An Open Letter To The One I Believe I Still Love

(This article I have written was published by Thought Catalog, and I like to share it with you guys, It was published October 3, 2013, you can find it here)

An Open Letter To The One I Believe I Still Love

by: Eunice Moral

October 2, 2013

And so the feeling that we have been growing apart, slowly consumes me, we are indeed growing apart. We enjoy things without each other. We learn new things separately. We appreciate things not side by side anymore. It is a bitter pill to swallow, but we are really growing apart.

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Best book bargain (so far) 4 ASOIAF books for only 4$: Book Bargain #9

Hi guys! I have not posted lately, been busy with stuff and life in general. But I missed blogging about books and whatnot, so let me post the best book bargain I have ever experienced, well aside from the Scholastic Warehouse Sale last December in which I was able to buy Harry Potter books in hardcover for only P50 or a dollar each. I was not able to complete all the seven books because there were evil hoarders then who was selling the books on instagram for 5x the price. That’s another story so I wouldn’t dwell on that. Haha!

Last week I was browsing #booksph on Instagram, I opened a picture of the books in the A Song of Ice and Fire Series (or Game of Thrones as most people know)  with a caption “All books less than P100.” So curiosity got the best of me, went to the account and browsed through the posted books and it was true, each books costs P60 $1.15. I was so sure to get the three books Feast for Crows, Dance with Dragons and Storm of Swords because I already have Game of Thrones or the Book1. I am an avid fan of the TV series, I haven’t read the books (I’m being honest here) I just really loved the series and I knew at one point I need to read all the books to be called a true blooded fan, I was so sure to get the books in hardcover, but the price, boy it was too expensive and I don’t have the funds for it. So I settled to get the first book in this edition.

I got this book when I was in HongKong, I believe this edition is not available here in the Philippines plus it was really easier to read as opposed to the ones being sold here in the Philippines. I vowed to get them one at a time. But then this bargain happened. So even if I am not a fan of the format which was mass market paperback (I really find it hard to read on mmpbs because I have very poor eyesight), I gave in, it was so cheap and it is literally a crime if I would pass it up. So I messaged the seller, she was willing to give the 4 books for only 200 or 4$. I agreed, might as well get book 1, so I have another copy to abuse hehe. Then she uploaded more books for sale and I saw she was selling Catcher in The Rye too so I went ahead and added it on my order. And now here they are! Kristine of @strawberrysprinklesph was really nice and accommodating, this will definitely not be the last time I will be buying from her humble shop.

Book gods might be smiling at me 🙂 Here are the individual photos.

And here is my humble collection of Game of Thrones Funko Pop. Next on my list will either be Drogon, Hodor, Ned, Robb or Grey Worm, well Jaime Lannister funko looks cool too. Whichever is available I guess. I have to complete the Harry Potter funkos first.

I love this bookhau and my funko pop collection! Newest in my collection is Ygritte. And I am seriously doing photoshoots of her and Jon Snow. 🙂

Thanks for reading and may you have a lovely day ahead! 🙂

June Poetry Book Haul

Just in case you haven’t heard I am into poetry so much. So whenever I made  a trip to a second hand bookstore I always look for poetry books in cheap prices. I tell you there is some sense of thrill to it! And so I decided to this poetry book haulin’ a monthly thing.

So for June here are the poetry books I got. Total of  11 books added to my collection.

June (Crazy) Book Haul

Ohhhhkayyyyy. I wasn’t planning on hauling this many. But I have no self control and I am so stressed, and for me stress equates to book shopping. This haul is a living testament to how stressed I was. In my defense, only the Penguin Little Black Classics, Since You’ve Been Gone and The Wrath and The Dawn are the only ones I paid for it full price. The rest are bargain ones! These are the times when I am more of a hoarder than a reader, but then again, I live by the phrase “Life is short, buy that freaking book already! Haha

Penguin Little Black Classics they are only P70/e or 1.55$ each. I got Catullus, Emily Bronte, Wilfred Owen, Thomas Hardy and Kenko four of which are poetry book. I am not sure if I am going to buy all the books in the collection or maybe the ones I really like. I got this from Fullybooked Mall of Asia.

The Red Pony by John Steinbeck I have always wanted to own a John Steinbeck book, and so happy I found this one for only P20 or .44$ at BookSale SM Dasma.

The Darkest Hour by Maya Banks it was one of those days that I was so down that I went to the Booksale near me, I stumbled upon this book, it was only P50 or 1.11$ from Booksale Pedro Gil. I have loved books with military, marines or fbi agents in it, when I read the blurb I knew this one would be right up my alley. I scanned it on goodreads and it has really high ratings! Score!

Summer at The Lake by Erica James another impulsive buy, but it was only P35 .77$ plus it has good ratings on good reads too! Also from Booksale Pedro Gil.

