ASTROID

Can't read my mind, I'm undefined.

[lemonmeringues]

2025 Fully Booked Reading Challenge (Part 2)

9. Book that tracks Multiple Generations - Pachinko by Min Jin Lee

This has been on my "to buy" list for so long and I took this reading challenge prompt as THE sign to finally buy it. And it did not disappoint. I like the short (ish) chapters and all the family drama. It felt like reading different books at the same time but in a good way. And I did not expect to be so affected and emotional about it towards the end. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

10. Book published in 2025 - Immortal by Sue Lynn Tan

By now, you may judge me a Sue Lynn Tan fan and I won't be mad. Honestly, it's always the cover that gets me and I usually buy her books plot-blind but so far, I have not been disappointed yet. I love how the plot always appear to be a love story but is actually a tale of family and filial piety. My only regret is not buying the special edition with sprayed edges. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

11. Book that makes you nostalgic - Tales from the Cafe by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

I once read a review regarding this series stating one of its cons as being too repetitive since it always explains the cafe's rules in every chapter. I don't actually get that comment since this book is a sort of compilation of stories circulating in this special cafe. If you pick these stories apart, you won't get lost since the rules were always explained and emphasized. Anyways, this choice for this prompt is obvious and is always a cozy read. ⭐⭐⭐⭐

12. Book with practical advice - Single by Nicola Swanson

On my second nonfiction book for this year's reading challenge and I'm just happy it's all over 😅. The practical advice I got from this one is...not to buy self help books anymore. Hahaha. But truly, this book told me nothing I don't know and despite being a short tome, it took all of me to get to finish this. ⭐ (1 star for the cute cover).

2025 has been a good reading year: I've been more intentional in tracking my readings (thank you Fable) and my library definitely grew. TYL!!! 🙏🏻😍

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2025 Fully Booked Reading Challenge

For the past year, I've been justifying that buying and reading books are two different hobbies and which I both indulge in. So I figured going on these reading challenges are a big help if I want to make even just a dent out of my TBR 😅. Here's to hoping I get to find books to complete this reading challenge, good luck to me! ✨

1. Book you can read in one sitting - Christmas at Hogwarts by J.K. Rowling

I'm obviously still hung up on Christmas for the first month of the year, so what better book to start this year's challenge? This is basically a children's book but I have to have it for my collection. I've been eyeing this book at the store but couldn't bring myself to buy it but I finally balked by ordering it online together with other "essential" book purchases last year. This was so worth it. The illustrations were so beautiful and even if it's just an excerpt from the first book, it felt like I was 14 years old again watching Harry Potter for the very first time appreciating and dreaming of Christmas, my favorite holiday. Love!

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (starting strong with a 5 star rating!)

2. Book that retells an existing story - Reflection by Elizabeth Lim

I'm a Disney princess girl through and through so the twisted tales are definitely my candidates for this book challenge category. This book was so dreamy - literally like in a dream where so much happens in such a short period of time that you would start to get lost in the story. Storyline notwithstanding, I still think Mulan is underrated...she is such a bad-ass and not only because she's a soldier. This book tells of Mulan discovering that even your own reflection can be twisted into someone who is not you and the strength it took to overcome it all for the people she cared about.

⭐⭐⭐ (because the timeline was really sketchy)

3. Book that uncovers a mystery - The Mysterious Affair at the Styles by Agatha Christie

From the OG queen of mystery herself, this book looked like an easy read for it's size and thickness but this had my brain into knots a few pages in. It's as if I get to know who the culprit is but then it goes on to tell me otherwise and then my hunch was actually right, but it's actually how the events transpired that I had no clue on. Gone are my Nancy Drew tween days, and now reading AC as an adult felt like a legit full circle. If only her books aren't that expensive, I would have been far into my collection today. ⭐⭐⭐

4. Book that is first in a series - Arsenic and Adobo by Mia P. Manansala

I just can't resist the theme for this series - Filipino food and crime - plus, it's by a Filipino author. The wit in the titles had me scrambling to complete the series (but I think it's still not completed, we're looking out for new releases soon!). Despite me not liking the personality of the FMC in this series, this was a refreshing read and also somewhat nostalgic with all the Filipino references (not just food!). It's also an easy read especially when you're in a reading slump. ⭐⭐⭐

5. Book about Ideas and worldviews - Rock Solid by Marites Danguilan Vitug

This was actually a timely read, sort of an orientation slash history lesson on one of the widely speculated topics in the Armed Forces. For this category it's also more on the "worldviews" part focused but nevertheless it's good to be informed, to be educated, and not just hearing these kind of stuff from TikTok videos. Though, finishing this was painstaking because...uh, nonfiction...but yay for local authors! ⭐⭐⭐

6. Book set in a country you've never been to - Huê City by Claire Betita de Guzman

I've never been overseas so this category was fairly easy and so I went above and beyond by choosing a book set in not just one but three countries (though, Philippines is one of the three). This also helps me in my mission to explore more works by local authors and Filipino literature in general. However, this one sort of fell short. I feel like the story ended midway, like it's not even a cliff hanger or an ending that is left to the readers' imagination (which I hate btw). So umm it's just ⭐.

