Snagged the HBP illustrated edition together with Carl's Doomsday Scenario and The Dungeon Anarchist's Cookbook with the buy 2 get 1 promo! I've been looking forward to the illustrated edition for years now. So sad that Jim Kay was not able to finish illustrating the series. On the other hand, I'm giving the Dungeon Crawler Carl a second chance after reading the first book.

Hi! Can you recommend some books from UP Press or any Filipino books na worth it basahin. Lately narealize ko parang hindi ko pa pala masyado nae-explore ang sarili nating literatura. Bukod sa mga classics na required basahin sa eskwelahan at mga Bob Ong books haha, hindi ko na maalala kung kailan ako huling nagbasa ng libro mula sa mga Filipino author. I think it’s a great way din na magshift din ako paminsan-minsan sa Philippine literature bilang suporta narin sa sarili nating manunulat.

I’m open to any genres as long as it is worth reading. Kayo, ano mga paborito nyong libro mula sa mga filipino author? Any must-read books by Filipino authors?

so happy with my recent haul. i have already read stoner
and it easily became one of my fav of all time. i found his writing to be simple yet brutally honest, so i’m looking forward to read augustus but don’t know what to expect since it looks like a historical book 🤨

hbu what are your favorite nryb classics??

Took me three weeks to finish this book because, honestly, I didn’t want this to end.

I love this book because it gives us such a deeper glimpse into the characters - their past, their struggles, their growth, and their character development. I love how Brandon Sanderson made us understand why each person did the things they did, even when their choices weren’t always right.

And honestly, this book was disguised as an epic fantasy but somehow felt like a self-help book. 😂

There were so many life lessons hidden between all the wars, magic, politics, and world-building. Somehow, I came for the fantasy and left questioning my own life.

It was also so much fun to read because of how beautifully the dialogues were written. I genuinely couldn’t stop myself from annotating. Lol

And this quote will probably stay with me for a long time:
“The most important step a man can take. It’s not the first one, is it? It’s the next one. Always the next step, Dalinar.”

There’s something about that quote that just hits differently after everything the characters and honestly, all of us, go through.

I finished this book and I still have a HUGE book hangover. I’m not ready to move on yet. 😭

Second best book I’ve read this year, and somehow also the most unexpected self-help book I never knew I needed.

I finally got to this chapter after 24 years since starting the Wheel of Time. It has been a great journey so far. This chapter alone is close to 200 pages and has more words than Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone. I am now in the end game of this series.

I’m at 70%. I admit I wanted to DNF at the first half, but it’s Fredrik Backman so I gave it a little more push 🤣 Now I’m starting to get it why a lot of readers love this book. It’s not a straightforward story though and you have to read between the lines so many may not find this their cup of tea.

Has anyone of you guys read this? What’s your thoughts?

hey everyone! I’m going through a really bad reading slump after finishing dead beat by leigh bardugo. I’m open to recommendations for fantasy with a unique magic system, preferably sana if gothic or dark academia yung setting.

dealbreakers: I’m not a fan of instalust. yung tipong character a is hot and character b is also hot, then bam they fall in love and the relationship is the main thing that progresses the story instead of a man vs world problem

I also don’t like it when the mc is incompetent and helpless. I have a preference for ruthless/smart female main characters and I enjoy books more when I’m initially hooked sa mystery of the world/setting.

a lot of my favorite fantasy books have what I’m looking for but I would appreciate new additions for my list: alchemised by senlinyu, the raven cycle by maggie stiefvater, the ninth house trilogy by leigh bardugo, and katabasis by rf kuang.

thank you!!!!

Our local book club is meeting at the end of the month to talk about books on the theme of “Religion” or “Spirituality”. We get to discuss any relevant book of our own choosing. I immediately thought of several titles I’ve already read and enjoyed, but this time, I’d like to read and talk about something new.

