popped too!

We’ll be having our SBS book discussion next week. For this assignment (any novel by a Filipino author), I chose Popped Too by Chinggay Labrador. It’s a short novel about all things fangirl. I decided to review this book because I was thinking that I wouldn’t have time to read a lengthy one and that I wanted something chic lit and something relaxing to read. It also reminded me of my super twin, Cathy, who love all things Korean, and a certified K-Pop fangirl. She actually went to Korea last Christmas vacation to… you know, do fangirl stuff. (Ohh, the memories! I remember when I was a Westlife fanboy. Sigh…)

The NISA Team signed on a piece of paper, which Cathy laminated, and then attached to a padlock, which she locked somewhere in Locks of Love in South Korea.

Back to the book, I actually thought that I made the wrong move buying it. It was like Twilight all over again, where my expectations were really high and then I was left with Blah! Like, I dunno where the plot was going, every character was too perfect (they’ve jobs in magazines and the likes. hmp!), the goals of the characters were shallow, and in short, I just wasn’t hooked up with the first few pages. But then again, I needed to finish it soon so I have something to present come our 1st SBS meeting of the year.

The story goes like this: there were four friends, Andie, Trixie, Nica, and Cesca – the K-Pop fangirls. As close friends, they meet a lot and they like to have coffee. (Ding! Ding!) I was like, OMG, that’s me and my SB girls! (SB is short for Starbucks). 

SB Girls: Anj, Me, Cath, Ody, and Tinay (with Irish)

Ody is currently in the US. She sent us a pic of Starbucks in Anaheim because she misses us. (I assume)

The original SB Girls: Sher, Dina, Mary, Lea, and Me. But we no longer go to SB because smoking isn't allowed there anymore. Mary wouldn't have any of that.

 

Back to the story (before we were rudely interrupted by the pictures): Nica, a model, lives in South Korea and is pursuing JC, a K-Pop superstar. She’s in kinda-would-be-in-trouble because of the fanwoman (read: old lady who’s crushing on a popstar) who’s out to expose Nica to the hateful world of K-Pop fandom. Fanwoman just wants JC to focus on his work. It’s like Justin Bieber’s rabid fans hating on Selena Gomez.  Well, we don’t really have proof that fanwoman will do anything against Nica, it was just the assumption of her protective friends (they based their assumption on tiny hints from K-Pop forums). The super friends planned to fly to Korea and “protect” Nica. And buy clothes from H&M. And see sights. And go to Coffee Prince. And for Andie, to possibly meet with the Korean guy she was super crushing on, Mac. Uhm, anyway, I guess they just really wanted to go to Korea. Who cares about Nica, right?

In the four days that they were in Korea (wait, I suddenly remembered a college classmate, who, after coming back to the Philippines from being an exchange student in Korea, would always start her sentences with: In Korea…), their time was spent on, guess what? Shopping, K-Pop make-over, hiking to the 1st Shop of Coffee Prince in the mountain, clubbing, falling in love, denying being in-love, meeting popstars, and did I say clubbing? Then of course, there was this whole fanwoman thing – which was explained in like, uhm, four pages. Who cares about the woman trying to destroy your friend, right? And yeah, after some heartaches, they all lived happily ever after. And that’s that. Get over it. Let’s just not talk about the plot, okay? Maybe we can talk about the more important thing…

Did I enjoy reading it?

Hell, yeah!

Why not? I’m a fanboy myself! I cry over lunch while watching Boys Over Flowers and My Girl. I was actually writhing in pain when in Coffee Prince, Choi Han Kyul kissed Eun Chan even though he thought Eun Chan was a guy! So, this book was really worth it. It’s nothing Nicholas Sparks but it definitely brought smile to my face. Actually, I want this story for myself: cool job, awesome friends, and a blush in your face love life. (Cue: My Girl theme song!)

Coffee Prince

Boys Over Flowers

My Girl (as my friend Aya would say, TISSUES!)

Antique Bakery. I made that Antique-Bakery inspired artwork for the 2010 December issue of our domain magazine in the office.

The Secret Book Society

We started a book club at work. I’ve always wanted to join a book club but never got a chance to. It was Wilson who founded our little club, with KC and me as the first disciples; our first meeting happened two days back. I knew that they were fond of reading books but I didn’t expect that those two were such bookworms! If I was baby worm, they’d be my older siblings (although in reality, I’m the oldest among us three). When we started talking about the books and authors that we love, our eyes gleamed like we’ve seen gold. It was so hilarious because I felt our hearts beat faster as we recall our trips to bookstores and found our treasure books. It was geekdom to the core of the planet Arakis. =D

I facilitated the meeting and I started with “What’s the name of our book club?” Wilson replied, “Secret Book Society.” So I guess we’re the Secret Book Society, although if we gain numbers, we won’t be so secret anymore. Well, here’s our story:

KC started reading Sweet Valley High pocketbooks in elementary. She mostly reads classic, fantasy, and chic lit novels. She’s a fan of Jane Austen but her favorite novels are The Alchemist by Paolo Coehlo and Last Chance Saloon by Marian Keyes. She was so enthusiastic about Last Chance Saloon that I think I’ll buy it next.

Wilson, on the other hand, was borrowing books from their school library since grade 1. Like KC, he's a fan of classics. He’s also into travel books, general info (seriously!), sci fi, and legal thrillers. His favorite book is Dune by Frank Herbert. Wilson has a blog na puro about Dune pa ang contents, o diba? He recently bought a book that’s prequel (or interquel --> may ganon??) to Dune; he even went to my work station to happily tell me about it. Gosh, these people! Lol. I’m actually grateful that I met those geeks. I haven’t had a full-fledged geeky discussion since last year!

So anyways, I started my love for books in my early elementary days as well. I borrowed books from my best friend, Glaiza. She had Disney story books like The Little Mermaid, Cinderella, and the like. When we went to malls, I’d go to National Bookstore to build my own story book collection. Right now, the stories that I like are horror, dark fantasy, sci fi, and those intended for children ages 10 to 60. My darling author is Neil Gaiman and his novel, The Graveyard Book, is number one on my list.

The Secret Book Society will be meeting again on the last week of January to formally review our first book assignment. KC picked out the theme and it was “Filipino.” I just bought my book-to-review earlier; it’s Popped Too by Chinggay Labrador. I’m not really a fan of Filipino authors but I hope this one is good. Sali ka sa book club namin?

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UPDATE: O ayan may sumali na! Welcome Fritzie!

"I remember that I started browsing National Geographic (magazines) when I was in grade school kasi tambay ako sa bahay ng Lolo and Lola ko. Marami nakakalat na magazine sa bahay nila kasi most of my dad's siblings are either still in college or has subscription to a couple of magazines. Then my bestfriend in high school is fond of reading novels and I got hooked in it for a while. Up until now, she would let me borrow one of her books and doesn't mind if I don't return it for eternity. Hehe. I just recently started reading inspirational/self-help books and I don't know how long this will last before I jump to other genres.:p"