of concealed worlds

booklat:

Flail Friday! Influence by Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

The reason why I am now broke is because I saw this in Booksale. I actually didn’t see it at first, but two women were talking about the books they wanted to buy and they mentioned a Warhol book and this one. I kept seeing it in Fully Booked eons ago and I’m not really a big MK and Ashley fan, but it looked interesting enough (but was too expensive!).

MK and Ashley interview people who’ve influenced them, and they ask these people who/what inspires them. It’s actually very inspiring.

Back to the story. I was thinking of asking them where the book was but I was suddenly attacked by shyness and hesitation (what if they figure out that they want it and buy it instead?). So I kept on looking at the shelves a bit desperately until I found it. It was still expensive by Booksale standards, but still relatively cheaper than a brand-new copy. I bought it and now I have this urge to interview all of my heroes.

It gives me a happy.

Posted by rainbowramareads

booklat:

What I’m Reading Wednesday: The Moon by Whale Light by Diane Ackerman and Stories by Rob Cham

I love Ackerman’s A Natural History of the Senses, and I was just hoping I could stumble upon a book of hers one day in Booksale, and I kid you not, I found this gem a few minutes later, which is a little miracle right there, because I rarely see her books in Booksale. I got it and savored it while waiting for the doctor in the hospital because of an asthma attack and found that Ms. Ackerman’s beautiful way with words helped me breathe a bit easier.

Like this bit:

Tonight the moon is invisible, darkness itself has nearly vanished, and the known world, which we map with families, routines, and newspapers, floats somewhere beyond the horizon. Traveling to a strange new landscape is a kind of romance. You become intensely aware of the world where you are, but also oblivious to the rest of the world at the same time. Like love, travel makes you innocent again.

I’m not really fond of bats, or crocodiles, and I’m a bit scared of whales, but she writes with giddy enthusiasm that you can’t help but feel affection and even a sense of connection with said animals. She also reveals how her childhood was like, how she talked to herself often (enough to have their neighbor inform her mother), how she tried to convince a cousin to fly like a bird using a towel tucked into his shirt, how they made a gruesome concoction of unmentionable fluids which they planned on having their friend drink to see if he’ll die for it, and other quirky anecdotes.

I also love this part about living dangerously and learning to fly:

Being ecstatic means being flung out of your usual self. When you’re enraptured , your senses are upright and saluting. But there is also a state when perception doesn’t work, consciousness vanishes like the gorgeous fever it is, and you feel free of all mind-body constraints, suddenly so free of them you don’t perceive yourself as being free, but vigilant, a seeing eye without judgment, history or emotion. It’s that shudder out of time, the central moment in so many sports, that one often feels, and perhaps becomes addicted to, while doing something dangerous.

Best savored slowly.

P.S. S also lent me her Rob Cham comics, which I also plan to finish in a bit. Thanks S! :)

Posted by rainbowramareads

I’m also quite happy that the Ackerman book only costs Php20. :)

booklat:

What I’m Reading Wednesday: 365: A Daily Creativity Journal-Make Something Every Day and Change Your Life! by Noah Scalin

From The Book Depository, another surprise from the gf. This time the order arrived in less than a month. I want to start doing the activities here but am still deciding if it’s better to start it next year (if 2012 isn’t the end of the world, heh).

Posted by rainbowramareads

Thinking of a theme: Cats or pandas or both?

Magazines I could not resist: AUS/NZ loot

This is why I am broke right now. These mags (except for Yen and Wonderland) were in my AUS/NZ bucket list, and what is AUS/NZ without some Frankie lovin’?

I had to massacre that Wonderland magazine because of excess baggage fears so I got to take home some pages. There was an article about Miranda July but the rest of the magazine was just okay, nothing spectacular. I kind of regret the impulse purchase, and wish I bought two back issues of Frankie instead for the same price, but, oh well.

I wish we had a public library like the one here in Taupo, NZ. Here are just some of the graphic novels I was able to read today. One day is not enough to explore that library, it was magical. Highlights: The graphic novels/comics section, the friendly staff, the plush seats near the window, the magazines section and their artsy books section. Just—wow.

Got an advanced V-day gift from the gf! I loved Lynda Barry’s memoir/book about writing entitled “What It Is” and was so excited to hear about her latest book about making “art” called “Picture This”, which is now the latest addition to my Lynda Barry shrine collection.

Also, I’ve been hearing a lot of great things about The Artist’s Way by Julia Cameron and I scored one for only Php45 at Booksale. Huzzah!

I was obsessed with these magazines/I might be a hoarder/You completed me before (part 6):

I first read NYLON in my first job at an advertising agency. This very hot, very cool girl owned it and let me read it and my mind was blown by it. It was unlike the other fashion mags that I’ve read at that time—edgy and celebratory of the DIY aesthetic. I collected it after that and read each issue religiously. Sadly the last time I read one, I felt a tad too..old and felt that I couldn’t relate anymore to their articles or the artists/designers they featured. Or maybe I was pms-ing that last time. I still buy NYLON though, when I like the person in the cover, or someone featured inside. Or when it’s cheap.

I am obsessed with these magazines/I might be a hoarder/You complete me (part 5):

Martha Stewart is a DIY queen, where did she get all those ideas? Real Simple is a great beach read, and perfect for relaxing “me” time because the ideas are actually deceptively simple, but they work. The layout of this magazine is clean and the colors look fresh and sunshiny. A feel-good mag.

Martha Stewart Living is filled with gorgeous styling and delectable-looking treats and treasures. These are both more pricey so I don’t have as many of these mags as I would like to have in my collection. Boo.

I am obsessed with these magazines/I might be a hoarder/You complete me (part 4):

The old MTVInk magazines. I loved the quirky articles (about ukays and MRT/LRT stations), unique interviews and most of all the matte finish. I loved sniffing this mag and that size wasn’t very convenient, but it certainly was memorable.

I am obsessed with these magazines/I might be a hoarder/You complete me (part 3):

Blueprint, Domino, ReadyMade. DIY/Deco-related mags for the drools and the inspiration and for making me dream that I shall one day be a DIY queen with a home worthy of being featured in the magazine. They shall gasp and ask: “Where did you get that?!” and I shall smile coyly and answer, “I made it.”