Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts
Showing posts with label book reviews. Show all posts

What inspired the Netflix series 'Happy Jail': My Autobiography by Marco Toral [book review + signing event]

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The author (left) and me on the right

Last April 27, I was invited to a book signing of My Autobiography: Seasoned by Stress by Marco Toral. It is rare for me to be invited for a book signing with the author present, so I took the opportunity. 

The author's story was featured in the Netflix documentary series Happy Jail. Imprisoned for drug possession for seven years, he later was hired as a consultant for the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center. The author shared his story of spending time in prison and life after. Later, when he was hired in the jail, it definitely raised some questions. But Toral's experience as a former inmate made him sensitive to the needs of the other inmates and his perspective brought significant changes in the jail.

The event was small, with some some ten to fifteen bloggers, media, and a few who work for jail management in the city. But it was nice to have a small, close event to interact and engage with the author better. We got to hear the author's story and what the book is about from him.

I also got a free copy of the book during the event! I have not watched the Netflix documentary series (maybe I would if I have time in the future). 

The book

Book review and first impressions

Book synopsis: Marco Toral was a man whose life was mapped out for him as part of a prominent clan in Cebu but an arrest changed the course of his life and led him to play a crucial role in the prison reform at the Cebu Provincial Detention and Rehabilitation Center after spending seven years as an inmate. In this book, Marco looks back at his years as a businessman, inmate, a jail consultant, and now as a semi-retired man.

My Autobiography is a short book, so I had read it in one sitting. While the author's story is touching and compelling, I wished it was longer. At 105 pages, it feels more like a summary and highlights of his life rather than a more detailed look of his time in jail and his life before and after. I think his experience as a jail manager/consultant was detailed more in the documentary series than the book. But that is only my preference as I like longer books. I just felt that it could have been a lot longer.

What I do find interesting about his story is the author's relationship with his family before, during, and after his jail stay: the unrelenting faith of his mother, the estrangement from his first spouse, and meeting his son again after seven years in prison. It's a story of redemption, forgiveness, and faith. It's interesting to note that he came from a prominent and wealthy family in Cebu, and even ironic that the jail he stayed in was built on land donated by his grandfather. But of course, his status gave him a better situation than those who are not as wealthy in prison.

After being recommended by a politician to handle the jail, he faced some criticism. However, I do think that his first-hand experience as an inmate gives him a unique and more authentic insight on the situation of the people inside. He did what he could to improve the daily situation of the inmates such as creating livelihood programs, allowing longer visiting times from families, and increasing the food budget. I do admire the author's work in making the jail a little better and bringing light into the issues and problems in the country's justice system. 

However, I am not a big fan of the book's title. As a writer myself and having tried writing fiction, I am conscious of how the words sound and titles are important for me. They need to be intriguing and compelling. I will probably not be as intrigued of the book if I just saw the title. But then again, that's just my personal preference.

To order the book, visit the author's website at marcotoral.com or get it on Amazon.

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Video: Reviewers and Books I used to pass the Librarians Licensure Exam

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Sharing the reviewers, books, and resources that I used to pass the LLE (Librarians Licensure Examination) board exam in the Philippines. Not to "lift my own chair" but I topped the board exam for librarians in 2015 so I think you can trust my recommendations ;)

Time stamps:
1:16 LLE Reviewers I used
2:47 Book recommendations for specific subjects
5:00 Disclaimers! I had one year to review and I'm a fast reader
5:17 Other Board exam tips and recommendations

LLE Reviewers
FREE LLE Reviewer from Benguet State University: https://tiny.one/2zawvbcb

BUY LLE REVIEWERS ONLINE:
The Complete Reviewer for the Librarians Licensure Examination
Vol 7 (2018) in Shopee: https://invol.co/cl99978
Vol 4 (2005) in Shopee: https://invol.co/cl99992

