The Name of This Book is Secret by Pseudonymous Bosch (Secret # 1)

I know I said that this book is an easy read and that I should be finished with it 3 days ago, but then due to some unwanted circumstances, I was only able to finish it a while ago. The past 3 days, I have been busy with my scholarship renewal, enrollment for the second semester, and attending the funeral of my deceased friend. On top of that, I managed to acquire fever and colds yesterday, which is a very great way to end my sembreak. Not. Anyways, here goes my review for the first book in the Secret series, which is was overdue.

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Based on the book’s rule, I am putting my life in grave danger telling you what it is all about. For the story holds a Secret that we must keep hushed in order to prevent others from using it for greater evil. So I trust you to save me the trouble and keep whatever you will read about to yourselves for our own sake.

So the story starts with two eleven-year-old kids, Cass and Max-Earnest. The two are what some others may describe as weirdos due to their peculiar traits. But these two kids are important for they are vital in keeping the Secret safe and saving lives of people involved.

Cassandra calls herself a survivalist. Every day, she goes to school wearing her trust backpack loaded with the equipment she believes are needed for every kind of calamity or danger. Aside from that, Cass believes that she can predict whenever bad things will happen, but she was yet to prove her “sight” to everyone in school. To her classmates, she is the “girl who cried wolf”.  

Max-Earnest. A quirky name. But there is a good story about how it came to be. But I fear that I am not fit to be the one to share it. Read the book and let the narrator relay it to you. Aside from the name, Max-Earnest tend to talk a lot. Yes, somehow, a period doesn’t work for him as his words pours continuously straight from his head. Max-Earnest also has the habit of telling everyone a joke the no one seem to find funny. And for the kids around him, this is annoying to the point of irritating. 

The two were brought together when Cass found the Symphony of Smells, a box filled with different vials of herbs and whatever containing various of scents, at her grandfathers’ shop. Apparently, the Symphony of Smells is one of the things left by a magician who disappeared after being burnt inside his house, leaving nothing but the smell of sulfur like rotten eggs.  

And so the adventure begins as Cass and Max-Earnest unearth the secrets involved in the mystery of this magician’s death. Aside from the Symphony of Smells, they also found Pietro’s, the magician, notebook. In it they learned more about his story of magic and amazing power of the senses. They started on a quest to find out more about the peculiar Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L who began pursuing them since they discovered the Symphony of Smells. What did these two want from the box and why do they desperately want to know Pietro’s story? Will Cass and Max-Earnest be able to prevent their evil plan in order to save one of their friends from the hands of Ms. Mauvais and Dr. L?

I have been seeing this book series displayed at the children’s section every time I go into a bookstore. I had to admit, the colorful cover and mysterious title made me curious enough to buy the first book. I guess I can say that it was worth it. From the first few pages, with the author giving us visual illustrations of warning before reading the book to the last pages of reminders for the sequel, I was hooked.

I particularly enjoyed the type of narration as it was directed to the readers, like casually talking to the narrator. It was also hilarious as the narrator was very reluctant to share any information that might give away any details that would let us find the whereabouts of the story or recognize the characters in person. Despite the hesitation, the narrator ultimately failed to do so for the readers would not be able to know the story without getting some details. I think that made the story very worth reading, the yearning to know about the Secret more.

Aside from the narrator, I also loved the adventures itself. I have to admit though, that I was quite disappointed with the lack of magical stuff in the story. Being a Harry Potter fan, I have a very high expectation when it comes to magic, spells, and mystery. I guess I was just really desperate to find another series that could match the brilliance of Harry Potter.

But then again, this book is different in a sense that it focuses on alchemy and the phenomenon known as synesthesia. Synesthesia is, in truth, a neurological condition in which a stimulation of one sense, hearing for example, will entice a  simultaneous stimulation of another sense, for example taste. One with this condition may read words but instead see different colors as an interpretation.  And this is the central theme of the story. The kids were trying to save a friend who has synethesia from the hands of Ms. Mauvias and Dr. L. This, I think, is the magical part of the story. 

What really made me love the book is the brain teasers and codes it gives. Along the way, Cass and Max-Earnest is presented with codes they needed to break and answer. I find it very amusing and I, myself, tried decoding the riddles. In fairness, I did a good job. I was also able to predict some of the events that would happen and that wasn’t very good for me. A good mystery book would be something surprising and this one was a bit predictable. Of course, I don’t have the right to give my conclusions since this is just the first book in the series. But I assure you that I have a great interest in reading the next book.

I will give this book a 4/5. I recommend this series for fans of A Series of Unfortunate Events and The Mysterious Benedict Society. It was a very easy read intended for adventurous kids and explorers, alike. 

