My Reading Inventory of 2021

Things have been tough at the home stead with COVID scare and news of infection from friends and relatives. It is hitting us so close to home. Needless to say, the pandemic is challenging each and everyone of us to respond in the most proactive and graceful manner. Tells self: bring out your inner Ms. Universe. Or rather, bring out your inner Dora, as in, Kimmy Dora! 

Kidding aside, I go back to blogging this week with my reading inventory of 2021. This is how my reading life looked like.

1. School Is Life - I begin 2021 reading this book, School is Life: Progressive Education in the Philippines (Almario and Zamora, ADMU Press, 2020) Makes me examine my teaching beliefs and philosophy.

2. The Potager Garden at Arya Residences - I got this book as a gift last Christmas. Must learn how to grow veggies in the yard. The cocktail recipes are good for the body, the mind and the soul!

3. Trese: Bloodlines -What arrived in the mail today!

4. The Toll: Arc of the Scythe - Another book series ending with poignancy. I am giving myself a few moments to let it sink in

5. A Sky Beyond the Storm - And so it ends. The fourth and final book in the Ember in the Ashes series is an exclamation point to the redemptive role of women, enforcing justice and restoring peace. Those who believe otherwise must carefully choose their words and their actions. We do not call nature as mother for no reason at all.

6. What is Peace? - This book has so many questions about peace. It does not provide answers nor explanations. Only illustrations of animals that make the book truly beautiful.

7. Walking on Water - For Lent

8. Proust and the Squid - Rereading Proust and the Squid (Wolf, 2007)

9. The Wild Robot - Thank you Peter Brown, for making the Wild Robot a ”She”. It matters to me. 

10. Frindle - I first read Frindle (Andrew Clements,Atheneum) in my mid-20s. I was just starting out a career as a school librarian then. I remember enjoying this middle grade book as an ode to words and language, a battle between opposites, of growing up and knowing the value of saving up for the future. Two decades after, I read the book once more. I still recognize all the wonderful things I discovered about the book the first time I read it but, now, it gave me a deeper insight into the life of teachers and educators and the fascinating dynamics between their students. Thank you Mr. Clements for creating Mrs. Granger. I want to be like her when I grow up!

11. Letters from Crispin - Stories take time to grow and develop. Letters to Crispin took three years to write and a few more before it was published.

12. Map of the Soul 7: Persona, Shadow and Ego in the World of BTS - Reading this right now. BTS x Jung x Why BTS is on another level. My kind of BTS budol. Ang ganda ng Map of the Soul (Stein, 2020) gusto ko ulitin. Pero ang dami pang magagandang aklat na nasulat tungkol sa Bangtan. Panalo din ang reading list in Joonie at Yoongi.

13. Norinaaga San: The Doctor Who Wants to Learn - Through this picture-story book, young children are informed about the folk hero of Matsusaka, Motoori Norinaaga. The narrative is honest and direct to the point. The illustrations are beautifully crafted capturing the nostalgia and the simple, but noble beauty of Noringa-san's life. 

14. My Story When I was Three - My Story: When I Was Three, a collaborative book project by Kunihiko Ida, Naomi Nakagoshi, Almira Raymundo and Ched Magaspar. It tells the story of Kunihiko Ida who is an atomic bomb survivor. His story, though very tragic, is filled with resilience and inspiration. War is never a pretty topic to explore but the beauty of the human spirit to survive is always at its core. 

15. Ginto't Pilak - Ang saya ko sa pagdating ng aklat na ito nung nakaraang araw. Salamat @anvilpublishing

Inspiring talaga si Hidilyn. Iba ang kanyang angking lakas at galing. Nasa-spiritual level yata. Napapaisip ako hangang ngayon kung ito ba ay dahil sa kinalakhan niyang lugar, kultura at komunidad. Ihahanay ko ang kaisipang ito para sa mga susunod pang non-fiction reading adventures. May mga scenario sa kuwento na paulit-ulit ang bangit sa kahirpang danas ni Hidilyn. Sana lang ay binawasan. Medyo poverty porn na ang dating para sa akin. Tanong ko sa sarili, paano ba mabibigyang dangal ang kahirapan sa kuwentong pambata? Ika nga ni Uncle Iroh kay Zuko, “there is dignity in poverty...”

Kung sakaling magrereprint ang publisher ng aklat na ito, suhestiyon ko na baguhin ang kulay ng font sa mga pahina na may madilim na color palette. Nahirapan ako magbasa kahit may ilaw.

Overall, this is an inspiring read. And man, we badly need it.

16. Almond - Almond has everything I love and enjoy. It is like I am reading 16 episodes of a beloved Kdrama. It can be brutal but kind; and beautiful in its brokenness.

17. BTS: Art Revolution - Reading this book kick started my quest to understand the non-rational appeal and charm of BTS’ music and art. Lee explains in detail how Deleuze’s theory of the Rhizome is at the core of BTS’ art production and creative process. The relationship of BTS with ARMY is further explained through the concepts of synchronicity, multiplicity and open structure. The writing is academic in tone and nature but the examples are specific to the MVs and songs of BTS. 💜Bangtan is phenomenal.

18. Philosophizing About BTS- Anxiety. Heiddeger. BTS and our unending search for inner peace. From the book Philosophizing BTS by Cha Minju

19. BTS & ARMY Culture - This book helped me establish conceptual moorings on the socio-cultural aspects of fandoms, fangirling and the movement known as Bangtan Sonyeondan. Published in 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak, it charts the indomitable force that is ARMY for good and otherwise. Proof that we aren’t bots and AIs.

20. The Myth and Legends of the Philippines - The constant retelling of myths and legends amplifies the values and beliefs we hold dear. Each tale is accompanied by notes and activities for parents and educators. It’s cool that it has QR codes for more activities online that children and grownups can enjoy.

21. The Kingfishers and a Can of Sardines - I like this book for celebrating the curiosity of the child. It reminded me of what I need to nurture every day. It is a comforting read during these times of uncertainty.

22. Cely's Crocodile - I love this book because it shows the curiosity inherent in children and young people; it celebrates creativity as key to survival; and it inspires readers to write about personal and family histories. The illustrations illuminate the strength of the young Araceli Limcaco Dans. We have very few children’s books set in WW II Philippines so this book deserves to be in your book shelf.

23. Ang Katawan Ko at Ako - I finally received my copy of Ang Katawan Ko at Ako (Rivera & Lim, Adarna House 2021). I am excited to ask Teacher Val to learn the song that is included in the book. Back in September 2020, I interviewed @augierivera for being conferred the Gawad Pambansang Alagad ni Balagats and we talked about his new book. Here is the link to the interview

24. Nina Inocente - Once again, Rivera pokes and uncovers an issue labeled as delicate in children’s story writing. Niña Inocente is a story of child abuse on cyber space. There is danger and fear in this narrative but the call to courage and the compelling drive to keep children safe is stronger.

25. From Manila with Love - Beautiful to look at and a wonderful read. Though at some point I asked myself, for whom is the book written for — the child, the child in me or the adult who misses home? Ah, now there lies the appeal of From Manila with Love!25. Spikey's, Prickles and Prongies

26. The Midnight Library - Like in all libraries, The Midnight Library offers choices and opens doors to possibilities. No room for regrets. There is grace to be had when we recognize it even in situations when all hope seems lost.

27. Pitong Tsinelas - Pitong Tsinelas invited me to play. I said yes and I had fun. I am including this now in my list of books I wish I had written.