Sunday, April 22, 2012

A Grammatic Life

I always dreamed of becoming a bestseller author of a book or a renowned writer. Then life seems to get so busy and too dramatic that my writing skills are more of a free way of emotions in my life than a group of carefully chosen words that fit perfectly well. Without any grammatical error. Maybe my dream would still take its effect sooner or later. But I learned to love the life as I have right now as I also love writing about it in every way I can.


Life can really be frustrating like in finding the perfect words to fit in a sentence. As infuriating as it is on the never ending questions marks that we have in mind that were always left unanswered. Excitement and fun that we put as many exclamation points that we can just to express the intensity of what are feelings could be. And then there would be endings like what we use period for. When all has been said and done we say it with a period. Sometimes when we just need a break we say it with a comma. Or when there is still something worth saving for in a blur of words that we tried hard to make it sensible.

But life does not really makes sense most of the time like words and phrases lost in a mixed of feelings and thoughts. Then like any good writer who wants to send a message so everyone can relate to; I try to save the sentence. Like how I try to save my life in each and every day of my life. We are trying to be survivors like every run-on sentence that has the fear of being removed from a paragraph. We are all trying to make an impression and be a part of something to see our purpose.

So when a period, a comma or even an exclamation point is not necessary I save it with a semicolon. A semicolon can combine two contradicting sentences or how to independent clauses can be united in one sentence. A semicolon in our lives is like a hope that reaches out to a life close to surrendering. It does not always have to end with a period so we can start all over again. It is not really necessary questioning it and keep finding some answers when we do not really need to. We just have to keep on moving. We need to read along life as a sentence so we can see the real picture and understand it. As a person who writes often, I noticed how my sentences can be too long and how a semicolon can give meaning to it and let the person breathe as they read it. It helps me to connect a negative clause to its positive counterpart. A semicolon shows the faith of how bad things can eventually turn into a good thing. Like the tears that we cry that life gives us do not always have to end in sadness. It sometimes is the divide when smiling and laughing is not enough.

In every day that we have, in evry ticking of the clock everything has to move. I know my dream can be a period if it would end now or an exclamation point in the future. But right now I can be a comma or a semicolon. This is how dramatic or grammatic my life can be...

Sunday, April 15, 2012

The Chronicles of E (Book Review)

"My name is E. I am 25 years old. I stand 5 feet and 7 inches,weighs 145 lbs. I have light complexion. I am a recovering drug addict and this is my diary."


You might think this is a typical introduction. You might think this would just be an ordinary book. But think again. I was recommending another book to a close friend that turned out was already out of stock. My friend was surprised to see this book and he said it was originally a blog. We found ourselves on the bookstore's floor reading it. It was not a thick book but I found myself already in to the book. It has a Parental Guidance on its cover for its explicit content. Even then, the book started lightly and I was even laughing on some part of it. He wrote his entry in such a way that even though it is really a serious situation you found yourself smiling with the way he inserted some sarcasm.


It chronicles the Life of E. A confessed drug addict. A bisexual who has mastered the art of using people for his personal gains. He grew up away from his family but I can say he was always supported especially on his studies. But he drop out of school and had vices.He learned to climb up the ladder to what he called Clans (group of some influential people who do drugs) so he can sustain his vices. Sex was also a vital part in it. But along his journey E also met people who had influenced him and made him feel weak and reminded him that he is only human.


Half-way through in reading the book I can say his evil I despised him or even loathe him in some things that he did to other people or even to himself. He disregard his self-worth and enter prostitution when he does not even need to be in that business. I was crashed when he pushed someone to his death, which did nothing but to love him unconditionally. But I was touched as he was able to find true friends along. I particularly loved the character of Cousin. He was E's closest friend. Cousin was a drug addict also but he learned to stop. Through it all, he was with E no matter what. He accepted E's misdemeanor, his craziness and he never fails to cry for E when the latter fail to do so for himself.

