at a price, and Celeste does not know how much she’s willing to pay for it. Completing the main characters is Jane, the newbie in town who’s always mistaken as a nanny. A tragic accident happens that will bring them all together in the same boat.
Big Little Lies deals with motherhood and children, ex-husband issues, new wives, school gossip, and the little lies we say to ourselves to be able to survive. The novel has been adapted to an HBO TV series starring Nicole Kidman, Shailene Woodley and Reese Witherspoon.
Where to buy: Fullybooked
The Trials of Apollo by Rick Riordan
An immortal is punished in The Trials of Apollo series. (Image: Goods Reads)
Rick Riordan, the New York Times best-selling author of Percy Jackson and the Olympian series has released another set of fictional stories. The Hidden Oracle, book one of The Trials of Apollo series, is a story of Zeus punishing his son Apollo. The crestfallen Apollo will land in New York as an ordinary teenage boy, lost and powerless. He has to survive the modern world with his godly power. But his enemies will do everything to destroy him, pushing him to ask for help from the modern demigods in Camp Half-Blood.
Summer Days and Summer Nights: Twelve Love Stories by various authors
Summer is the perfect time for love to bloom. (Image: Good Reads)
Love doesn’t require a season to arrive, it just happens at the right time. But summer seems to be the perfect time for love time to bloom. Twelve international best-selling authors collaborated in writing twelve features that will give every reader a dreamlike summer experience. The stories tackle diverse emotions and important issues with a touch of bittersweet twists that will poke the hearts of the readers.
Young adult fans rated this book as better than My True Love Gave to Me: Twelve Holiday Love Stories—also edited by Stephanie Perkins—making it a promising book for every hopeless romantic.
Where to buy: Fullybooked, National Bookstore
Si by Bob Ong
Bob Ong finally writes a love story, something he hasn’t done before. (Image: Good Reads)
Many are puzzled on how to read Bob Ong’s new book. Set in the Philippines’ most challenging era, the story is told by an unnamed narrator chronicling his life chapters through memorable events. Then he meets the love of his life, Victoria. The narrative highlights the different types of love: romantic love, familial love, and most of all, love of God.
The first ever published love story written by the popular invisible writer is poetically told in a confusing order. Reading it by chapter or by page numbers will make sense either way.
Amazing Facts and Figures Every Pinoy Must Know by Luisito Batongbakal, Alex Castro and Marcus Vaflor
Know amazing facts about Philippine history and culture. (Image: Summit Media)
From the minds who created the local website Filipiknow.net comes Amazing Facts and Figures Every Pinoy Must Know. Here, the authors share to all readers their vast knowledge of Filipino history and culture. This book aims to educate readers of all ages by exposing trivia and some little-known information about the Philippines which are not limited to history, culture, travel, science, Philippine showbiz, and sports. This is a great book for those who want to rekindle their patriotism and upgrade their knowledge bank during vacation.
Where to buy: National Bookstore, newsstands, supermarkets, convenience stores
Para Kay B (o kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin) by Ricky Lee
Are you the lucky one who gets a happy ending in every love story? (Image: Anvil Publishing)
Ricky Lee’s very first novel, Para Kay B (or kung paano dinevastate ng pag-ibig ang 4 out of 5 sa atin) is a good starter book for those who want to try reading the works of Filipino authors. The novel is composed of five stories following five major characters each dealing with their own situations, with some that are considered unacceptable in the societal context. Lee’s imagination and ideologies are reflected in every paragraph and can be considered a gem for those looking for wisdom in love and in life.
Ricky Lee is a prominent figure in Philippine filmography and literature. Publishing his first novel can be considered a milestone for the screenwriter, as he incorporates real-life learnings in several chapters which make this book extra special.
Where to buy: National Bookstore, Powerbooks
Tips for buying books
Shopping for books is guilt-free. It’s always a wonderful idea to have a good selection stored in your shelf. Make it a habit to check out the latest releases from international and local publishers. Follow the bookstores near you on their social media pages for announcements on discounts and promos. And lastly, visit a bookstore occasionally, discover new stories regardless of the author, and read titles out of your comfort zone. Books are like friends who widen our perspective about the world through the stories that unfold in their pages.
Browse our list of bookstores in the Specialty Goods Category of the ShoppersGuide Directory.
Are you ready to fill up your shelf with these exciting and insightful books? Whichever you read first, it doesn’t matter. Who knows, maybe you’ll find your favorite book this summer? Happy reading!
Click the store names to see their exact addresses and contact numbers.
About Karen Grace Libao
Karen writes for a living and for fun. She started her writing career in 2014 when she worked as Content Manager for a women’s website and never looked back since. On her free time, she tries to catch up on her current reads, seeing independently-produced films, watching theatre plays, and attending live music and open mic gigs. She dreams of becoming a published writer and film producer in the future.
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Disclaimer: All articles in the Consumers Magazine of Yoorekka are
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careful research has been made in writing them, Yoorekka does not
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