Improbable: A Novel by Adam Fawer

Have you ever been in those book bazaars where they sell all kinds of books from children's book to cook books to coffee table books to for-adults-only books?

I know, they're paradise. Now, what do you think is the probability that you can find a gem of a book?

I'm not really sure what's the answer, but I'm sure that there's a slight chance of finding a book that you can really enjoy. Well, there's a lot of that here in Philippines and one of the gem of a book that I found is "Improbable: A Novel" by Adam Fawer.


As I've described to you before, my taste in books runs a little bit wild so no, this book is obviously not a historical romance book I usually write in here. This book's genre is sci-fi and action.

   

I really, really love this book. If you're a fan of sci-fi, action and a lot of unexpected twist of events, then this book is definitely for you!

This book is different from any sci-fi books in a way that it doesn't deal with any futuristic settings, nor does it deal with aliens or some amazing technology. Rather, this book is based upon an age-old scientist-of-before's belief.

Laplace's demon, rouge CIA agent, mad scientist, twin with (probably) psychological problems, jaw dropping revelations and bombs, this book definitely got some incredible recipe for a wild read. This book is one of those amazing page turner that makes you gasp with amazement and wonder. Mr Adam Fawer definitely gets 2 thumbs up from me for making this amazing book. 

I would definitely recommend this to anyone who is a sci-fi, action and statistical lover.

Book Review: An Acceptable Offer by Mary Balogh

I just finished Mary Balogh's "An Unacceptable Offer" and it was, how do I say it, lovely.

Lovely in a way that it would make you smile and gasp at the same time.

I love how the characters developed, although to be honest, I was expecting something heart breakingly dramatic to happen. Instead, the progression of the story was gentle. It was easy to
get lost to the story of the book.

Jane, the main character is nearly on the shelf. She was also described as ordinary and often compared to the beauty that is her cousin.Still, she received four proposals and turned down two-including that from the man she deeply harbors affection with!

I can understand her though, certain circumstances (I will try not to spoil the story, I swear) had given this sensible hero a backbone on refusing such offers. She did accept the third proposal and fourth one though.

Viscount Fairfax whom the book describes as incredibly handsome with a deep love for his children was looking for a marriage of convenience but not love itself. You see, he is looking for a mother and not exactly a wife (a rather noble yet ordinary pursuit, if I might add).

This is no whirl-wind kind of love story and ff course it ends happily, but the path to its happy ending is interesting in its own way. You might say that love stories are over-rated and I really do agree with you. However, love stories are over-rated for a reason-they make you fall in love with the idea of romance and happily ever after and this book is no exception.

An Unacceptable Proposal makes you believe of that unrequited love can possibly be returned. It makes you value yourself. It makes believe that you who you are and that you should accept no less
for yourself. What I'm trying to say is that this books teaches you not to devalue yourself.

A book with a good plot, characters and good writing is a break from the sometimes distressing reality. It can also give a glimpse of another world completely different from what we contend daily. And that's what this book does, it makes you happy.  :)


p.s Forgive me for not properly giving you a very detailed account or impression of the book, I'm just starting out and I'm fairly not used in doing this.

A Short Story: The Story of Miriam and the Pot Bellied Man with a Balding Head

Miriam was well worn out.

She had immediately traveled towards the Prime city from her class to buy the round glasses she fancied the other weekend. It was a six- hour drive from NU to the mall in the 

city. Expecting to be there at the mall an hour before it close, she did not envision a flat tire and a nearly fatal accident the bus she was on would encounter.As it was, she is currently standing in front of a sleeping mall, much to her complete annoyance. 

She took her wallet and sized up her budget. It was enough for the eyeglass, a fare back at the university and a meager meal. It was not enough for a hotel, much less a motel.

Miriam sighed and sat in front of the mall. Resigned to her fate, she closed her eyes to sleep. 

Safety is no issue for Miriam as she is a skilled hunter, a hired assassin nobody knows about. 

