Book Blog Tour Roundup: Wild Song

October will end in a day ushering in November. Busy days ahead!

So. Here is a wrap-up and a roundup of the Book Blog Tour I conducted for Wild Song (Gourlay, Anvil 2023). Much thanks to the book bloggers who shared their insights. Let us hope to inspire more readers to read and reach out to reluctant readers out there. 

Xi Zuq's review of Wild Song - 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐒𝐨𝐧𝐠 is definitely one of my best reads this year! To discover more about it and the author’s other books, head to her account tagged here. There’s also a link in my bio to the blog tour that @zarahgeeh is hosting for the book.

Teacher Mocs' review of Wild Song - Wild Song by Candy Gourlay is a story that explores identity and woman empowerment. Candy shared this through Luki. Through her use of very descriptive words one will witness Luki’s transformation all throughout the story.

One Valenzuela's review of Wild Song - I had to stop reading and wipe off tears when Sidong said "We didn't leave Tilin behind." 

Raissa's review of Wild Song - Luki was the most memorable character in Bone Talk, so I was glad she was the hero of this companion book. While it takes place after the events of Bone Talk, you don’t need to have read Bone Talk to understand this story.

And here now is my teacher and parent guide, also known as, a reading plan. I used this for my college teaching at St. Paul's University Manila during the first term. You will see how my students have taken so much fun in the activities!   

My Reading Plan for Wild Song  which consists of "during reading activities" that are meant to engage, inspire and accompany readers to think through Wild Song. This was followed up by "post reading activities". One of my students chose to curate a playlist and another conducted an interview with Ms. Gourlay through email.

Life in September and October were harsh, but here we are. I'm grateful to have finished another blog tour. On to the next!

Book Blog Tour: Post Reading Activities for Wild Song (Gourlay, Anvil 2023

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Book Blog Tour of The Unshakeable Road to Love: A Chapter Review

I joined another book blog tour by WOW! Women On Writing for the book The Unshakeable Road to Love. Before I share my thoughts on chapter 4, here are information about the book.

The Unshakeable Road to Love (Value Centered Relationships) is based upon Eternal Principles from all world scriptures, including Zen. These tried and true Eternal Principles, the Pillars of Love, show how to build foundations for relationships where happiness and well-being are inevitable. And where pain and conflict can dissolve on the spot.

A radically different approach to love and psychology, the book offers a completely new perspective on fulfillment and what is truly needed to thrive. 

This is a book of practice, filled with Turning Points, Pillars of Love, Interventions, and many enjoyable exercises so the reader can practice these principles in all their relationships and in their everyday lives.

Written by a psychologist, Interfaith Counselor, and long-term Zen practitioner, the book combines the practices and principles of both East and West, helping us to discover and celebrate the best in ourselves and others.

Publisher: Brenda Shoshanna (October 2022)
ISBN-10: 1094378046
ISBN-13: 978-1094378046
Print length: 208 pages

Now for my chapter review.

Chapter 4 resonated to me the most as I am currently going through a phase of understanding my relationships. Growing up Catholic and practicing Ignatian Spirituality for more than three decades now, I read this chapter from the lens of the doctrines and the teachings of St. Ignatius. On the level of ideas and philosophy, the book's approach to present love in its truest and purest forms does not wander far from my own learned beliefs and practices of faith.

I appreciate the presentation of the different religions' beliefs on relations. The Zen, Juddaism, Buddhism, Christianity and the teachings of the Torah in this chapter are attributed when relationships are experienced as Spiritual Encounters. The chapter explores the attachments that prevent us from being free. Relations when perceived as Divine Appointments allow us to examine the ego-centered rationality when we are hurt and offended by others, especially those we love.

The chapter ends with strategies and recommendations to become at peace and more loving to oneself and that of others. I do agree on many of the points presented, but I remain aware of the challenges and how tough this can be. 

My rating: 4 Bookmarks over 5

Wild Song Book Blog Tour: Introducing the Book Bloggers

We are wild about reading! We can't wait to sing Wild Song's beautifully tragic tunes and themes of change, greed, endurance and growing up! The Wild Song Book Blog Tour begins on Wednesday, September 20, 2023!

Here are are three simple steps:

1. Read the book.

2. *Post on your blog or socmed account/site:

1. a chapter review

2. an interview of the author; publisher; editor; illustrator or book designer**

3. a character sketch in visual or written form

4. a full on book review

5. a readers/teacher-parent guide

3. Use the hashtags: #wildsong #wildsongbook #childrenslitPH and tag @candygourlay and @anvilpublishing on TwtX and/or IG

Book Blog Tour Schedule: The Book Blog Tour will begin on September 20,  2023 with an announcement on School Librarian In Action. A blog round up will be posted September 25 and October 10, 2023. The blog tour ends on October 15, 2023.

Meet the Book Bloggers Who are Wild About Reading!

