Beneath the Moon: Wikathon TBR

What? Me? Joining a readathon? Believe it my friends! Wikathon was created by Filipino content creators and is celebrating Filipino authors! Don’t mind me as I am incredibly excited about this.

The Philippines celebrates Buwan ng Wika (Month of Languages) every August. For those who may not know, the Philippines is home to at least 170+ languages. Yes, you heard that right: 170+ languages. Amazing, right?

Now, I can only understand one: Tagalog. I can speak it, but I have an accent and it can be a struggle for me to speak these days but I have been trying to speak more. I can also read it to an extent, however it takes me quite some time to read and comprehend it. Writing, unfortunately, is just not a thing at this point for me. Maybe some day, I’ll get into the complicated relationship I have with my mother tongue, but for now, let’s leave it at this.

In celebration, Kate of YourTitaKate, Kat of HerBookishSide, Gerald of Gerald the Bookworm, Alex of AlexontheBlock, and Julienne of Love, Julienne are hosting Wikathon.

This is a month-long readathon hosted by Filipino content creators to celebrate Filipino authors.

I’ve always wanted to join a readathon with the prompts and all the fun stuff that come along with it. However, I just don’t have the time. Plus, I’m a mood reader and that doesn’t help at all.

When Wikathon was announced for August, I jumped for joy because 1) I have August off and 2) it’s a month-long readathon hosted by Filipino content creators to celebrate Filipino authors!

I spent the past few weeks since Wikathon was announced searching for the right books to fit the prompts. Some books I already had in my bookshelf, but others I had to go out and buy. There are a lot of books that I would love to read for this, but there are only 31 days in August. I have to dedicate some of this month to reading and studying for Med-Surg 2.

But before I talk about the books for Wikathon, please check out this carrd link that discusses what’s going on in the Philippines. As I previously stated in “Beneath the Moon: Current Situation in the Philippines,” I ask that you take the time to educate yourselves and spread awareness about what is going on.

Below is an image of the Wikathon prompts.

Wikathon TBR.

I’ve selected 10 books. This is to give me a bit of leeway. I might read all 10, but I might only read 8. Either way, many of these books can fit under several prompts but for clarity’s sake, I’m only listing them under one prompt.

All of the books mentioned in this tbr are also on my Bookshop list called “Wikathon TBR”. If you’re here in the US and are interested in purchasing a copy, I hope that you’ll consider using the links here as it will allow you to support independent bookstores as well as support me.

Filipino SFF

Read a Science Fiction or Fantasy book by Filipino Author.

For this prompt, I have two books listed on the spreadsheet. But I’m definitely planning to read Lalani of the Distant Sea by Erin Entrada Kelly. This is a middle-grade book that I’ve wanted to read for some time now. These days, I tend not to read middle-grade books. A shame, really, since there are some fantastic ones out there. But I want to read this book because there’s a Filipino protagonist and this book is based on Filipino folklore (and obviously, is written by a Filipino author). What more can I want? I used to dream about books like this as a kid!

Now, the other book I may read for this category (depending on if I get to it) is My Fate According to the Butterfly by Gail Villanueva. This is another middle-grade book that I would have loved to see as a kid. Filipino author with a Filipino protagonist and set in the Philippines.

To see books like these pop up now bring me such joy. There are truly no words to describe what I feel when I see these titles.

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Filipino LGBTQPIA+

Read a book written by an LGBTQPIA+ Filipino author

For this prompt, I’m going to be reading Wicked As You Wish by Rin Chupeco (non-binary/genderfluid). I ADORE her. She is one of my favorite authors due to her ability to craft amazing worlds with intricate details and awesome characters. I couldn’t have made a tbr for a readathon celebrating Filipino authors without adding one of her books! I actually had this book on pre-order and ran to get it when it was released/arrived @ Book Culture. However, I never had the time to read it. I planned to read it earlier this summer. But I got hit with a reading slump and my book cravings got in the way.

Oh well! Better late than never, right?

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New to Me

Read a book by a Filipino author whose books you’ve never read before

For this prompt, I’m going with Jar of Hearts by Jennifer Hillier. I’ve been on that thriller buzz so I had to add this book especially once I found out Jennifer is Filipino. Plus, it’s been on my tbr for a while now and I’ve never read one of her books. A perfect opportunity, right?