Abstracting and Indexing Made Easy 2nd ed. (2018)
Shopee: https://invol.co/cl999a4
Lazada: https://invol.co/cl999cf

More than Books: Perspectives on the Management of Information Resources and services in Libraries (2004) in Shopee: https://invol.co/cl99989

BOOKS ON AMAZON:
Introduction to Indexing and Abstracting (4th ed.)  by Ana D. Cleveland & Donald B. Cleveland: https://amzn.to/36bf1uX
Learn Reference Work (2007) by Clara Sitter & Mary Gosling: https://amzn.to/3M1zC4e
Fundamentals of Collection Development and Management (4th Ed. 2018) by Peggy Johnson: https://amzn.to/3O648Ml
Introduction to Cataloging and Classification (10th ed.) by Arlene Taylor: https://amzn.to/36cHuk5
Introducing RDA: A Guide to the Basics (2010) by Chris Oliver: https://amzn.to/3KJy9zc

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Free children's book on Dr. Li Wenliang, COVID-19 whistleblower

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Children's book authors and illustrators seem to be getting inspired to write stories to educate children on the current coronavirus pandemic. I have featured some free children's books specifically about COVID-19 in this blog and even created a new tag to keep track of them. Check out the "Covid19 free books" tag to see all my posts about and download these free books.

Here's another free children's book on COVID-19. Though it is very different from the previous books featured here, which are mostly about educating children about the virus and what they can do to prevent it from spreading. This one is about Dr. Li Wenliang, the late doctor from Wuhan, China, who was one of the first doctors to discover the new disease.

Dr. Li and the crown-wearing virus is written by Francesca Cavallo, illustrated by Claudia Flandoli, with graphic design by Samuele Motta. It is published by Undercats, Inc., ©2020.



Download the book Dr. Li and the crown-wearing virus

"As usual, my goal is to find ways to keep children informed about what is happening while helping you have meaningful, honest conversations with them. Letting children be inspired by the heroes of our time can be a powerful reminder of the beauty of science, and of the importance of doing their homework!" said the author in the book.

Dr. Li Wenliang was an opthalmologist who worked in Wuhan Central Hospital, Wuhan, China. He was the first to notice that there seems to be a new disease infecting his patients, whose symptoms were similar to the SARS virus. He started to warn his colleagues, but he was summoned by police for spreading rumors and fear-mongering. He was diagnosed with coronavirus last January 30 and passed away on February 27, 2020. He was 33 years old.

His death has caused controversy in social media not just in China but all over the world.

The book tells Dr. Li's story and how health experts reacted to it, the possible source of the virus, and what important measures we should follow to prevent it from spreading. This book is a great memorial for the late doctor.

It also emphasizes the importance of frontliners such as doctors, health workers, scientists, and researchers in combating the virus. I like that the author is brave enough to write a children's story about a controversial topic, though it's best that young people also learn about it.

Out of the free children's books on COVID-19 I've read, this is the one I liked best. For other free children's books on the novel coronavirus, check out the Covid-19 free books tag in this blog.
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UPLB releases 2 children's books on COVID-19 for free

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Illustration by Rachelle Ann Fabula from Ang Mga Maskara ni Miko

Many organizations publishing free books for children about COVID-19. So far, I have featured four free children's eBooks on the subject of COVID-19 which you can see in the "COVID-19 free books" tag.

Recently, the Department of Human and Family Development Studies (DHFDS) of the College of Human Ecology (CHE) in the University of the Philippines Los Baños released two free eBooks to educate children on COVID-19. Both books are written in Filipino and published under the Tsikiting Stories series of DHFDS.



The first book is Ang Mga Maskara ni Miko: kwentong pambata ukol sa COVID-19 ("The Masks of Miko: children's stories about COVID-19") is written by Kate del Rosario and illustrated by Rachelle Ann Fabula.

The book is about a boy named Miko asking about why people have to wear masks. His parents teach him what kind of mask people must wear and why it is important in protecting ourselves and others from the virus.




