Are you still waiting for God's best?
How long have you been single?
Are you getting tired and impatient sometimes just like me?
Three decades have already passed in my life and I have never been in a romantic relationship. I just turned 30 this year last April. Calling myself as NBSB (No Boyfriend Since Birth) is wearing me out at this point, and I would never ever want to mention that infamous acronym for inexperienced women such as myself. I once heard from a professor in my graduate studies that individuals who have not been in a relationship are abnormal. I do not know how much truth is there, but probably he has a point, and the way he said it just sounded harsh.
Some people around me keep on saying that I am too old to be an NBSB, maybe it is because they are concern that I might end up as an old maid--alone in my old age. It hurts me to hear them say that because the truth hurts, and I know that it is possible. But I try to brush off the pain of reality.
So if you have the same experience as mine, even in just a tiny bit. Maybe you will learn to love this book as much I do.
Dear Alex, We're Dating. Tama, Mali?! Love, Catherine is a guidebook for dating by Alex Gonzaga. Aside from writing, the author is a multimedia artist: actor, singer, host, and a content creator in her well-loved Youtube channel. It is written in Taglish and in a conversational style which makes the book easy to read as if I am actually talking to the author herself.
In case you are wondering about the contents of the book, here is the gist of what to expect from this guidebook.
I assure you that you'll be satisfied with all the practical and witty tips from Alex Gonzaga's personal experiences on the dating. I like the transparency and authenticity of this book and admire the author's courage in sharing something so private and sensitive matter to the readers.
While I am already 30 years old, I must say this guidebook still applies to me because of my lack of experience. Moreover, young people should read this before they even think of or start dating.
Teenagers, you all should read this. I demand you to read Dear Alex, We're Dating. Tama, Mali?! Love, Catherine. Please. This is for your own good. I promise.
I love the author for sharing advice that is not just practical, but also spiritual. Right now, Jesus is my boyfriend. And I am not closing the door, if God wills it, then The One will certainly come. In God's time. In God's way.
But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
I believe in angels. Do you?
So following my read-a-thon of Paulo Coelho's The Deluxe Collection, I just finished reading my fourth book from the book set, which is The Valkyries.
I have known the term Valkyries from the Mythology lessons in my high school days. It is part of Norse mythology and I recognize them as similar to gods and goddesses. They are allegedly supernatural beings in Norse myth.
I didn't want to preempt my expectation of this book because of its predecessor. I read The Zahir before The Valkyries, and to tell you the truth I do not like some ideas from the book, but I will never recommend The Zahir not to be read. I enjoyed reading it, I love the whole journey that comes along with the book.
Going back to the book at hand, The Valkyries is a book of faith. Paulo, the writer himself, is also the main protagonist of the novel along with her wife, Chris. Most of the details are based on the author's personal experience with little ingredients of fiction to smoothly lay down the idea of the story.
The experience of reading this book confronted me with my very own stake in faith. Have I believed enough? Have I truly surrendered everything to the LORD? Have I sincerely accepted His forgiveness through Jesus Christ? Do angels really exist? Have I talked to my angel or have I even seen one? Provoking thoughts that will make you hold on to this book at the very end.
Paulo and Chris are on a mission to see and be able to talk to their angels. It was originally only Paulo's desire to see and be able to converse to his angel, but his wife, Chris, was drawn gradually to the whole journey and conspiracy of meeting an angel.
Desert has always played a significant role in Coelho's works. Just like in this novel, it is a supernatural place where supernatural things can happen. It is a double-edged sword, it has its danger and beauty. One of the magnificent creation of God where angels would likely appear, where miracles most probably transpire. It is a sacred place of mystery and conspiracy.
The Valkyries in the story are women who travel and dwell in the desert. They are women of liberty. Wild and free are how others perceive them, lesbians, even. But they are not. They live a life of purpose. Others might never understand it, but there are great fulfillment and freedom in living out your purpose without submitting to what the current society calls normal. Others might even say they are insane.
There is a world beyond what we can see right now. The spiritual world is closer than we think. Its parallel existence to our current reality is more than authentic than we could ever imagine. There is a physical and spiritual war. What's persistently transpiring now beyond what our eyes can see is the spiritual war. Our soul can see it, yet it is corrupted by the sin of this world. We should receive the gift of free salvation through Jesus Christ, our LORD, accept Him, surrender our life, and be renewed in the power of the Holy Spirit, and all these are possible because God loves us. Because of love everything is possible, because of love, you and I will be freed from the corruption of this world and be able to come out victorious in this so-called spiritual war.
11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways;
12 they will lift you up in their hands,
so that you will not strike your foot against a stone.
Roses are red, violets are blue. Look me in the eyes and tell me you love me too.
I am not sure if my introduction makes sense but they just ran out of my mind and insisted to be written on this blog.
Contemporary poetry has a huge following in this modern era. Lang Leav, Michael Faudet, Rupi Kaur are a few to name international writers in the book category of prose and poetry. I read works from Lang Leav and Michael Faudet, but never Rupi Kaur, maybe one of these days I'll get to read my e-book copies of her book. Leav and Faudet's works are good.
There are few Filipino writers who also work on contemporary prose and poetry. I got to read some of them.
1. Maybe You'll Love Me When I'm Gone by Neil Jed Castro
This is the first book of Neil Jed Castro. I bought a copy from the Big Bad Wolf Manila 2020 in the ABS-CBN Publishing booth for a discounted price. It talks about the what-ifs when someone disappears in your life. I have my favorites and you can check them out in my review vlog about Maybe You'll Love Me When I'm Gone by Neil Jed Castro.
2. What If It's Too Late by Neil Jed Castro
My second book from Neil Jed Castro is What If It's Too Late? It is about love and regrets in life. I so love the covers of his books. I also made a review vlog of this book.
3. Shadowed Truths by Charlene Tinaza and Kim Derla
Shadowed Truths is an independently published prose and poetry book by Charlene and Kim. It presents the realities in life and mostly the harsh ones and how to accept and overcome them. Click here for a review vlog of this book.
4. The Last I'll Write About You by Dawn Lanuza
The Last Time I’ll Write About You is popular Filipino YA and romance writer Dawn Lanuza’s debut collection of poetry. Featuring beautiful, relatable poems about first love, this book is the perfect companion for anyone who has loved, lost and emerged anew.
I got an e-book copy from amazon.com. This collection of poems shows us the art of moving on from our first love, especially the unrequited and also the ones that did not last.
6. Before I Lose My Nerve (this is NOT about you) by Layla S. Tanjutco
If you’ve ever had your heart broken you would know that it takes courage to love again. Before I Lose My Nerve is a collection of poems about heartbreak, the journey to finding the courage to love again, and realizing the kind of love that one deserves.
I got this book for free from the author way, way back through amazon.com. Thank you, author! This book talks about moving on triumphantly from heartbreaks and people who let you down.
If you like other recommendations, I also wrote some prose and poetry books, they are available on Amazon Kindle except for Unspoken Words ni Olivia.
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