Cold Mountain by Frazier another bargain book for only P20 or .44$. It was an award winning book so I got it.

The Peculiars by Maureen McQueery I’ve been eyeing this book at the bookstore for so long, I was convinced on buying it for its full price, but luckily I saw one at Booksale Pedro Gil and it was freaking signed! Score for P130 or 2.88$\

Because it Is My Blood by Gabriel Zevin This is the second book in the All These Things Ive Done series, i don’t know if that’s what the series is called, so don’t quote me on that haha! It was only P25 or .55$ in hardcover, it would be stupid to pass it up. Even though I still need book 1, I’m pretty sure I can always find it in booksale. This one is also from Pedro Gil branch

The Unlikely Pilgrimage of Harold Fry by Rachel Joyce I didn’t have any plans on buying this one, but when I opened it and took off its dust jacket, goodness it was beautiful. It would be a crime to let it pass, it was only for P60 or 1.33$.

Quiver of Arrows by Carl Philips this is a collection of poetry, I have read Carl Philips’ Riding Westward, I enjoyed it too, so when I saw this for only P35 I knew it had to go home with me.

White Teeth by Zadie Smith now there is a funny story about this one, I was browsing through booksale when the new delivery came, they put all the books inside their stock room, I asked the sales lady when are they going to display them, they said later that day and advised me to return instead. So I returned and still the books aren’t displayed yet, I asked her again and she apologized and said she was doing a lot of things she didn’t had the time to sort the books as she was waiting for her co-worker, she said I could enter the stock room and select the books I wanted, like first dibs on the book! Hahah she was so nice to do that! So I got this book for P20 or .44$ Soo happy! Ive been wanting to read a Zadie Smith for the longest time, and now I have one of her books, there will be no excuse.This is also from Pedro Gil branch.

Tatiana and Alexander by Paullina Simons holy smokessss! I never thought I’d be so lucky to find it there, for only P115 or 2.55$ (Booksale SM Dasma, I also found the Bronze Horseman in the same branch!) I’m so excited to read them, since many really loved these books,

Fathers: A Collection of Poems this one is also from Pedro Gil branch for only P35. It was a collection of poetry from different known authors. Kind of reminded me of my father,

Speak by Laurie Halse Anderson Mind you it was the Platinum edition, it was P115 from SM Dasma branch! Also heard a lot of great things about this one!

Mrs. Dalloway by Virginia Woolf score for only P125 or 2.77$! I have always wanted to own a Virginia Woolf book and now I have one!! yey! This one from Robinsons Imus branch

All the Pretty Horses by Cormac McCarthy also P20 from Pedro Gil branch!

The Wrath and The Dawn by  Renee Ahdieh I wanted to own a copy of this so bad, but then FullyBooked MOA didn’t have it in hardcover, I settled for a paperback copy. I would rebuy it, if I really loved the story.

Love Rosie by Cecilia Ahern I was so sure to get this for its full price, but then again book gods are smiling at me. I saw a copy at SM MOA branch for only P150 or 3$. Sooo happy! Now I can read it as I really enjoyed the movie!

A Rush of Hands by Juan Delgado, Many Woods of Grief both from SM DASMA branch and P10 or .22$ each!! Another addition to my poetry collection!

Human Chain by Seamus Heaney happy to find a poetry book by him at MOA branch for P60!

From Desire to Desire another book for P20 at Robinsons Imus branch.

Laws of My Nature also a poetry book for P20 at Pedro Gil Booksale

Since You’ve Been Gone by Morgan Matson bought this for P359 at National Bookstore SM Dasma, I’ve been wanting this in hard cover but was too expensive, settled for paperback instead.

In Between by Jenny B. Jones from what I’ve gathered this one is a funny book, Jenny B. Jones is the author of There You’ll Find Me a book I got last May. Only for P20 at Pedro Gil BookSale

Refresh, refresh by Benjamin Percy it was a collection of short stories, which again I am influenced by Matthew of WeLiveForBooks on youtube (please do check their channel) it was also P20 from Booksale Pedro Gil.

and last but not the least, whew….

Incendiary by Chris Cleave I now own three of his books, sadly this one didn’t match my copies of Gold and Little Bee, but I could not pass this one up since it was only P20 from Pedro Gil Booksale.

Wheeeeewwww, So that’s a long one! I hope you had fun scheming this post! If you have any questions please feel free to contact me, I am available on twitter @nerdytalks_04, email: moraleunice@gmail.com and instagram @nerdytalksbookblog.

Special hi to Aica who emailed me this morning. Thank you for your kind words sweetheart, and I am glad I could help and inspire you in my little ways!

Have a great week ahead you guys!

Happy reading or in my case book hoarding! Til next post! Tata!