Download 'Ang Mga Maskara ni Miko' free eBook [PDF]



The second book is Isang Metro: kwentong pambata ukol sa COVID-19 ("One Meter") written by the same author, Kate Del Rosario, and illustrated by Dindin Espina.

The book is about a girl named Ella who is asking her mother why people have to keep a one meter distance from each other. This teaches children about the importance of social distancing as a way to help prevent the spread of the virus.

Download 'Isang Metro' free eBook [PDF]




There is also a video available with an audio reading of the story on the publisher's Facebook page.

The books are great for teachers, librarians, and parents who would like to educate children on COVID-19. The books contain answers to what children may ask about the disease and why measures such as face masks and social distancing are important.

For inquiries about their publications, you may contact the publisher by e-mail at tsikitingstories@gmail.com.

For more free children's eBooks on COVID-19, check out the tag "COVID-19 free books" in this blog.

Source: Llaneta, C.A.C. (2020 April 21). UPLB publishes free-to-download children’s ebooks on COVID-19 prevention and control measures. UP Media and Public Relations Office.
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5 apocalyptic books to read for lockdown season

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We are living in a very unique time in human history. Last week, we were all just strolling about, the threat of COVID-19 something faraway. Now it is here and the best thing we can do now is follow what our government and leaders say. Right now, Iloilo City is on lockdown. Transportation is prohibited, and only essential stores are open. Residents are encouraged to stay home to prevent the virus from spreading.

For those who are privileged to stay at home at this time, the common problem is boredom. Good thing that electricity and internet connection is still available. However, it can be really tiring and stressful to constantly check the news and social media. Here are some scary books you can read during this waiting season. 

These books are titles I have personally read except the one by Dean Koontz. The themes are plagues and apocalypse. I don't mean to scare you, but reading these books could show us the thin line between fiction and reality. What is happening right now is somewhat similar to what these writers have imagined. 

Here's my list. The links lead to Amazon where you can buy the books via Kindle. The Kindle app is free to download for Android and iOS. 




The Stand by Stephen King


Summary: "One man escapes from a biological weapon facility after an accident, carrying with him the deadly virus known as Captain Tripps, a rapidly mutating flu that - in the ensuing weeks - wipes out most of the world's population. In the aftermath, survivors choose between following an elderly black woman to Boulder or the dark man, Randall Flagg, who has set up his command post in Las Vegas. The two factions prepare for a confrontation between the forces of good and evil."

The Eyes of Darkness by Dean Koontz


Summary: "A year had passed since little Danny's death - A year since his mother began the painful process of acceptance. But Tina Evans could have sworn she just saw her Danny in a stranger's car...Then she dreamed that Danny was alive. And when she awoke, she found a message waiting for her in Danny's bedroom - Two disturbing words scrawled on his chalkboard: NOT DEAD. For Tina Evans, it was a mystery she couldn't escape. An obsession that would lead her from the bright lights of Las Vegas to the cold shadows of the High Sierras."

This book has been talked about lately due to the rumor that it 'predicted' the recent COVID-19 outbreak. However, I believe it is only coincidence. The nature of the disease described in the book is different.

Rant: The Oral Biography of Buster Casey by Chuck Palahniuk


Summary: "Buster “Rant” Casey just may be the most efficient serial killer of our time. A high school rebel, Rant Casey escapes from his small town home for the big city where he becomes the leader of an urban demolition derby called Party Crashing. Rant Casey will die a spectacular highway death, after which his friends gather the testimony needed to build an oral history of his short, violent life. With hilarity, horror, and blazing insight, Rant is a mind-bending vision of the future, as only Chuck Palahniuk could ever imagine."

This book has a pretty complicated plot that involves plagues and infections. I've read it way back in high school and read it again many times. It is an experimental novel that really blew my mind the first time I read it.