Additionally, I may read The Woman Who Had Two Navels by Nick Joaquin. I have never read any of his books. Though, I bought my copy of this book (and a few others) when I was at National Bookstore with my mom. I asked her for book recommendations and she picked out Nick Joaquin’s books.

But real talk? Aside from Rin Chupeco, all of the authors here are new to me. In my time looking for books, I realized how many books by Filipino authors I have missed out on. Now, it’s not to say that I’ll automatically be interested in the book just because it’s written by a Filipino. I’ve come to expect that the books I see at my local bookstores here in NYC are not going to be written by a Filipino. I’ve come to expect that the only times I’ll see books by Filipinos will be back home in the Philippines. I’m so glad that’s changed.

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Modern Pinoy

Read a book by a Filipino author set in present day Philippines (anything set in the year 2000 up to the present)

For this prompt, I’m going to be reading Better at Weddings Than You by Mina V. Esguerra. This category (along with S2PID Love and Sariling Wika) was a bit of a challenge for me to find because I could not — for the life of me — think of books set in modern day Philippines. Thank God for the hosts and the discord channel for reintroducing me to #romanceclass books. I actually found these books even before I started blogging. However, I was not exactly in the right place to read romantic books so I pretty much shoved them aside and forgot. It didn’t help that I never added the books to my GR “Want to Read” shelf.

In any case, really looking forward to this book as well.

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Filipino Diaspora

Read a book written by a Diaspora Filipino author

For this prompt, I’ll be reading Where Dreams Descend by Janella Angeles. Phantom of the Opera and Moulin Rouge vibes? Sign me up! I am ready! That POTO fan in me is screaming right now over the news that the West End POTO has closed and even if it comes back, it won’t be the brilliant original, so yes, I need to read this book. My OwlCrate copy is so pretty and I’m really looking forward to the other copy that I ordered personalized from Brookline Booksmith. Whoops?

But ok, in all seriousness. This is one of those books I’ve been looking forward to reading for a while now. Of course, I go into these books with a healthy amount of skepticism (as everyone should with books that get hyped up), but I’m excited to read this! I’m here to support Janella especially as a debut author. It is even more important to support her and her debut this year since this book was already delayed due to COVID-19.

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S2PID Love

Read a romance book by a Filipino author

Now for this prompt, I’m going to read How She Likes It by Carla De Guzman. This is another one of those #romanceclass books. I haven’t read a book like this in ages. I’m excited, but also apprehensive. It’s a bit hard to explain. But either way, I’m really excited to read this book. Will it (and Better at Weddings Than You) start some renaissance in me and get me to read romance novels, again? We’ll just have to see, won’t we?

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Sariling Wika

Read a book in a Filipino language (Tagalog, Bisaya, Hiligaynon, etc.)

Ok, as I said above, Tagalog is my mother tongue. I can understand completely and speak it to an extent. Reading is a bit of a struggle for me, however, but I can read sort of. Still, it takes me a long time to read anything in Tagalog and I admit that I have to sometimes ask my mom for translations. We won’t even discuss writing.

I won’t lie. Truth be told, I probably won’t finish this book. But I will still try.

For this prompt, I will attempt to read Bagay Tayo by Jerry B. Gracio. I put a lot of emphasis on attempt because I will give it my all. I will certainly do my best. But I make no promises that I’ll be able to complete it at this time.

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Host’s Choice

Read a book recommended by any of the hosts

For this prompt, I decided to go with Patron Saints of Nothing by Randy Ribay. Like many books in this tbr, this book fits many other categories. I love versatility, don’t you?

I tend not to read fictionalized accounts of current events. Truthfully, I prefer reading non-fiction books when it comes to current events and history. Sometimes, these fictionalized stories that go into current events and even historical fiction make me uncomfortable. It’s a combination of how authors treat the subject at hand both within the book itself and outside of the book.

However, this book is highly regarded by the hosts, hence why I’m giving it a chance.

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Following my Wikathon Progress

Aside from updating my status on Goodreads, I may do Instagram lives or just post stories every so often to talk about the books. Not too sure yet, but we’ll see. I will do my best to be active on socials so if you’re reading any of these books and want to scream about them with me, feel free to jump into my replies!

Please make sure to follow Wikathon’s Twitter and Instagram accounts for any updates, giveaways, and book recommendations!