Recently, at the TFC Bayani Awards, I was fortunate to meet a young Filipino talent getting a lot of major breaks in Hollywood. Her name is Anna Maria Perez de Tagle, age 18, known to a lot of our teens as Ashley Dewitt, a recurring guest star on the popular Hannah Montana series, and as Ella in Camp Rock, both Disney productions. Her most recent exciting break was her inclusion in the remake of the movie Fame, where she will play Joy, set for release by MGM in the fall. Anna Maria’s parents are Artie and Evelyn Perez de Tagle; Artie is the son of the legendary Sylvia La Torre.
I asked Anna Maria to share with us her favorite reads. Here are the 10 books that she really loves.
Great Expectations by Charles Dickens. “I was hooked from the first page. The plot, the description of each character, the pace, the ambiance and everything are excellent. What I liked is that it isn’t all misery as there are frequent moments of irony and old English humor. Outstanding, and it even made me cry.”
Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. “This book is definitely a classic romance novel that everyone must read. It is beautifully written and kept me interested throughout. The descriptions made me feel exactly how the characters were feeling.”
The Scarlet Letter by Nathaniel Hawthorne. “The book takes a good deal of concentration, effort and strength to understand. Not only to understand, but to finish. It is truly an American classic and timeless. It has been almost two years since I have read this book and I can remember the scenes and words like I read it yesterday.”
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone by J. K. Rowling. “All of the amazing events, characters, settings, and everything make up an amazing start to the Harry Potter series. Because of this book, I have turned into a Harry Potter fanatic! I really enjoyed this fantastic fantasy that allowed me to never stop reading.”
Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets by J.K. Rowling. “J. K. Rowling did a fabulous job with this book because it is exciting and full of adventure. What I learned from this book is that life, no matter how hard it is, asks you to be brave and trust in yourself to do the right thing. Life is full of tough challenges and problems and you have to try and overcome them.”
Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling. “It is great to see Rowling stay true to the feel of the previous books, but it also allows Harry Potter to grow as a person. The imagination never lets up, and gradually Harry’s world is broadening. This is a fun, humorous and enjoyable and should definitely be read more than once!”
Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire by J.K. Rowling. “I’ve read the rest of the books, and each one adds more tension. Once I started the first book, I was addicted. The reason I like it is because of the way it is written and when you read the story, you actually feel like you’re there, at Hogwarts, with Harry Potter. Books have never done that for me, but this one is really something else.”
Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix by J.K. Rowling. “The book is full of insight, wonder and fun. I loved each magical experience Harry Potter and his friends experienced. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix follows the usual Rowling method — each new book is better than the previous one and you will find yourself amazed.”
Harry Potter and The Half-blood Prince by J. K. Rowling. “There is adventure, some romance, and many more aspects that add up to make the kind of book that you just have to read. The teen years naturally involve character development and maturing every year. J.K. Rowling nicely captures that significance. One reason her novels are so popular is the reality of the characters in a highly imaginable, magical setting.”
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hollows by J.K. Rowling. “In many ways, I grew up along with Harry Potter and his friends and now that their story has come to a conclusion, I feel a great deal of appreciation and great respect toward J.K. Rowling. She really provided us with a book series that will be treasured forever.”
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“The Reading Club” recommends My Sister’s Keeper by Jodi Picoult. It is a novel about a young girl who is asked to be a bone marrow donor to her older sister who is dying. It’s soon to be released as a motion picture with Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin and Alec Baldwin. Available in National Bookstore and Powerbooks.
For magazines, “The Reading Club” recommends Fast Company distributed for subscription by Emerald Headway.
For comments and suggestions, you may e-mail me at mjrodis@gmail.com .