But all the fun has to stop and E’s life finally turn to a snap when he learned that he was HIV positive. He thought this was his karma, for all the wrongdoings and the lessons he neglected. I felt sorry for him in a way but he got my full admiration as he went on to be a survivor. Yes, reading how E lived his life maybe revolting or demoralizing for some but no one can blame him on the life he had chosen to live. My heart goes to him as I read along the parts when he tried to start again and right the wrongs that should have been right at the beginning. I was no longer laughing on his sarcasm; in fact I was close to tears. It was heartbreaking but E did not surrender. He knew where he went wrong and he knew his was not an ideal life to lead. His life is a great example for a lesson learned in a hard way when you have chosen to ignore it.

Indeed, life is everybody's choice. No one should take the blame. Whatever the life we chose to follow is a decision that we take. It is just a matter of how we put our best foot forward in every battle life has to give. It is a matter of stumbling and fumbling our way so we can eventually call ourselves survivors. In a way, I envy E for the life he lead, on the things that he was able to do and the fun that he chose to have. E has the courage of a man that some of us never had. His life does not know any regrets but only risks taken to make him the person he is now.


This book can change someone's outlook in life. It did change me. It gave me more meaning to a different life outside of me. It gave me a profound understanding of how life can indeed change us in a matter of seconds. It also gives knowledge about HIV. People have little information about it. I think they find HIV repulsive because they always associate it with sex and drugs. But HIV is just like any other disease just blown out of proportion that is why people often find HIV positive patients filthy or an outcast.

"My name is E. I am 26 years old. I stand 5 feet and 7 inches,weighs 145 lbs. I have light complexion. I am a recovering drug addict and this is my diary."

Sunday, April 8, 2012

The Hunger Games (Book Review)

As I finished this book and feel the hunger of waiting to know more of the story, I knew this book is different. I can fully relate to the heroine aside from having the knacks on devouring books with the ladies conquering the story.

I can see myself in Katniss Everdeen. I was the same age gap as what Katniss was from her youngest sister. I was thinking if I woud be brave enough to volunteer to save my sister. The book centers about the annual Hunger Games held in Panem in what is left of what formally known as North America. It is now divided into twelve districts with each has their own industry to offer. The yearly games has the Reaping wherein each districts selects two tributes between the age of twelve and eighteen; one female and one male. The Hunger Games was a reminder to every citizen of Panem of the Dark Days and how they should be thankful to the government of what they have right now.

At District 12, we can find Katniss Everdeen who volunteered in place of her sister Primrose Everdeen when the latter's name was picked. The main industry of the district is coal mining where Katniss lost her father on an explosion. She was force to mature and take care of the family her father had left when her mother drowns in depression. She learned the harsh reality of the life she had. She learned to hunt and trade for food so she can keep her loved ones alive or at least get through one day with a full stomach. She also get a help from Gale, a hunting friend who also supports his younger siblings.

Peeta Mellark a son of the town's baker was chosen as the male tribute. Katniss has never ever talk to this boy even that day he threw a loaf of charred bread to her way when she was exhausted and desperately searching for food for her family. And so they were chose as tributes for their district and was transported to the Capitol to compete with other 22 tributes from other districts. . Katniss and Peeta were mentored by the former victor from their district, Haymitch. He was the first ever victor from their district who was now a drunkard. Before the games the tributes form each district has their own stylist;they have Cinna and Effie led their prep team to make them look pleasing to the crowd. They should be able to atrract sponsors to help them as they enter the battle field. Katniss and Peeta won the crowd by playing as the star-crossed lovers. The plot has some poignant moments like when the young district 12 tribute Rue died. Katniss saw Prim in her and in the middle of the game they form an alliance. Poor Rue died in her arms when she failed to save her from another tribute. Each tribute in the Game has something to offer. Like Tributes from District 1 and 2 were trained in combat at a young age. The game is manipulated and crowds get to bet on the Tributes

"If I'm gonna die. I wanna still be me", says Peeta. Katniss was determined to stay alive and survive for Prim. The game gave a twist of honoring two victors this time as long as they belong to the same district but they took it back in the end. But instead of the game manipulating them the two manged to survived in the end and making it as the first ever two Victors of the Hunger Games.


The book is scary and engaging. It shows you how the innocents lost it or manage to deal with the harshness of life has to offer. Everyone is a survivor in their own way. It is just matter of wits and staying pure to your heart. Anything can change us in a minute. Anyone can influence us but it is how you stay true to yourself and nevr letting anyone stole that from you.