The Filipino Group discussion

Hello! This month, we'll be talking about nonfiction. This is not everyone's cup of tea so I guess the first question is:

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?
2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?
3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?
I didn't vote for nonfiction. Nonetheless, I find the theme very challenging since I almost never read nonfiction as a hobby.

2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?
Personally speaking, I don't read nonfiction for entertainment rather for some valuable insights and knowledge.

3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?
I've put off reading so I guess this is the right time to finish it. I also have my eyes on . I am an introvert so I'd like to read some encouragement. I'm hoping to finish either of the two books.

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?
It's true how nonfiction isn't everyone's favorite genre - I tend to shy away from it unless it's absolutely necessary or if someone pushed me to it. I still feel the same most of the time, but I realized I can't shun it away since I HAVE come across some good books that are nonfiction which were pretty good reads.

2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?
A huge majority of nonfiction is not for entertainment, and I think people tend to pick up these books for information.

3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?
I'm planning to read - i honestly just picked it up from the library today. I'm not sure what to expect from it, but if it reads a lot like (which I honestly enjoyed) then that would be great!

1. I don't remember if I voted for it. I may have because I like nonfiction. It broadens my horizon.

2. I can only speak for myself. Even if it's required reading for academic study, I think nonfiction can be entertaining. Learning something new is always a reading pleasure for me. Of course, writing style counts. I am not entertained by dry nonfiction. :)

3. I will read The Spirit Catches You and You Fall Down: A Hmong Child, Her American Doctors, and the Collision of Two Cultures despite my aversion to long titles. I have the book, I like Anne Fadiman and I like reading about other cultures.

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?
> I did not vote for nonfiction, but I don't have a problem reading them, especially funny memoirs.

2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?
> For me, yes. Although, it usually takes me a little longer than usual before finishing the book.

3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?
>It's been a while wince I read a Robert Fulghum. So, I'll be reading his unprinted essay, wherein he wrote about his alternate ego's adventure in Argentina - The Argentine Tango Chronicles of Senor Don Roberto Juan Carlos Fuljumero y Suipacha.

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?
I don't think I voted for it because I don't read a lot of nonfic, save for history books. I've always been bored by non-fiction.

2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?
No, I approach non-fiction differently. I don't really read it to be entertained. If I have to read non-fiction on my own initiative, it would be because I want to learn about something, like the history of a particular place (because that's what I would most likely pick up on my own volition). So, non-fiction for me is more on the informative rather than on the entertainment side of things.

3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?
For the month I'm reading because (1) like the author, I also lost my father and (2) my copy is a signed one. Hehehe.

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?
I don't remember voting for this lols, but memoirs are interesting to read.
Self-help, not much. Sometimes when I read those I feel personally attacked. Tho I used to read them in my college years.

2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?
Self-help is more of a lesson learned in classrooms. You take down notes here and there, sometimes you commit them to memory. For memoirs, they are not entertainment per se. It's more of having a deep conversation with the author, especially on his anecdotes and lessons learned along the way.

3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?
I'm planning to get through with this preachy book wahahahaha

Jinkay wrote: "I've put off reading The Subtle Art of Not Giving a F*ck A by Mark Manson so I guess this is the right time to finish it."

Curious, at what part did you drop off? I was at the first 30% when the book became toxic at times maybe because of the tough job I am currently in. (to clarify, I also have my lapses of [krisis moments] so it's hard to apply his bits of information)

Hope we can get through this book together. Nice to meet you, and happy reading! :D

Maria Ella wrote: "Curious, at what part did you drop off?"

Hi! Nice to meet you too. :)

I didn't get past 20%. Haha. And I've had it for 2 months now. The first few chapters really helped me a lot, then I felt like I already get the premise of this book so I stopped reading and I don't really need any self-help advice right now. But I still want to finish reading it but only when I feel like it. :)

1. I did not vote for non-fiction and it's looking like no one else did! Lol! But I'm quite excited because this is sooo timely! Look at my anwer to question 3.