The Passage trilogy by Justin Cronin


Summary: "An epic and gripping tale of catastrophe and survival, The Passage is the story of Amy—abandoned by her mother at the age of six, pursued and then imprisoned by the shadowy figures behind a government experiment of apocalyptic proportions. But Special Agent Brad Wolgast, the lawman sent to track her down, is disarmed by the curiously quiet girl and risks everything to save her. As the experiment goes nightmarishly wrong, Wolgast secures her escape—but he can’t stop society’s collapse. And as Amy walks alone, across miles and decades, into a future dark with violence and despair, she is filled with the mysterious and terrifying knowledge that only she has the power to save the ruined world."

The Passage is a post-apocalypse tale, where the remains of humanity live together in walled cities and fight zombie-vampires. I also read it way back in high school, and this page-turner kept me awake for days. It is the first book of a trilogy, followed by The Twelve and City of Mirrors.

World War Z: an oral history of the Zombie War by Max Brooks


Summary: "The Zombie War came unthinkably close to eradicating humanity. Max Brooks, driven by the urgency of preserving the acid-etched first-hand experiences of the survivors, traveled across the United States of America and throughout the world, from decimated cities that once teemed with upwards of thirty million souls to the most remote and inhospitable areas of the planet. He recorded the testimony of men, women, and sometimes children who came face-to-face with the living, or at least the undead, hell of that dreadful time. World War Z is the result. Never before have we had access to a document that so powerfully conveys the depth of fear and horror, and also the ineradicable spirit of resistance, that gripped human society through the plague years."

This book is written in a different style, in the form of interviews about a fictional zombie plague.




*If you buy the book through the links in this post, I will earn a small commission via Amazon Affiliates. I am trying out this program for the first time for the blog.
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Panaysayon: Tales from Panay Island by Christian George Acevedo [book review]

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Panaysayon: Tales from Panay Island by Christian George Acevedo, edited by Hazel Joaquin. Published through a grant from the National Commission for Culture and the Arts, Intramuros, Manila. ©2019

Photo from the author

The author of this book has been a guest in the #Humans of the Library series in this blog: Christian George Acevedo. He is a librarian and the current head of Capiz State University Library. This is his first published book, published through a grant from NCCA.

Panaysayon is a collection of 27 folk tales from Panay island, which includes the provinces of Iloilo, Antique, Aklan, and Capiz. Some of these tales may be familiar, some are new and a few of them I've never heard before. Every story has a translation to Hiligaynon. The stories are collected from various sources: books, libraries, archives, and interviews. It features different kinds of folk narratives: myths, legends, and folk tales.

Two legends in the book, "Why the sky is high" and "Origin of the first man and woman" are already quite well-known. Since the author is from Capiz, a number of tales are also set in the place. Aside from legends, there are also entertaining fables or tales featuring animals as characters. It covers a wide range of genres and even includes mystery stories ("The Boarder" and "The Spider") and some with a religious theme.

I admit that I have some difficulty reading (and writing) Hiligaynon even if it is my first language. However, in this book, I enjoyed reading the Hiligaynon translations and it really gives the story a different feel. It almost feels like old-school story-telling, and I think the translations would be good spoken aloud in the native tongue. If you are like me who is more used to English and would like to read more on the local language, this book is a good start.

I find that this book can be enjoyed by everyone, no matter what your age. I think the book would be ideal for parents or teachers to read to children. Since the tales are already translated, it is also useful for schools teaching or using mother tongue in the curriculum.

I also have to commend the book's designer and layout artist. As a reader, a book's format and readability are important. The art and pictures featured in the pages' design are apt for the stories. The cover featuring an old map of Panay Island is also eye-catching and classic-looking. If you are only judging the book by design alone, it's at par with books from international publishers we see in bookstores.

Panaysayon is intended to be given for free to libraries and schools in Panay. The book is also launching today, March 7, in the Panublion Museum in Roxas City.

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