i am a fan of classic literature.
at a young age of 9, i would scan our grolier's encylopedia for geoffrey chaucer, leo tolstoy, shakespeare, edith hamilton, and others. back then, i kept this interest to myself. i was afraid my friends would look at me differently ( like Belle in disney's beauty and the beast). they were so into chinese garters and sanrio characters, i saw no tangible reason why i should share my "fixation". we didn't have the means to feed my passion for reading, so i was content in reading the biographies of authors whose writings i came to love and cherish.
i got to read all of these classic writings when i turned 19. i would go to our school library and read through at least 50 pages each day until i finish the whole book. there was one time when i tried to get one of my closest college friends to be "involved". but she decided against reading the whole book and settled for the synopsis written at the back flap of the hardbound book instead (madayang bata). some found it hard to understand the words used in beowolf, for instance (the haughty healfdene and the Scyldings). but to me, that's where the beauty of literature lies...the words translate in my head as breezy as a regular bowel movement.
in writing, there are simply no limits. you can write about anything! Beatrix Potter wrote about Peter Rabbit, Jemima (the Pudle-Duck), Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, etc. and these became part of her collection of timeless children's books.
Some of Russian novelist--leo tolstoy's works as "god sees the truth, but waits", "anna karenina", and "war and peace" brought me closer to anna and her love affair with count vronsky, and ivan dmtrich aksionov (i cry each time i read this short story). the very detailed description of 19th century wars won me over. tolstoy's words just pierce your heart like a stray arrow with sensory tracking device (it finds its target and never misses).
Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights", J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye", Alice Walker's "The Color Purple"...very invigorating :) (don't mess with my "geek" factor,hehe).
sir romil silva (de la salle lipa) introduced me to greek mythology. i developed a deeper kind of addiction to greek literature naman. i can still recall one of my "not-worth-remembering days" when i lost my only copy of the greek mythology. i wasn't able to function for days! after 15 years, kuya ren bought me edith hamilton's version. he even wrote a sweet, sweet note that i'd like to share with you:
Dearest leah,
this book shall remind you every so often that you are stronger than you think you are. we are all aware that when it comes to greek mythology, you are the sage one. from athena to zeus, you are the expert. this book shall also remind you that we have a God who loves you no matter what.
i love you,
at a young age of 9, i would scan our grolier's encylopedia for geoffrey chaucer, leo tolstoy, shakespeare, edith hamilton, and others. back then, i kept this interest to myself. i was afraid my friends would look at me differently ( like Belle in disney's beauty and the beast). they were so into chinese garters and sanrio characters, i saw no tangible reason why i should share my "fixation". we didn't have the means to feed my passion for reading, so i was content in reading the biographies of authors whose writings i came to love and cherish.
i got to read all of these classic writings when i turned 19. i would go to our school library and read through at least 50 pages each day until i finish the whole book. there was one time when i tried to get one of my closest college friends to be "involved". but she decided against reading the whole book and settled for the synopsis written at the back flap of the hardbound book instead (madayang bata). some found it hard to understand the words used in beowolf, for instance (the haughty healfdene and the Scyldings). but to me, that's where the beauty of literature lies...the words translate in my head as breezy as a regular bowel movement.
in writing, there are simply no limits. you can write about anything! Beatrix Potter wrote about Peter Rabbit, Jemima (the Pudle-Duck), Mrs. Tiggy-Winkle, etc. and these became part of her collection of timeless children's books.
Some of Russian novelist--leo tolstoy's works as "god sees the truth, but waits", "anna karenina", and "war and peace" brought me closer to anna and her love affair with count vronsky, and ivan dmtrich aksionov (i cry each time i read this short story). the very detailed description of 19th century wars won me over. tolstoy's words just pierce your heart like a stray arrow with sensory tracking device (it finds its target and never misses).
Emily Bronte's "Wuthering Heights", J.D. Salinger's "The Catcher in the Rye", Alice Walker's "The Color Purple"...very invigorating :) (don't mess with my "geek" factor,hehe).
sir romil silva (de la salle lipa) introduced me to greek mythology. i developed a deeper kind of addiction to greek literature naman. i can still recall one of my "not-worth-remembering days" when i lost my only copy of the greek mythology. i wasn't able to function for days! after 15 years, kuya ren bought me edith hamilton's version. he even wrote a sweet, sweet note that i'd like to share with you:
Dearest leah,
this book shall remind you every so often that you are stronger than you think you are. we are all aware that when it comes to greek mythology, you are the sage one. from athena to zeus, you are the expert. this book shall also remind you that we have a God who loves you no matter what.
i love you,
kuya ren.
ibang klase kuya ko noh? one can only turn green with envy at me for having such a supportive brother.
until now, i am grateful. every chance i get (pag nasa manila), i go to powerbooks (or national bookstore--SM lipa) and frequent the classic literature section more than i do the law books department.
so if we bump into each other one of these days, you would either look at me differently and wonder how a "kalog" person like me came to love classic literature, or hate me for knowing too much about eros, europa, pan, cerberus, homer and the lliad :)
ibang klase kuya ko noh? one can only turn green with envy at me for having such a supportive brother.
until now, i am grateful. every chance i get (pag nasa manila), i go to powerbooks (or national bookstore--SM lipa) and frequent the classic literature section more than i do the law books department.
so if we bump into each other one of these days, you would either look at me differently and wonder how a "kalog" person like me came to love classic literature, or hate me for knowing too much about eros, europa, pan, cerberus, homer and the lliad :)
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