A student by morning, a reaper by night.

It wasn't long when Miriam became aware of an unfamiliar presence which woke her up. Caring not to let the intruder know that she is awake, Miriam oh-so-slightly opened her eyes and saw a pot-bellied man with a balding head staring maniacally in front of her, his erection visibly showing.

Miriam continued to pretend to sleep with low hopes that this stupid man would understand that she's not interested in anything that he had to  offer.

Instead of going away, he gently nudged her.

Miriam feigned surprise and happiness at seeing the lecher.

"Can I sit besides you? I'll pay you a hundred if you want" He carefully asked, red-faced.

Miriam, considered her options for a second and without delay, nodded.

The pot-bellied man sat besides her then took out his wallet, took a hundred and gave it at her.

Miriam took the bill and tucked it inside her pocket.

Silence ensued then,

"Can I touch you left thigh? I'll give you another hundred." 

Miriam nodded.

The man rested a hand at her left thigh.

"Can I caress it up and down? I'll give you five hundred." he asked breathlessly.

Again, Miriam nodded.

And so the man took 600 worth of bills from his wallet and gave it to Miriam then proceeded to stroke her thighs, his hands roaming more upward, sometimes stopping briefly a few inches away from 

where Miriam hides her womanhood.

"Can I touch your left boob with your shirt on? I'll pay you a thousand if you want." 

Again, Miriam consented and the pot-bellied man paid her then with his free hands started squeezing Miriam's left boob.

Then,

"Can I touch your...both of your boobs without your clothes? I'll pay you two thousand, if you want" It was evident that the pot-bellied man's breath was coming strong and fast.

Miriam suddenly stood up. Startled, the man also stood up.

Miriam held her palms up and with a seductive smile-the one she learned from the secret academy.

"Give me 5 thousand now and I'll go into the room with you. You can touch me wherever you want 

and I'll probably touch you too." she teased.

The potbellied man with a balding head started to shake and sweat in excitement. He took out his 

wallet,took a 5 thousand bill and handed it to her whilst caressing her hand. Miriam took it then 

suddenly, faster than the man can blink, he was on all fours, his head smashed alongside the road.

Miriam was on top of him, one hand tightly gripping the back of the pot bellied man's neck, holding 

him steadfast on the ground.

Her other hand was checking the wallet of the pot-bellied man.

"Eh? You're a banker?" She crudely asked, not really expecting any answers from the 

smooshed-up pot-bellied man.

"Figures why you're so generous. Oh! you've got a wife now do you? You probably should do this 

with your wife you know, but then again who am I to say so? I haven't been married..yet." Miriam 

smirked as she dug her fingernails deeper into the skin of the man.

The man shrieked and tried to break free from Miriam's hold. However, contrast to her delicate 

frame, Miriam was far much stronger.

Yes, she definitely is much stronger.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk, It would do you no good to struggle, dear. By the way, you're already too heavy, why 

don't I rid you of some weight? I'll be taking all of your money ok?"

 "Bad piggy!" Miriam cajoled, unperturbed by the trashing of the man.

"You don't want to die do you?" she asked in a soft voice.

The poor pot-bellied man stopped trashing and turned silent.

"Good piggy." Miriam loosen her grip on the his neck then struck some nerves until the man fell 

limp, fast asleep.

Miriam, released the man and took his wallet. It was full of wads of money. Twenty thousand to be 

exact, and that was excluding the bill he himself gave.

Miriam took every bill and dumped the wallet far away from the scene a while later. 

It was only the standard procedure.

She grimaced, God! She felt so dirty, luckily, she brought her sanitizer with her.

She looked at the sleeping man and smirked. 

The bastard won't remember any of this tomorrow.

Miriam looked at her watch, she got a full 7 hours before the mall opened. She decided to go to the

nearest hotel, shower and get some shut eye.