7. Book based on real life events or people - The Balikbayan Artist by Eileen R. Tabios

Yay for another Filipino-written book! For this category, this book by Eileen Tabios is based on the life of Filipino artist Venancio Igarta. I'm no artist myself and I find myself having difficulty imagining how the character's artworks look like based on the book's description but nevertheless, it still enabled to stir patriotic feelings inside of me. It was also a surprisingly easy read. ⭐⭐⭐.5

8. Book about relationships - First Time Caller by B.K. Borison

Bought this book unintentionally for a book-crawl with the bestie and it started off so good I was surprisingly giggly. I did not know at which point the story turned into meh and the ending becoming anti-climactic. Goes to say how miscommunication or the total lack of communication at all affect relationships, romantic or otherwise. ⭐⭐⭐

[lemonmeringues]

2024 Fully Booked Reading Challenge (Part 2)

10. Book about emotions and thoughts - What Feelings Like Best by Tina Oziewicz & Aleksandra Zajac

First thing, this category is one of the hardest for me to tick off as most feelings-related books are self-help books and that genre is really not my cup of tea. Second, this is in a children's book format (and the largest book I have for this reading challenge) but it speaks more to adults actually. It's interesting how it correlated all kinds of feelings and realizing how one person can contain all these - that we all have equal parts of positive and negative feelings which defines our humanity. Loved to have stumbled upon this book for this category. So cute! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

11. Book released in 2024 - Nosy Neighbors by Freya Sampson

This was such a cosy book to read but at the same time exciting to get to know what the characters do next. It's a perfect balance of odd but interesting characters, cliché circumstances but at the same time it does not trudge the usual path of heroic antics and story line plot twists. I often find myself fondly imagining this book to be translated into a movie and which actors would be suitable to play the characters 🤣. Love the short chapters as well! ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

12. Book of Poetry - From Arsenic to Zirconium by Peter Davern

Last but not the least, my most dreaded reading challenge for this year - poetry. Come to think of it, there are more options for books on poetry compared to translated ones but I simply can't bring myself to read a poetry book. Just not my cup of coffee. So when I found this, it was like a eureka moment! Now that's something I can read - poetry on the elements in the periodic table which gave me a very hard time in high school but are now very interesting to me (in the practical sense though). It might be crossing a tiny bit across the nerdy line but this was fun to read! ⭐⭐⭐⭐

I can't believe I made it. This was a stressful yet fun challenge to widen my reading field. AND Fully Booked definitely took my money! Hahaha. 💸💸💸

[lemonmeringues]

2024 Fully Booked Reading Challenge

As much as i doubt myself finishing this challenge within a year, heck imma start it anyway hahaha. I know you're supposed to read a book that fits in one of the categories every month until you've crossed everything out but let's say, my timeline's a bit erratic (case in point: it's now more than halfway through the year but I'm still on my third book BUT there's no saying how fast i'll catch up later *wink). So, here goes...

1. Book with a fictional world or place - The Chronicles of Narnia by C.S. Lewis

This book is my most expensive purchase from FB to date AND was unplanned (like most good things, yeah). It took me back years ago when I borrowed a book like this from our neighbor and I was so amazed by how many more stories/chapters there are in Narnia (I only knew The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe and Prince Caspian then) and I never got to finish it cause I needed to return it so this was definitely and absolutely a smattering "healing-my-inner-child" moment, i bought it immediately off the shelf. It also made me feel like an adult after four years of being a salary-earner, you know, buying-without-looking-at-the-tag kind of thing. Yasssss. Ok. I need to calm down. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

2. Book with a first-person narrator - Happy Place by Emily Henry

Second book and I'm already coming across something over-hyped. Huhu. Tbh, I just forced myself to finish this just so I can move on to the next one. As much as i like spoilers, I hated when I already guessed the plot twist two to three chapters in. The gaslighting in this book was also superb (and not in a good way, no!). There were good self-reflective moments though but it's more of irritating to read hahaha. Good writing, bad story or I guess annoying main characters. ⭐⭐ (coz cute cover).