Day 21 – Favorite book from your childhood

The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Braum

Aside from my ever beloved Harry Potter books, this one has been read to me over and over by my mom when I was a little kid. Sadly, I can no longer find my copy of this book and I am guessing that it has been donated somewhere. But I can remember that this is the cover of the one we had before. 

Anyways, when I was a kid and cannot really read thick books like this, my mom would always read to me every weekend and this was the story I would always ask for her to read. When I grew up and was able to read by myself, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz was my favorite. I don’t know how to explain exactly what attracted me at that time, but I guess I am already in love with fantasy and magical worlds even before. I mean, duh, it is so easy to believe in these kinds of stories when you are young. And maybe, it stuck to me until today.

So yes, this one is my favorite childhood book. Don’t tell me that you don’t need to read this one because you’ve already seen the Judy Garland movie. No. Like any other book-to-movie adaptations, there’s so much more in the book that are not included in the movie. Dorothy and her friends had a much more difficult adventure and let me tell you that her magic slippers are supposed to be silver. Yes. NOT RUBY RED. It’s not to late to read this. No matter how young or old you are, you would still be in for a treat. 

Day 07 – Favorite genre

[FANTASY]

-is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within this genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common.

Yes, this is exactly my favorite book genre. Even though a lot of people say it’s a childish genre, it won’t change how I feel. I firmly believe that no one is too old to like fantasy books and movies. I know that it’s not good to stay in the land of dreams and make believe, and that we’re supposed to keep in touch with what’s real but I just can’t help myself.

All of these fantastic worlds of magic have been my escape when reality is too much for me to fathom. I like to be lost in some place far different from what’s around me. Harry Potter, Narnia, Neverland, Camp Half-blood, Wonderland, Whoville. All of those imaginary worlds written by brilliantauthors have been my happy place. Whenever I read about them, I feel free and forget my problems even for a little while. I would give anything to actually be a part of those worlds.

But I am not stupid, I know there are limitations. I can imagine and hope all I want for everything to be real but it won’t change the fact that I live in the real world. I have to go back and face my own monsters. And I get the strength and inspiration from all of these books. Truly, I would never get tired of this genre because it has so much more to offer.

Day 03 – Your favorite series

This one’s pretty easy to answer. Of course, the Harry Potter series is my favorite. It’s not because of the crazy big fandom it has and the movie franchise. No, I was hooked way before that.

The first book, Philosopher’s Stone, was given to me by my aunt for my 7th birthday. Of course, at that age, I don’t really understand the depth of the story. All I know is that this book is a very long non-picture book about an orphan boy with a lightning scar on his forehead who was actually one of the most famous wizards of his age. And then when I was 9 years old, the first movie came out. I didn’t know that the book I have was popular enough to be made into a movie. And so I did what I thought was appropriate, and read the book again. This time, the chapters I skipped when I was younger seemed a lot more important and interesting. And thus began my love for Harry Potter. Every year, I asked for it as present for my birthday. Come high school, when the box set was released, I sold my paperbacks to a secondhand bookstore and bought the hardcover set using the money I got with the help of my mom.

My friends wouldn’t really understand why I am so deeply attached with these books. They are my companion as I was growing up and the magical world have been my escape for far too many times. I even believed that someday, I would be able to go to the wizarding world and study at Hogwarts. They are more than just some children’s books for it teaches children the very important lesson of all: to never lose hope and to love selflessly. These two thoughts would probably be difficult to explain to children at a young age but JK Rowling did magic and out comes 7 books that clearly show the importance of hope, love, family and friendship. Some people say that the magic of Harry Potter is “over” since the last movie was already released last year but I, for one, do not believe in this for as long as I have my books, the magic will never be over. They have been my home, a refuge whenever I feel alone and lonely. Opening one book and reading about the boy who lived one more time is like going back to my beloved magical place of happiness. It’s as easy as that. As long as I remember every adventure, it will never be over for me. These books have become a great part of who I am today.

Day 02 – A book that you’ve read more than 3 times

Mythology by Edith Hamilton

I first read this book back when I was in my senior year in high school. It was for our mythology topic in English and at first I thought that I would get bored. I hate it when I’m forced to read books that I don’t really like but then after a few chapters, I knew I was wrong. It was the first time I was introduced to Greek and Roman mythology. Of course, I knew some of the stories like Cupid and Psyche, Orpheus and Eurydice, and Midas. But it was that time that I got to learn more about the Trojan War and the greater gods. I do enjoyed the book very much that even when I finished reading the book, I read it again for more than three times during college.

I don’t know why but all these stuff about the gods and magic are very interesting to me. It’s like the classic fantasy stories for me. In this book, I learn how the early Greeks and Romans viewed the world and got a slight taste of their magical history. Aside from that, this book is very comprehensive unlike other versions. The myths are retold in such brilliance and clarity that it may be read for pleasure not as a reference. This a classic treasure truly worth a reread.