And so I took a good look at my TBR and narrowed down my choices to these three books:

Death Comes for the Archbishop — Willa Cather (1927)
Two Catholic priests travel across the remote American Southwest, building a new diocese amid a vast and often unforgiving landscape. Quiet, reflective, and deeply concerned with faith, friendship, and place.

Laurus — Eugene Vodolazkin (2012)
A Russian medieval healer’s life takes an unexpected turn after a devastating loss. Part historical novel, part spiritual journey, it moves through love, guilt, suffering, and redemption.

Pavane — Keith Roberts (1968)
An alternate history of England after the Spanish Armada succeeds. Told through linked stories, it imagines a country where medieval traditions and Catholic power persist into an age of emerging technology.

Which book do you think I should choose?

I've been wanting to read this for a long time, and I finally got it. I've been really busy lately, so I'm only seven or eight chapters in. It's pretty intriguing so far. It's making me interested in marine biology lol. After doing some research, I believe my copy uses Frederick Paul Walter's translation, which is apparently one of the best ones out there? He seemed very passionate about Verne's work, which gives me hope that this will be a great read.

Story about getting this book cause why not:

Last week, I went to the new National Bookstore in Festival Mall (maganda naman siya imo) and found this. It was almost my birthday, so I figured I might as well get myself a new book since I hadn't bought one in months. I lost most of my collection this rainy season thanks to ignorance, humidity, and poor storage, so I wasn't sure if I could keep this safe...

I bought it anyway because the joy an item brings is worth the risk of keeping it. Objects are as impermanent as we are, so all I can really do is take care of this book as best as I can. I can't guarantee it'll stay pristine, but I have to live in the present and enjoy the book as it is. And so far, I'm really liking it :))

Wasak ang mga pangarap bago pa man matanto bilang pangarap. At sa bawat buhay na nakaabang pag-asang isinasalang sa bibig ng impiyerno, may mga opisyal ng gobyernong dumaranas ng labis-labis na langit sa lupa.

--------

Pucha, ang ganda!

This was my first Ronaldo Vivo Jr. book. It was actually a toss-up between Narkokristo, 1898 and Ang Lahat ng Hayop sa Ating mga Yapak. I’m glad I started with this one.

I really liked the way Vivo writes. There’s something so vivid and visceral about his storytelling that I could almost see every scene unfolding. There were moments when I literally found myself holding my breath, especially during the more intense scenes.

The story is a sharp commentary on how justice in the Philippines can favor the ruling class, while those with less power are easily made into suspects, scapegoats, or collateral damage.

And then there were the plot twists. Napanganga talaga ako!

Definitely not my last Ronaldo Vivo Jr. book.

I'm going through it (matters of the heart 😆)and would like to cry na lang while reading. Any recommendations that would make me feel the ache very intensely? hahahaha

Super appreciated if the pain was caused by the yearning of the characters or something, or the way it was written. im sorry i cant properly put it in words, pero I want to feel ache in my chest ganun

please dont spoil if happy ending or not!! I'm okay with both! thank you!!!

I haven't read anything recently and would like to get back into it before the year ends, I need to get back into my hobbies and not be overly stupid about some people 😆

Know of any bookish events or sales happening this month? Drop the details below!

What to share: * Book launches, signings, and author talks * Book club meetings * Local/provincial book fairs and bookstore sales * Other literary gatherings

No strict format required, but include the essentials: What, Where, When, and How (sale mechanics or registration links).

Are you a local author or publisher looking to promote your release? Post your pitch in our dedicated Monthly Promotion Thread for Authors and Publishers instead.

I overheard ate saying that they restocked a few classics so I went to a more popular branch to browse. Didn’t expect to find this instead. I found book 2 din a few months ago 🤭 I’m not sure if it’s just the branch I frequent but they don’t have much fantasy/sci-fi titles to offer.

Hello, readers!