3. Book with a cover you can't resist - Daughter of the Moon Goddess by Sue Lynn Tan

I literally picked up this book just because I liked the cover. That's it. Didn't even take a peek at the price, hahaha. But this was soooo worth it. At first I thought I'll get exhausted reading it because of its highly detailed and descriptive writing (just as i did with the Hunger Games series) but I ended up loving it, all the melodrama...love triangle (almost became a square!)...betrayal...family duties...everything was *chef's kiss*! I also like the fact that the heroine in this story is literally a hero-badass-female-warrior and that female warriors are common in a sort of fantasy-periodic (I'd like to think it's set a long long long time ago) setting. I loved this so much I already secured the sequel book (yes, it's a duology!) thanks to my dear enabler friend hahahahahha. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

4. Book from an author you've never read before - Fairest of All by Sara Valentino (and hopefully the whole series!🤞🏻)

You have to believe me when I say that I did not intend on starting this collection. I've seen reels and "booktok" videos about Valentino's series but I paid no mind since I thought there's no way to get my hands on them except online (and I WAS trying to cut down with online shopping) BUT THEN....I saw this book in Fully Booked CdeO and this is the first book of the series incidentally. So i tried to listen to a message the world wasn't telling me --- buy the book and start hunting for the rest. What's more, this series had to be read in order and I'm currently stuck looking for the second book. But there's no turning back! ⭐⭐⭐

5. Book set before the internet age - El Filibusterismo by Jose Rizal (translated by Virgilio Almario)

I'll have to admit that this one's a wild card 'cause it fits to three categories in this reading challenge 🤭 but nothing really beats our very own J Rizz. Re-reading this at my age now and in this society we currently have, I can say there's not much difference with the perennial problems that we Filipinos face as a country. For this copy, I love that it's compact in a paperback though the pages are thin (no complaints since I paid cheap) and it's formatted just like our textbooks in high school. Nostalgic! ⭐⭐⭐

6. Book that has been adapted into screen - The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes by Suzanne Collins

The bestfriend and I were really kidding ourselves when we decided to read this book BEFORE watching the movie, hahaha. Months later, we would find ourselves with an unopened book and and unwatched movie 😅. Thankfully tackled this before the year ends! Well, in true Suzanne Collins fashion, this got me hooked when I started and frustrated at the end. I did not expect so much in one a-little-thicker-than-the-others hardbound book but lots of things happened, a mix of dragging and fast-paced plots which I'm not sure I like but I was able to finish the book anyway. I wanted this to be a light read but it definitely had some points that can pique you about human nature if you allow yourself to think deeper about it. ⭐⭐⭐

7. Book published in the Philippines - The Battle of Marawi by Criselda Yabes

This was a STRESSFUL read. I don't even know how I stumbled upon it in a section in the bookstore that I don't usually gravitate to but there it was and I picked it off the shelf instantly (not to mention to the judgmental glare of my shopping buddy/bff). This one hit so hard 'cause it literally is close to home and to my present profession. This is the only book that had me background checking the author for legitimacy. ⭐⭐⭐⭐ (can't give it five stars because of the stress i got while reading 😅)

8. Book set in or about the future - The Land of Milk and Honey by C Pam Zhang

Tbh, this is another one that I forced myself to finish just for the sake of the challenge. Oftentimes I find myself lost in the jumble of food descriptions which the author has successfully related to humanity on a deeper level. Kudos also to the author for being gifted with such extensive vocabulary but it was just too overwhelming for me. In Happy Place (book #2 on this list), it irked me that the plot twist was so predictable, but in this book I got annoyed that I couldn't figure out where we are in the story anymore. So, fickle me. Also, this book is supposed to be futuristic but it was really primal (can't think of anything else to describe it) for me, but I guess it's one of those themes wherein you'll always have to look back to be able to step forward (something like that, haha) . ⭐⭐

9. Book translated from a foreign language - Before the coffee gets cold by Toshikazu Kawaguchi

For the past year as I've been hunting down the shelves of Fully Booked, this book has always been on display in the bestsellers section and I never really paid attention to it. Heck, it took a few bookstore visits before I even checked the plot at the back cover. Interesting, I thought. But never interested enough to actually add it to my cart. Now, came the time that I had to tackle this category for the reading challenge and unsurprisingly this title was among the recommendations. So finally I gave in and it really surpassed my expectations. For something so simply written (with only three chapters!), it showed me a lot of complexities in a human's way of giving love. Truly heartwarming and I love how subtle the characters are but their minds are a different universe from each other. For some reason too, this book makes me crave my favorite coffee everytime I read it 😅. ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

*Apparently there's a 10-image limit per post here on tumblr so I need to have a part 2 for this post*

[lemonmeringues]

To be known is to be loved.

