SWEET SADNESS: The Sands Chronicles: On Books, and My Birthday Wishlist *hint hint*

I am so totally not into material things.

Yeah, right. Who am I kidding anyway? Like I’d fool myself by saying that.

Currently, I’ve only two obsessions: books (mostly the used ones; I don’t care about the condition as long as they’re readable and have no missing pages. Here’s a very incomplete list of my books), and the animanga Yu Yu Hakusho (I know I’ve told ya’ll that before, right?).

Sex? Nah. I like it, but I can live without it.

I’m quite fond of pre-loved stuff, though I have no idea why. Ninety-nine percent of my books are from either National Bookstore in Cubao (but that was during the late 90’s era, back when there were books being sold for as low as P5) or Booksale (this one’s in major trouble; I can’t find anything other than romance books nowadays).

Christian said that reading is an expensive hobby, but I beg to disagree. In any case and at the very least, it doesn’t have to be. I can’t understand why book prices have gone up steadily since Harry Potter came along, when we’re supposed to be encouraging the youth to read. But I know I wouldn’t throw money in the air for one good book when I could find an equally good one for half the price. It takes a rather keen eye to spot the best out of the bunch of worn books in thrift shops, but it’s well worth one’s time if you find a gem.

Or maybe I’m living in the past…?

The only reason why I was one of the best English students in my class during my grade school and high school years was because I was a prolific reader. My mom would always scold me for reading novels during exams week, but I didn’t care. Blah blah blah. Yadda yadda yadda. Hell, reading saved my fugly ass in the UPCAT, because Language Proficiency and Reading Comprehension were the ones I got my highest mark in — 98 (Memorable because I was flabbergasted. Yay, I’m a braggart! Though really, I’m just pointing out that reading random things can do you a lot good even if you’re a major school slacker like I am. I failed goddamn PE, for crying out loud! So, yes, Marocharim, I only got into UP with a lot of damn dumb luck and ended up being a mediocre-slash-undeserving “Iska”). So why did books have to become so darn pricey as to stop even me from spending on them?

How incredibly stupid and sad.

Anyway, no sense in crying over spilt milk now, yes? So on to the birthday wishlist. The list is a reminder to self what to buy if enough money comes around. I want them so much I’m whoring myself out. Hell, I’d gladly trade misteryosa.com for them. Seriously.

First time I did this wishlist thing, actually. I had a little trouble coming up with things I like, since I like everything given to me.

YYH-related

Botan Figure - $12
Fangirl alert! I am so in love with Botan. I think she’s the most amazing animanga character ever made, and that’s not even because I think Yu Yu Hakusho is the best manga ever created (or because Togashi Yoshihiro is one of the best manga artists of all time). I’m obsessed, I know. She’s just perfection-personified. In the animanga character kind of way, I mean. And hey, you can even throw in Kurama, if you want, for good measure. Haha. There’s also one from Right Stuf.
Complete Yu Yu Hakusho manga/Yu Yu Hakusho Graphic Novels
Online manga viewing can only go so far, especially because my darn internet connection is all fucked up. It’s friggin’ hard to find YYH mangas, but the graphic novels are available at Right Stuf for less than $6 each. Now if only shipping wouldn’t be such a bitch….(Why am I not living in Canada or US again?)
Yu Yu Hakusho Season One Box Set - $31.48
This was released about two months ago, and…yeah, well. Hmm. It’s, like, two DVDs for the price of one. Selling price has gone up since its initial release, though. The Season Two Box Set will be available next month, and its current selling price is $26.24. Uncut episodes and all that jazz. Who could resist?
Yu Yu Hakusho: The Complete Guide - $11.95
Because I am a fan, and this is a potential gem. There might be some kind of revelation or information that’s not known to even the most obsessive YYH fans. Maybe there’s a tidbit about Botan’s past? Not much is known about her, so people tend to play around with her character.
A new Kurama/Botan story.

Books (Easy Reads)

Block Sale of Nancy Drew Books - P1,250 (US $28-29)
I’m a huge huge huge Nancy Drew fan even up to now. I especially like the Nancy Drew and Hardy Boys SuperMystery ones. I was a bit disappointed when I saw that most of the SuperMystery books were removed from the list (most likely the seller allowed some buyer to just buy them off the lot), but I really had no right to complain, right?
Lean Mean Thirteen and Fearless Fourteen by Janet Evanovich
Evanovich is simply one of the wittiest authors I’ve ever had the pleasure of reading since I became a sort-of-but-not-quite bookworm when I was in the 2nd grade. Fearless Fourteen is the 14th book (duh) in the cleverly written Stephanie Plum series of novels. The two books are the only ones missing from my collection, only because they’re not released in the Philippines yet. That just sucks. Especially since Ranger Manoso is the hottest book character ever.
Books I Wish I Could Buy (040808 Edition)
A list I made 4 months ago. There are only 6 books, and 2 of them I’ve read already (Bridge of Terabithia and Story of a Girl). Skip to the list if you don’t understand the Filipino language or if you don’t care much for ramblings.
Body of Evidence series by Christopher Golden
Oh, man. This series rocks. Of course, I haven’t read anything new from it in the past 5 years or so, but I still am hoping that *someday*, the books are going to be available in the Philippines *again*. This fueled my dream to become a forensic scientist, until I acknowledge the bitter fact that I didn’t have the smarts nor the perseverance for it.
Time of the Eagle by Sherryl Jordan
Released just last year, Time of the Eagle is the sequel to one of the most beautiful fantasies I’ve ever read, Secret Sacrament, which I sort-of-but-not-quite reviewed just a few months ago. Not even Tamora Pierce pierced my heart the way Jordan did. Drama, drama, drama.
Children of the Night and Jinx High by Mercedes Lackey
I fell in love with Diana Tregarde, psychic and witch extraordinaire, the moment I read about her in Burning Water years ago. I did a lot of reading after and found “The Last Straw”, where Lackey explained why the series was discontinued after only 3 books. Such a shame.

If you have any or the books listed above, please consider selling them to me at a discounted price. He he.

Miscellany

Sometimes I have problems plugging my phone to the laptop, so I think I need a new Palm Desktop Hotsync Cable
Saving up some hefty amount of money for the upcoming Manila International Book Fair
My old book light’s a goner.
Lava lamps fascinate me.