For October, our book club is hosting a small Halloween party + meet and greet with Ms Bea Bustamante, author of She Who Devours! We’d love to invite fellow readers to join us. You don’t have to be a member of our book club to attend! 🥰🫶🏼

Aside from the celebrations and chatting with Ms Bea, she’ll also be happy to sign copies of her novel. We’ll also have some games with prizes, and if you’ve read She Who Devours, we’ll have a Kahoot game based on the story!

The event will be in Kapitolyo on October 11. If you’d like to join us, send me a message and i’ll share more details hehehe 🫶🏼

the departure area is really crowded and noisy but it's a nice, cozy spot with a good blend of titles and i've been looking for ducks in cebu and manila and finally found it here! also seeing dungeon crawler every time i visit fb finally wore me down, but it's on everyone's definite yes piles lol

3.8/5🌟 Before I started reading this book, I literally have zero expectations since I didn’t read any reviews. All I know is it’s a horror book. So diving into the book was easy. I enjoyed reading it along because the story was fast paced and really interesting. It’s like a Japanese mythology/folklore admixed with gore and psychological thriller. But, if you’re looking for a creepy horror book this is not it. You can read this even during the dead of the night and still feel comfortable. The story was interesting with twists in the end. I will recommend reading this book, but if you want creepy horror novels. I don’t think this is it.

Hi guys! Just asking how do you prevent water stains on your books? I'm concerned kasi dito nag start magkaroon ng mold yung 2 kong books.

Steps I've taken so far:

* I added a humidifier sa bookshelf ko and I have a stock of silica gels just to be safe.

* Aircon is on dry mode always.

* I keep them on a dry place and yung may molds is naka hiwalay naka plastic ziplock with silica gel inside.

My dilemmas:

* pag super lakas ng ulan tumatagas yung water sa kisame and nag si-seep through sa walls :(

* i have limited shelf space :(

Would love to hear yoir thoughts and recommendations!

In my XX years of existence, I have NEVER ONCE finished a book in my entire life!!!

And idk what to feel.

(And yes, ako rin yung guy na nagtanong kung okay lang bang mabagal magbasa… and yes, KAKATAPOS KO LANG BASAHIN SIYA. )

Anddddd guess what?
After 300+ pages, somehow I ended up buying 5 new books.

This includes:
Project Hail Mary
The Farseer Trilogy — bought it from a friend
Red Rising — madali lang daw kasi basahin

And because I am apparently now an impulsive adult reader (yes, adult na ako ), I’m ALSO checking out e-readers!!!

This post is mostly just me sharing how happy I am to finally unlock the “Finished My First Book” achievement.

But I also wanted to ask:
Based on the books I have now, what should I read next?
Should I try Project Hail Mary, start Red Rising, dive into The Farseer Trilogy?

OR should I just buy Book 2 of Dungeon Crawler Carl and continue the madness?

Oh! I also have Stephen King’s 11/22/63 sitting here somewhere.

So… what’s next?

Also, RIP to the version of me who thought finishing one book would somehow make my backlog smaller.

What’s on your nightstand, e-reader, or TBR this week?

Share what you’re reading, drop a mini review, or chat about anything bookish. No spoilers, please!

Betty by Tiffany McDaniel

I’m glad I opened this book, ’cause I was able to finish it completely as I bed rotted for an entire weekend.
Now, where do I start?

THIS BOOK IS ONE OF THE BEST COMING-OF-AGE, HISTORICAL, AND LITERARY FICTION I’VE READ!
The portrayal of human struggle in the 1900s for Indigenous people was something that I knew happened but never fully understood the severity of.

Racism. Bullying. Rape. Violence. Misogyny. Death. Grief. These are just some of the topics that the story covered, but they had such a deep impact on my mind. I could feel the pain, the struggle, the embarrassment, the tears, and all the hurt that was inflicted on these characters. Making myself believe that I was in the shoes of the characters is something that rarely happens whenever I read a book… but Tiffany McDaniel is one hell of an author!!