May Book Haul

Yeah, you read that right. MAY Book Haul, it dawned on me that I was not able to post my May Book Haul. So here’s a quick post about it. 🙂

I got 15 books, five of them are poetry books, 2 YAs, 1 graphic novel and 4 novels and 2 memoirs.

As I’ve said on my instagram (@nerdytalksbookblog) I am pretty pleased with my haul, since I only got 2 YAs, I’m not saying YAs are not good, it’s just that, I have come to the point that I need to grow as a reader, I need to widen the horizon and explore more genres. I will always enjoy YA, so don’t go hating on me. I will always crave for the cheesy, easy-breezy feeling that YA gives, but then it’s time to try something new. I will always read YA, but I decided that my shelf could use more classics and adult fiction.

Game of Thrones by George RR Martin I am obsessed with the TV show, and of course you cannot claim to be a hardcore fan if you have not read the books right, plus I heard the TV show left out so many details in the book. So yes, I can’t wait to discover what I have been missing out on! I got this book when I was in HongKong from a bookstore called Page One. I wish I could have gotten more books, but my baggage is full and hand carry is also a no-no.

Water for Elephants by Sara Gruen I bought this for P60 or 1.33$ at Chapters and Pages a second hand bookstore here in the Philippines. I don’t usually shop there, since they have very limited selection, but then I was lucky I found this copy in a very good condition for cheap price. If you are wondering the branch I got this from is Chapters and Pages at Robinsons Dasmarinas, it was located at the ground floor. I have not watched the movie, so I am excited to read this first then watch it.

City of Glass by Paul Auster I got this graphic novel from Booksale SM MOA for only P35 or.75$. It was a part of a trilogy called The New York Trilogy, which was Mathew’s (of WeLiveForBooks on youtube) favorite book. The drawings are really interesting kind of reminded me of Attack of the Titan.

Sunset Park by Paul Auster Again this book is influenced by Matthew. He was such a fan of Paul Auster, so when  I saw this for only P80 or 1.77$. I can’t wait to read it! Also from Booksale SM Moa

Into it by Lawrence Joseph This is a poetry book I got for P60 or 1.33$ from BookSale SM Moa. It was the boyfriend who actually paid for Sunset Park Into it and The Year of Magical Thinking, hee hi boyfriend, thank you!)

A Heartbreaking Work of Staggering Genius by Dave Eggers Oh my god you guys! I am so excited for this book!! I  have been wanting this forever and I was so sure to get it for its full price, but then the book gods smiled at me and gave it to me for P115 or 2.55$ from BookSale SM Dasmarinas 🙂

The Year of Magical Thinking by Joan Didion another book ive been wanting forever, I hate nothing but great things about this, most say it is depressing yet beautiful! I can’t wait to finally read it. I got it from Book for Less at SM Moa for P198 or 4.4$.

Pierce The Skin by Henri Cole this is a collection of Poetry by Henri Cole which I adore very much! I have read his other poetry book The Blackbird and Wolf and instantly fell in love with it! I got this from SM MOA Booksale for if Im not mistaken P125 or 2.77$

The Red Glove by Holly Black this is the second book in the White Cat series (geez im not sure if that is what the series is called), I got it for P130 or 2.88$ from Booksale SM Dasmarinas. I got White Cat from the same branch too. Now I need Black heart to complete them! I have faith that I will find it in Booksale too!

Repair by C.K. Williams this is a Pulitzer Prize winner, so yes I was too happy to have it! It was only P80 or 1.77$ from SM Dasma Booksale. I’ve read it too and it was really interesting.

There You’ll Find Me by Jenny B. Jones I’ve had copy of this on my e-reader for the longest time so when I found it on Booksale I knew I had to get it, I always prefer the physical copy anyway. It has great ratings on goodreads! I got it for P115 or 2.55$

The Year of What Now by Brian Russell Oh my god! This book is so beautiful it actually hurts. I was able to relate to it, it was a poetry book about living with and loving someone with cancer. It gave me goosebumps and made me cry. It easily became a favorite. Got it for P60 or 1.33$ from Booksale SM MOA

The Girl Between The Trees by Toni Gilyard also a poetry book from MOA but I forgot how much was it. Oops

Room by Emma Donoghue holy smokes I grabbed this one so fast when I saw it. It was only P60 or 1.33$. I got this together with Water for Elephants! Yayy! Again, it is the book that I have heard so many things about!

Angela’s Ashes by Frank McCourt this was a memoir that was highly recommended to me by my dear friend Gie (@psy-kaoru on instagram) so when I saw it in hardcover and perfect condition I knew I had to get it. It was only P90 or 2$ from Booksale SM Dasmarinas.

Wheww. That was not really a quick post. I’m still going to post my June Bookhaul, in which I accumulated 32 freaking books. Goodluck with all the caption. Ugh.