Reader	Email address Socmed Handle	Book Blog Post
Zarah	http://lovealibrarian @zarahgeeh IG @thecoffeegoddes TwtX @titazee TikTok	A reader’s/teacher-parent guide
Raissa (and Chescat)	riverfalgui@gmail.com @RiverFalgui Twitter @raissaclairef IG	character sketch  Full book review
Cris Santos	@criseldamariii @missimogenreads https://www.averychiclife.wordpress.com	Chapter reviews, Interview with the author (pref by email)
Mocs Javier	@mocsjavier IG	Full Book Review Interview with the author
Xi Zuq	@xizuq (IG)	Full book review

Lights and Sparks in Hope and Fortune

I did a review of Hope and Fortune by Marissa Bañez last February 8, 2023.

I was pleasantly surprised to get an email from Ms. Bañez in response to my review particularly on the agency of Esperanza, the main character in the book.

Here is a snippet of Ms. Bañez reply to my review:

Esperanza is merely the conduit through which the fairies are introduced.  My intention was to inject and immerse the reader directly into the story as the true recipient of the fairies' messages, which is why Esperanza vanishes and is literally out of the picture when the fairies speak.  For her "to work hard and own the virtues bestowed upon her by the fairies" beyond her acknowledgment of their gifts to her at the end would break the fairy-reader connection that I wanted to establish.  In fact, many young and not-so-young readers have told me how they felt personally touched by some of the fairies' messages as they related them to their own experiences.  That's also why most reviewers comment on why Hope and Fortune should be read by adults for themselves and not just for their children.  Even the manner in which Esperanza thanked the fairies at the end is deliberately written in the way that I wanted the reader to remember the fairies' messages.  In short, most of the book isn't for -- or even about -- Esperanza at all. 

To this, I sent back an email. I am sharing selected paragraphs here as well.

As a school librarian, I value this connection and discussion between text, reader, author and the community that we belong and share. I do respect your method and process thus my requests. It is important to see various points and perspectives in the literature that we are reading and engaging with given that we are in the  age where our implicit biases and prejudices are unchecked. If left unexamined the door to empathy building remains shut. There is so much to take and learn from the stories of others. Different our views may be, we share our humanity.

I read Hope and Fortune from the context of a Filipino who grew up during the Martial Law years, with 300 years of Spanish colonization and 50 years of American rule in my collective history...  

Having explained the context I bring in, reading Hope and Fortune, my inner child who grew up under colonial rule and dictatorship yearns to see on the pages of a book the agency to be allowed to wield my own power because, while fairies can bestow and generously bequeath gifts and graces, I too can do that and be the fairy for myself and for others.

From this exchange we can glean how books and stories figure dominantly in our lives. Books and stories bring people together. A story shared can bridge the past to the present providing sparks that can lead to more opportunities to tell stories.

Hope and Fortune is a modern-day fairytale, featuring multicultural, multiracial (e.g., Filipina, African-American, Latina, Asian, Muslim, etc.), multigenerational, and multigender (including a boy) fairies of different shapes and sizes who help a sad little child who has lost her way to find her path.  Each fairy represents an ideal - Hope, Innocence and Wonder, Truth and Virtue, Generosity and Kindness, Strength and Courage, Respect and Dignity, Confidence, Imagination, Happiness, Beauty, Wisdom and Intelligence, and Love and Friendship. Although the protagonist is a little girl, the life advice given by the fairies is non-gender-specific and could resonate with anyone facing a difficult situation at any point in her/his/their life.

Publisher: Black Rose Writing

ISBN-10: 1685131174

ISBN-12: 978-1685131174

Print copy pages: 46 pages

Book Review: Hope and Fortune

I am participating in the book blog tour of Hope and Fortune by Marissa Bañez. As to what the book is all about, you can read the description and the author's information here. Now, for my honest review.

The main character, Esperanza, a young girl of about 9-11 years old lost her way in the Fabled Fairy Forest. Thankfully, an enchanted tree and twelve fairies guided her way out and back on to the path of the world with advice, words of wisdom and quotable quotes to live by. These are all good and beautiful things. The fairies are vividly illustrated carrying symbols of virtues that each of them represent. The emblems and sigils of the fairies can lead readers, the young and the old into discussions of its cultural origins and philosophies.

Take for example, the terno and saya worn by the Fairy of Hope reminds me of the Filipiniana costume and attire Filipina women wear on special events and family gatherings. Even the design and weave of the saya or the skirt seem inspired from an indigenous culture in the Philippines or a country from Southeast Asia. It is the same with rest of the fairies and how each is illustrated.

Abundant in encouraging words, but limited in scenes and events that allow agency, Esperanza remains a passive participant from start to finish. The verse is eloquent and beautiful, but I would rather see Esperanza work hard and own the virtues bestowed upon her by the fairies.

I am going to hazard a guess. Maybe, Hope and Fortune is an introduction to a series where Esperanza applies herself after gleaning wisdom and virtue from the twelve fairies?

Book Review Rating: 3 bookmarks over 5