Everytime I get to go home for my RR, I always complain that I don't have a towel big enough to wrap around my body when after bathing (common bath problems). Also, whenever we go out to shop I always find myself hunting for THAT beach/hotel towel. So for my birthday this year, mama gifted me with this HUGE ASS beach towel (can also be used as blanket, table cloth etc hahahaha). It's waaay too big but I love it! 💙💜🤍

[lemonmeringues]

"Nasal septum in midline" is a statement that I, as a clerk, an intern, and a resident, has used and abused for so long...written in my PE reports just for the heck of it. But now, i would never think the same of it again.

Context story: a few weeks ago, mama called me in a panic 'cause she thinks there's something wrong with daddy. So i interviewed my dad and it seemed he is having a sensation of wanting to expectorate phlegm but couldn't until he was vomiting saliva. As someone with COPD, i deemed it part of his symptomatology to be constantly producing secretions but nevertheless, i advised for an ENT consult just to make sure there's no mass or obstruction in his throat.

So fast forward yesterday, Aug 30, dad was seen by his ENT and a diagnostic nasal endoscopy was done which revealed findings of allergic rhinitis and a deviated septum with associated septal spur on the right. So the scope wasn't able to pass through beyond the nose and he was scheduled for laryngoscopy next month. I've longed suspected that my dad has AR so what piqued my interest was the deviated septum. I am no ENT but I know how a nasal septum can be deviated so I jokingly asked my dad if he was punched in the nose before to which he solemnly answered that indeed he was and that he had a justifying story for it. I know for a fact that as a child my dad was involved in childhood brawls typical among boys and the kind of story you reminisce proudly with your sons, counting how many teeth you knocked out of another kid etc. but daddy did not look like someone who had received a strong blow in the face to actually break his nose. He was handsome and my mom and I would always be envious of his long, pointy nose.

So after he recounted his doctor's appointment, he recounted the story of how back when he just graduated from college in 1986, he and his older brothers were drinking and when he asked permission to leave with his friends, one of his older brothers did not approve and the other older brother started beating him, landing some blows on his face. He lost consciousness for 3 days and was brought to a public hospital wherein apparently he had blood coming out from all holes in his head but no imaging was done and only supportive management was given during his admission. They just waited for him to regain consciousness. He was discharged about 2 weeks after in which he immediately went to review for his boards the following month. As i digested this story, I thanked God silently for keeping my dad alive and allowing him to grow old without suffering any neurological damage, for making him a dad, for giving him milestones at work, for allowing him to be physically active, and retire eventually but still moving like someone who was still in his prime.

After dad finished his story, he handed the phone over to my mama cause he was just finishing his dinner. I screen-captured one moment in our convo when she was mulling over how she pitied daddy for that experience and how he must be traumatized to be beaten by his own brothers. And then she concluded that indeed, daddy was a good man for despite that experience he still had utmost respect and love for his brothers even after they passed from this world. I tried to throw out a joke because I was starting to get weepy about how my mama was showing her sadness for what happened to daddy when he was young when she herself did not have better circumstances when she was young (due to poverty, not that she was beaten or physically abused). Just knowing how these two care for each other and the devotion they have to their family makes me understand how they lasted for more than 3 decades now and makes me want to really give the world to them 🥺. After 5 kids, a house, several properties, and professions in their own fields some may say that they have had a fulfilled life and I agree but more than all of those things, I think being people who have shown their child how to be as filial, as forgiving, persevering, and loyal is the best legacy they could ever achieve while they are still living this world. Love them to bits!

*I have to finish this write up cause I cant stop bawling my eyes out 🥹.

[lemonmeringues]

Sunday convo with my mama:

#1

Me: ooh it's happy middle child day. shout out to ikay! (the 3rd sibling)

Mama: oh?

Me: huh, kinsa man diay imo middle child?

Mama: dili si jilay (2nd sibling)?

Me: huhh...nganong si jilay man?

Mama: atong 3 pamo, siya ang middle child

Me: haaaa dugay raman mi 5 ma...

#2

Me: si daddy pud diay, middle child

Mama: aw mao diay

Mama: lahi jud iyang batasan especially karon sige mig kita..sige mig uban

(mama was serious during this convo..ranting away all my dad's icks but i just cant help but laugh inside because after 34 years of marriage, she's still amazed and annoyed and still discovering stuff about him. by the end of this convo, she summarized that dad's still the most hardworking, workaholic, "buotan" guy. awwwe)

[lemonmeringues]

I don't think I have to put on a spoiler disclaimer in here since everyone knows the story of princess Ariel but yeah, this will be kind of a review/blog something.

