Boktalk on Books

Last September 11 at the Chocolate Kiss Cafe in UP Diliman, six boks shared their passion for books (and shared some books too). Here are some excerpts from the discussion:

Fongi
Fongi is currently reading Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress and the Screwtape Letters. She also plans to read books by Dan Brown, Understanding Islam, Religion and Science, and the Oxford History of the Twentieth Century. "Right now, I'm trying to widen my collection... I'm trying to get away from fiction for a while, kasi fiction enriches your imagination pero (but) non-fiction, it develops your logic and how you think." For her, reading books is a way to relax. "When I don't want to face reality, I read a book." Fongi cites Balzac and the Chinese Seamstress as a good example of fiction that allows you to experience another way of life. She also recommends the Tipping Point, because it explains in a light and simple manner trends and human behavior from a good mix of perspectives.

Lem
Lem is reading the Teachings of Buddha, Essential Buddhism: Beliefs and Practices, and the Life of Buddha.
For books related to architecture, he is reading the Death of American Cities, explaining the migration of city dwellers to the suburbs, and the formation of ghettoes. Lem shared some of his experiences visiting that part of the world and recounted how frightening some of the dilapidated areas were. Lem recommends A Pattern Language by Christopher Alexander because of its emphasis on "socially responsible design." "You want to engage people (who are using the space) in a lively interaction." The book, he said, explains how spaces influence human behavior, and calls for a comfortable and livable architecture.

Pon
Pon has read Summit Books' Wander Girl by Tweet Sering, "chick lit" on female empowerment. She has also read the Superstring Theory by Brian Greene, a book that puts forward a theory that the world is made up of vibrating strings like parallel dimensions. Pon recommends Guns, Germs, and Steel by Jared Diamond. It explainins why the west conquered the east and not the other way around. Pon has been avoiding fiction lately is because of its concentration on dysfunctional characters who are much more interesting than normal people. She plans to read non-fiction by Ken Wilbur.

Yo
Yo just finished reading We Can Build You by Philip K. Dick. He is reading Ray Bradbury's Collection of Short Stories. "I think he is one of the best writers I've ever read."
Yo is into fiction. He collects anthologies: science fiction, fantasy, and horror. "One of the best short stories are horror: Edgar Allen Poe... Twilight Zone... M. Night Shyalaman." He makes up for not getting out much by reading.
Yo is interested in the science fiction of the 1950s and 1960s. "At that era, the books were about Utopia." He talked about Ursula Le Guin, who wrote in detail about the clash of different societies. On the other hand, he also mentioned books about Dystopia like Blade Runner. He likes the way science fiction attempts to predict the future. He spoke of William Gibson, and his fairly accurate predictions about the internet and virtual reality. For science fiction, he recommends Aldous Huxley's A Brave New World. Other recommends include books by David Brin and Neil Stephenson.
When asked how his reading choices have influenced him, Yo believes he is more open to new ideas as a result of reading science fiction and horror: "nothing shocks me anymore."

Ray
Raymond is reading Kim Stanley Robinson's Mars Trilogy. "It's all about people getting together to build something new." He also reads William Gibson. "I read both utopian and dystopian at the same time para may (for) balance"
The very first book that truly sustained Raymond's interest was Contact by Carl Sagan, followed by other non-fiction books by the same author: Cosmos, Broca's Brain, and the Dragons of Eden. "It (Carl Sagan's books) explains some things that religion doesn't, like what makes us different from other (forms of) life?" The books explore the physiological qualities that make us human and what defines intelligence. He recommends the Dragons of Eden.
He also recommends Alvin Toffler's Creating a New Civilization. "It is actually Powershift and Third Wave combined in a very thin book, so it's really for popular consumption."
Raymond's reading choices help him respect other views and understand the reasons behind certain things sometimes taken for granted. "I'm interested in the future, what the future holds and what I can do to prepare for it."

Kons
Kons reads Ekistics by Doxiadis, and books on history like the 100 Events that Shaped the Twentieth Century. He is mainly interested in how societies evolve and planning for it.
Kons also enjoys screenplays. The last screenplay Kons read was A Few Good Men. He recommends Raging Bull, a film that somehow parallels Martin Sorsese's life, and Citizen Kane, a ground-breaking film loosely based on William Randolph Hearst's life that invited a lot of controversy, suspiciously losing the Academy Award to How Green is My Valley due to William Randolph Hearst's influence. Finally, he recommends The Graduate, the first film that successfully tackles teenage angst. He maintains that many contemporary films still borrow scenes from the The Graduate.
Kons would like to see a screenplay based on Jose Rizal's Noli Me Tanghere and El Filibusterismo set in current times. He feels that the message of both books are still relevant today.