Filipino Friday: Kids and Books

What were your favorite books as a kid? Do you still read children’s books? If you would give a book to your younger self, what would it be?

My hands-down favorite is Childcraft volume 3, Children Everywhere! It's the one with short stories from different countries. My favorite stories from it:

The book I'd give to my younger self is this:

Friends gave this book to our daughter as a gift, and it's one of the first books she really, really liked. We'd read it to her, and she would say, "Again!" If we happened to quote a line from the story (because we eventually memorized it), she'd perk up and ask us to read the book again. She has since moved on to The Hungry Caterpillar and Dear Zoo, but this holds a special place in my heart now, and I think the younger me would have liked it too.

Read more about Filipino ReaderCon.

Filipino Friday 2013: Introduction!

Today's post is on "What Reader Species Are You?" based on this infographic.

I am a:

Kindle Convert: You say you still love the smell and feel of paper books but are totally addicted to the convenience of digital reading.
This is so me right now. I read on my Kindle, phone, and iPad. I prefer buying digital editions first, and then get the paperback only if it's cheaper, or that good. I live in a small space, and my husband also loves books, so if I want to read more, I have to go digital.

I am also a bit of a:

Free-Range "It's Complicated" Reader: You refuse to be defined or categorized. 
Though I have some favorites, I will actually try every genre if I can. I used to make it a rule to read something totally different after finishing a book.

Read more about Filipino Readercon.

Filipino Friday: Reading habits and book formats

This week's about Reading Habits and Book Formats.
Where and how do you read? Can you read anywhere and everywhere, or do you need a certain place/mood/state of mind to get reading? Do you read more in the morning or at night or any minute that you can? Where and how do you usually read?
I can't read in cars. Trains and planes, sure, but cars and buses trigger the dizzy spells. I used to have a comfy chair and a pillow that I relax into when reading, but now that I'm taking care of a little girl, I get most of my reading while in line for a cab.

Are you exclusively for print, or do you go for ebooks more than print? 
It's been a mix for the past few years, but since we got a Kindle and iPad, I've been reading the digital versions more. I like that I can be reading it on one device at home and another on the road, especially because every sliver of reading time I find is precious! Also, I've maxed out my side of the shelf.

Have you ever tried audiobooks?
Yes, a few. I find audiobooks to be great for road trips actually, or when you're just going around anywhere in a car. Recent ones we listened to: Casino Royale and The Bro Code. Fun!

PS. Fairy Tale Fail is a finalist in the Chick Lit category of the Filipino Readers' Choice Awards! Thank you for the nominations and votes! See you at the ReaderCon!

Filipino Friday: Hello from me!

Oh look, it's the return of Filipino Friday! The 2012 Filipino Readercon is coming up, and I'm delighted to join bloggers devoting time to talk about books by Filipinos and other lit topics near and dear to readers' hearts.

And now to introduce myself. My name is Mina, and I'm totally failing at my reading list this year. It's July and I've finished (only) a dozen books, and it doesn't look like my sked will free up anytime soon so I can read more. When I do have time to read, I usually pick up contemporary romances, fantasy, something that won a Booker, something South Asian, or a classic that I never got to read. What I never really choose? Westerns.

One of my favorite recent reads, though, was True Grit.

Picked this up because I enjoyed the movie, and I could hear my husband laughing as he read it. Not only did I enjoy this, I laughed out loud too. I think the last time that happened to me was when I read ZsaZsa Zaturnnah.

So I guess the lesson is, I shouldn't dismiss an entire genre outright. Or maybe I'm a Western kind of girl after all.