2. I've read some non-fiction for entertainment since some are written in a very entertaining way like memoirs. But I'm of the impression that most non-fictions are boring as hell. I've never finished a self-help, self-improvement book or diy book.

3. I'll be reading , , and , just because I need to read them for my negotiation paper. Haha.

1. I did not vote for non-fiction, but I like reading non-fiction sometimes.

2. I read non-fiction for information, such as history books (A Little History of the World by Gombrich), health manuals, and some Lonely Planet visual books I bought at a book sale.

3. I'll try reading a memoir;
Angela's Ashes

and my Lonely Planet books (30% text 70% illustrations)
Lonely Planet's Instant Expert: A Visual Guide to the Skills You've Always Wanted
How to Be a World Explorer

Hello to the familiar and new names, thanks for answering the questions. I’m a tad surprised that most of you did not vote for nonfiction (I think I did). Anyway, here are the questions for this week.

1. Let’s talk about the way your book pick is written. Is it easily accessible? How does the tone and mood affect your level of interest?

2. Does your book pick remind you of something? A place, person, event, anything? Please share!

3. Any insights that you have gleaned from your readings so far?

F2F Details:

Date: October 20
Place: Cafe Mediterranean at The Podium, ADB Ave., Mandaluyong City
Time: 2PM

1. Let’s talk about the way your book pick is written. Is it easily accessible? How does the tone and mood affect your level of interest?
I'm only nearing the halfway mark and I feel that my reading is slower than usual, which I already expected given that this is non-fiction. My mind wanders and I easily lose focus... and I think it's not the writing, per se. I'm not sure what you meant by "easily accessible" but I will interpret it to mean "relatable," and if that's the case, this book isn't that. The author is fascinated with goshawks, falconry, and all things related to them (because it was a shared interest with her late father), and much as I would love to share in her fascination as she describes the animals, I am completely lost.

2. Does your book pick remind you of something? A place, person, event, anything? Please share!
Just my dad, and the details from the day that he passed away. I also remember that it was the year I was about to turn 18 - just a few months shy of my birthday - and if not for my mother convincing me that it was what my dad would have wanted for me, I wouldn't have consented to a "debut party." His death wasn't sudden - he'd been confined for a while already and it didn't look good - but it was still devastating. I was a daddy's girl, that's why. :)

3. Any insights that you have gleaned from your readings so far?
Saving this question for next week, when I have substantially read more.

1. Let’s talk about the way your book pick is written. Is it easily accessible? How does the tone and mood affect your level of interest?

Okay naman, it's kind of interesting because the author inserts real life anecdotes. Nonetheless, there are still a lot of pages where I just browse through, not really reading them...

2. Does your book pick remind you of something? A place, person, event, anything? Please share!

Yes, it reminds me of all the negotiations I've done even the ones in Divisoria.

3. Any insights that you have gleaned from your readings so far?

Well, I suppose I am realizing that I still need to learn a lot to be a better negotiator.

1. Very accessible. Author cleverly cut up the stories into parts that kept you hanging.
2. Gave a roadmap to changing your habits for the better.
3. You can change no matter what stage of life you're in.

1. Why did you vote for nonfiction? If you did not, how do you feel about it?

> I read nonfiction because i like the knowledge/infos it can bring to the table.

2. We all read fiction mostly for entertainment. Do we also approach nonfiction the same way?

> Maybe? It depends on what kind of nonfiction you read.

For instance:

. A combination of nihilism & stoicism? lol. Not so bad. It gave me a "good" laugh.

. Terrific book. The title says it all. I recommend this book to everyone because it's so easy to read. You'll thank me later.

. Not as good as . but still, a good book

. Biography of zero and it's brother, . Zero is easy to read, but infinity needs some decent understanding about the nature of infinity to truly understand the book

3. What do you plan to read? Why did you select it/them?

, it seems good.
. why not?
. Why not? again
. my kind of book