Category Archives: Books

A Rare Dialogue with ‘The Comma Poet’

Posted on December 1, 2024 by Topher

If you could meet a historical figure, who would it be and why? For me, Ernest Hemingway is the most obvious choice. He didn’t pen a dozen books, go to wars, and travel the world, if he wasn’t a gifted … Continue reading →

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October 2024 reads

Posted on October 20, 2024 by Topher

This marks my first inventory after August’s Winter Reads. I’ve crested three more. First was Storm Child by Michael Robotham. The Aussie crime maestro shines with this page turner. With each entry into his series, he raises the bar. Further … Continue reading →

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Winter ‘24 reads

Posted on August 10, 2024 by Topher

This season’s catalogue starts off with a classic. Since its publication in 1952, The Old Man and the Sea, received tremendous acclaim upon its release. Subsequently, the novella would take out the Pulitzer. Santiago is the eponymous ageing fisherman who … Continue reading →

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‘What’s in a name?’

Posted on April 21, 2024 by Topher

Where did your name come from? My first name is Christopher. My parents picked it since we have a short surname. They thought that Christopher would complement Ong, my surname. After all, a full name like my school friend’s, ‘Don … Continue reading →

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March ‘24 reads

Posted on April 7, 2024 by Topher

My last reading list was on 3 March. That represented my first compilation in many months. In the past four weeks, I’ve managed to finish three reads. I’m currently tackling a short one: Hemingway’s The Old Man and the Sea … Continue reading →

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‘The Topher Bibliotheca’

Posted on March 30, 2024 by Topher

If you could have something named after you, what would it be? Of course, this is purely hypothetical. If the chance came, I’d like my high school library to be renamed ‘The Topher Bibliotecha’. A New York-based alumnus funded and … Continue reading →

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Natural-born dreamer

Posted on March 23, 2024 by Topher

What is one word that describes you? Pondering this question isn’t that onerous. The second thing that entered my mind was ‘dreamer’. I’m big on aspirations. Someone once said, ‘Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you’ll land among … Continue reading →

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Summer (2024) reads

Posted on March 3, 2024 by Topher

2023 had seen me reading less. Altogether, I’ve averaged three books per season. Ergo, one catalogue every quarter. Altogether, this trio are all period pieces. Two are set in WW2 while the sports book transpires in the eighties. Mitch Albom’s … Continue reading →

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The (Dual) Patriot

Posted on February 17, 2024 by Topher

Are you patriotic? What does being patriotic mean to you? Am I patriotic? Somewhat, I might say. I am a dual national: Filipino-Aussie. Being nationalistic doesn’t mean gobbling only kangaroo meat or knowing the Panatang Makabayan (Patriotic Oath) by heart. … Continue reading →

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‘Fun under the Sun’

Posted on February 4, 2024 by Topher

List five things you do for fun. We all have our hobbies and interests. I recall the first Shohoku practice in the Slam Dunk anime series. Akagi, the incumbent captain ball, asked Rukawa of his hobbies. He mentioned eating and … Continue reading →

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