My Passion, My First Love

When I was in Kindergarten, a tita (aunt) of mine kept me going to her house because they had a library. She wanted me to be in love with her books and so I did. I frequented her house, and started out with Dr. Seuss' books. Soon, all her Dr. Seuss' books I have already read. After that, I read Enid Blyton's Choose Your Own Story. Nancy Drew also filled her shelves, and so I upgraded to Nancy Drew. I started with The Secret of the Red Gate Farm when I was in Grade 4, and from then on, I moved to Hardy Boys. Until now, all Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys and other book collections I have had when I was a kid, I still kept. I am hoping my kids will value them too.

Most of my friends read Sweet Valley, from the Kids, Twins, the Sweet Valley High, until I upgraded to Sweet Valley University. Most Sweet Valley University Series I read when I was in high school, until I found myself reading Sidney Sheldon's novels in college. It was an obsession I had with Sidney Sheldon, I can devour the whole book in 2-3 hours, without eating, standing up and disobeying Mom for an errand. Fact: I read all his novels, up to his last written book. Danielle Steel, yes, I also read her books, thanks to my best friend's elder sister who had a collection. I had a friend who encouraged me to read John Grisham and I also fell in love with his writings, Robert Ludlum also is a wonderful writer for me. I found myself admiring Og Mandino, John Steinbeck, Chaim Potok, and other writers whose books deserved to be read.

When I got married, my brother-in-law gave my son a Harry Potter set, up to the fourth book. Everyone in the office knew how crazy I was over Harry Potter, and when my boss went to America, he bought me the fifth one. My sixth book was a printed copy, and as I have posted befored, my bestfriend Z, gave me the 7th book she bought in London. I read these books nobody knows how many times, but that's how crazy I am over JK Rowling's Harry Potter. One crazy fact: One of our dogs is named Hagrid.

Now, of course, what could be next in my line of favorites is this series:

I have been reading them twice or thrice or I dunno how many times, but yes, I did. I have all the copies, thanks to Sinta who gave me the first three, and the fourth my brother-in-law in Iloilo bought from NBS because all stocks were sold out here in Gensan.

I love reading, and this is my passion, my first love. From the workbooks, and the texbooks and newspapers and the magazine we do, I read them with a passion and they give me lots of wisdom and the lessons they bring, I have learned.

I have books still in pendency. With my work here as an editor, my eyes are tired when I get home and I have to rest them, so these babies still need time to be given justice to. Soon, yes, very soon.


I have been wanting to finish The Godfather by Mario Puzo, but time does not permit me yet, now, I am reading Paulo Coelho's The Witch of Portobello, I just finished The Alchemist, and the lesson of humility in that book is inspiring.

The book that struck me so much is The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupery, of course who cannot be struckwith those powerful words. Always one of my favorites:

"It's only through the heart that one can see rightly, what is essential is invisible to the eye."

Let me ask you this, what's your favorite book?