Star Trek Galore

I know a lot of sci-fi fanatic out there are more partial to Star Wars. Truthfully, I haven't actually seen any movies nor series about Star Wars. 

But anyway, this isn't really about Star Wars, this post is about Star Trek.

Yes, you read that right, this is about Star Trek.

And I'm not talking about the recent movies (Reboot and Into the Darkness). This post is solely about Star Trek Books.

There are movies, there are comics, there are a countless fan fictions, and then there are books.

Gosh how I love them!

Currently there are approximately 700 books about Star Trek. To be honest, I prefer to read only the TOS (The Original Series) and the TNG (The Next Generation). They aren't authored by only a single writer, instead, lots of trekkie authored these books.

I love sci-fi genre since it combines ingenuity of human mind and fantasy that may or may not come true. Well, how do I say this, sci-fi genre gives us the glimmer of  possibilities and impossibilities that can open up to us. 

They can be pretty, they can be ugly, however, at the end of the day, it's only the entertainment, the ideas and awe that struck you, or me for that matter. This is probably the reason why I love Star Trek Books, it gives me a sense of unique happiness that only a good sci-fi book can give. 

And with that, I'll feature some books here that I really, really love (which is hard because I love them all). You can check them out by clicking the links. Hehe, I'm just too lazy to fully describe them. I promise, I'll do it next time. One by one.

Vulcan's Forge:

http://books.simonandschuster.com/Star-Trek-Vulcans-Forge/Josepha-Sherman/Star-Trek-Voyager/9780743546775

And all the Star Trek Bantam Book Series <3

Live Long and Prosper!

  

Best Historical Romance Writers of All Time: Mary Balogh

Probably one of the best historical romance writer I could think of right now is Mary Balogh. I am a great fan historical romance (as you have probably guessed)and one of the writers that writes the best historical romance books (for me) is Mary Balogh. 

I don't remember what was the first book I've read that she wrote, but among the books I read, I always come across her name. I've searched her website (http://www.marybalogh.com/books.html) to find out more about the books she wrote.

If you really love books and enjoyed good writing by a certain author, it would be like finding a treasure trove to find out that she had written so many, many books! This is exactly how I felt when I saw all the number of books she had written. She first published a book on 1989 entitled "The Star of Bethlehem" and until now, she's still publishing her works!

It was truly a divine moment for me.

I was just reading a while ago one of her books, "The Gilded Web". I'm not really good at description so I won't spoil any information about the book. However, I can say how it made me feel-it made me want to turn the pages again and again to know their full story.

There were times when it made me gasp and sat up straight with a witless expression on my face. I guess I could say that I've lived in their world for a while. 

If I were to rate it from one to ten, I would say that "The Gilded Web" would definitely be an eight. It was a good book, the very kind of book that you read to relieve your stress after many exams. Still, it was not the kind of book you would remember for a lifetime. Still, it was a very good book. 

Mary Balogh is the author of books who would definitely make me smile in trying times.

:)

First Post Excitement

So hi! I'm Atrovel, currently a third year BS Chemistry Student here in Philippines. Well, this is the first time I'm posting on this new blog I've made. You see before, I prefer writing my thoughts down on to paper, only to have them missing in later times.

So there.

Oh yeah, I forgot to mention what type of blog this is. Well this is a books appreciation blog since I really, really love books. I'm not really sure how many books I've read (I don't count them) but then I realized that I need to write something about them, how they've made me feel or, I don't know, how each book means to me.

Probably

I'm probably going to feature some writers that stayed with me since I was young (like E.D Baker or R.L Stine) and some other writers with beautiful books. And sometimes, I'm going to post some stuff I've written,mainly short stories and poems, nothing too big or flashy.

I have a wide range of taste but I mainly divulge on happy endings. I know it's cliche, but then again, so is life right?

I'm not sure how long I'm going to keep this up but I hope that, well, I hope that I can read more wonderful books and also write some wonderful stories. I hope you can keep up with me and all the galore I'm going to make.

Thank you!