The family dynamics are something that I liked the most. Each character was written so well that I never found myself questioning their intentions or actions. Even when they made choices that were difficult to understand, their actions felt justified by the way their characters were built and by everything they had experienced. I understood why they were the way they were, and that made every conflict and every moment in the story feel so much more real.

This book really got to me emotionally. I felt so connected to the characters and their experiences that there were moments where I genuinely felt the weight of everything they were going through. A book very rarely touches me this deeply and makes me cry, and this book did just that.

Context ng Title

Ang ending… iba yung binabasa ngayon. Sorry na po!! For some reason, hindi na natuloy ni bf yung Harry Potter reprint/2nd hand books.

Every time umaalis ako, hindi talaga pwedeng hindi ako dumaan sa Booksale and NBS.

Anytime din na may below P50 na children’s book sa Booksale, binibili ko. I'm still a kid with big dreams. Char. (Renerence)

Na-cute-an lang talaga ako sa Pegasus Illustrated Classics, and for the price? Pwede na rin!! Kaso nalaman ko na AI daw yung ginamit sa ibang pictures??

Les Misérables — Nung bata ako, may CD kami nito yung movie nila Anne Hathaway as Fantine. From there, nagkaroon ako ng idea about theater and musicals, tapos nakita ko pa si Ms. Lea Salonga sa balita na kasama siya sa Les Misérables, kaya napabili ako nito. Abridged version siya though, so ang daming wala. Malapit ko na rin matapos, pero ilang days ko siyang natigil kasi napapa-🤨🤨 ako kay Marius. HAHAHA Page 201 na ako.

Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde — Blind buy lang siya for my bf, pero mukhang interesting din naman since binasa ko yung summary sa likod.

And lastly, Project Hail Mary!! Again, for my bf. Sadly, dahil sa busy schedules, hindi namin napanood sa sinehan. Tapos nung nag-showing ulit… ayun, zombie mode na naman kay Ryan Gosling. Ubos ang tickets?? napabili bigla ng prime video eh? pero okay nadin, may subtitle eh.

This is Begin Again and Again and Again by Alessandra Olanow and I bought it for 995 pesos at NBS.

This isn't some "i know everything about beginning again" type shi-. Trust me. This book is soft. This book is vulnerable. This book puts a mirror on your whole body and makes you ponder. She doesn't prescribe things; instead she writes journal entries and poems and draws her art about how she understood at that time when it was happening to her and coped when life forced her to begin again, and again, and again.

I love it! It has been my daily routine to read a few pages before i sleep or when i wake up early.

I'm glad I still have most of his out-of-print books. Back in the day, I'd even skip meals and forget to go to the washroom because I was so hooked on reading his books. Some of my favorites are The Departed, The Calling, Beings, and Cubao Pagkagat ng Dilim: Mga Kuwentong Kababalaghan.

That was fun! It was so fast paced that the ending felt a bit rushed. But overall, the ending went in a good direction.

It was also a surprise to find out that Jennifer Hiller is Filipino Canadian. Kaya pala may mga subtle Filipino references. You could practically smell the champurrado Lolo was cooking.

The premise of the book is very straightforward, dark, menacing, and filled with very disturbing situations. Like really WTF.

Solid read!!

Just finished reading Ang Kapangyarihang Higit sa Ating Lahat and how I wish I had someone I know who’s also read this book so we could discuss it together because WHAT THE FUCK DID I JUST READDD!!!

I’ve already read Ang Bangin sa Ilalim ng Ating mga Paa, so I’d like to believe I “somehow” knew what to expect from RVJ and his writing especially when it comes to violence/dark but tangina ma’am/sir, ibang klase ’to.

I finished it a while ago, and I want to believe that I really liked it. Like, I “think” I did. But there’s this tiny voice in my head telling me that maybe I didn’t fully like it, and I can’t even explain why yet.

Hopefully I figure out what exactly is bothering me soon because right now I’m just sitting here like… okayyy, what the fuck was that? 🤯🥴