🧜🏽‍♀️🧜🏽‍♀️🧜🏽‍♀️

So i took myself on a date yesterday after my 24-hour duty, and what better "date" activity to do than watch a movie. For the record, it's my first time to go ALONE 🤟🏻💪🏻 and I haven't been inside a cinema since 2019 😬. So to top the whole experience off, I chose to watch The Little Mermaid and my oh my...i ABSOLUTELY LOVED it! I haven't felt kilig due to a movie/show in such a long time (or just felt kilig in general!) AND i even cried at the cheesy ending. Hahahahahah. Im such a sucker for this.

There had been some buzz about this movie ever since it released its initial trailer primarily due to its casting and I myself felt skeptical about it when I started seeing some clips on its animation (thought the graphics looked weird and low-budget) BUT for some reason the movie did justice to the animation i loved from childhood --- like everything...graphics, musical score, cast, etc. AND is no one gonna talk about how cute Prince Eric is??? HAHAHAHAHA. Jonah (yes, done stalking) gave Eric more depth in the movie and his good looks and voice don't hurt also. Ehehehe.

Ooops. Excuse my simping hihihi.

Honestly though, I used to think that animation Ariel was too stereotypical to fall immediately in love with the usual prince charming who likes to go on sea adventures. So it's nice that the remake added somewhat of a back story to the prince charming character.

Fave part of the movie might be when Ariel becomes human and meets the prince but she doesn't remember she had to get a true love's kiss within 3 days (AND WITHOUT HER SIREN VOICE, Ursula really did it dirty!), however you can definitely see how the Prince Eric is slowly falling for her and becomes curious about her without her really trying hard at all. Though I'm not all in with the pairing...like there's some percentage of chemistry amiss...but I think each character was suitably cast --- Halle's voice was monstrously goooood and look at those toned arms, like guuuurl. Prince Eric, need I say more? 👌🏻👌🏻👌🏻. Also, Awkwafina voicing Scuttle was really hilarious and fun.

All in all, it' s a 4.7/5 ⭐ (again, there's some chemistry missing but Kiss the girl made me sooooo kilig nevertheless!)

Good night!

[lemonmeringues]

Watched these 2 series for the past 2 days, and at my age now, it just hits differently.

[lemonmeringues]

So I got COVID 19. Despite being fully vaccinated since April this year. I still got it, and got it severe. Well I can't say that I've lost my faith to vaccines and all the preventive health measures I've been trying to promote. But somehow I can say, I kinda lost the drive to be a doctor these days. Maybe my infection was the last straw. I cannot say. But I need to pray. I know my oath and everything that my profession has demanded of me ever since and I've been sustained by no less than God's mercy I'm sure of it. But I think I'm kinda losing it these days. I'm a doctor who can't stand the thought of tending to patients. I hate the hospital and I hate seeing sick people. I feel for my fellow health workers, and I am astounded that they continually show up and tend to patients like me. Maybe once again I need my mother's prayers.

[lemonmeringues]

FOR ME, the worst thing than missing out on family events/holidays is actually having a day off during the holidays but no family to go home to 🙁.

[lemonmeringues]

Quaranscenes

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Kinda proud of my achievement for this week: moving in and unpacking ALL my stuff in my new dorm.

[lemonmeringues]

RANDOM PHOTO SERIES #5

My view during breakfast after my first 24 hour duty in VLMC. I can't believe i'm going home early but i was also very anxious because we're still renting at an apartelle and we needed to buy white clothes for duty 😅

[lemonmeringues]

RANDOM PHOTO SERIES #4

Took this shot on my last morning at home before flying to Manila for post-graduate internship. My mind was blank and I was not nervous at all but I was having major sepanx with my home (can't even start on my sepanx with my loved ones). I guess it was God greeting me, saying it's all going to be okay.

[lemonmeringues]

Nearing 4 months into this pandemic, working straight shifts, with little paranoias here and there.

Missing my family. My home.

Missing the friends i grew up with.

I'm feeling tired...i think more physically. I've gotten so used to being cooped up by myself. I miss having a home, a pet, or a family to go home to after work.

[lemonmeringues]

RANDOM PHOTO SERIES #3

One of the most frustrating things I did to just make it out of med school: retrieve my patients' charts and complete progress/discharge notes ---handwritten. It was a feat. And im kinda proud of myself for making it. Hahaha.