once there was an ugly barnacle

The novel is mainly about the forgotten British poet/writer named C. J Richards who lived in Burma/Myanmar in colonial times and he believed himself as a Burmophile. He served as I.C.S (Indian Civil Servant) and when he retired from I.C.S service, he was a D.C (District Commissioner) and he left for England a year before Burma gained its independence in 1948. He came to Burma in 1920 to work in civil service after passing the hardest I.C.S examination. He wrote several books on Burma and contributed many monthly articles to Guardian Magazine published in Burma from 1953 to 1974 or 1975. Though he wrote several books which had much literary merit to both communities, Britain and Burma (Myanmar), people failed to recognize him. The story has two parts: one part is set in the contemporary Yangon (then called Rangoon) in 2016 context and a young literary enthusiast named “Lin” found out unexpectedly the forgotten writer’s poetry book and there is surely a good deal of time gap that led him into a quest to know more about the author’s life. The setting is quite different comparing to colonial Burma and independence Myanmar (Burma), early twentieth century and 2016 which is a transitional period in Myanmar. The writer’s life is fictionalized in the novel and most of the facts are taken from his personal stories and other reference books. It is a kind of historical novel with a twist and it has comparatively constructed the two different periods in Myanmar history to convince readers, locally and abroad more about history, authorship, humanity, colonialism, and transitional development in Myanmar today.

“Kau sudah mengetahui semuanya, bukan?” Laki-laki itu mendekati Karleen sambil mengawasinya dengan tajam. “A-aku.” Karleen tidak tahu harus bagaimana. Mengetahui rahasia besar yang selama ini sengaja ditutup-tutupi membuat dirinya ingin menyerah. “Ada dua pilihan yang akan kuberikan kepadamu, diam atau keluar? Harga dirimu sebagai prajurit dipertaruhkan di sini!” Karleen memajamkan matanya. Amarah dalam dirinya menggebu-gebu. Seketika ruangan temaram itu menjadi terang dan panas. Api berkobar cepat tetapi sumbernya tidak diketahui. Hal yang diingatnya setelah itu adalah suara orang yang sangat familier memanggil namanya. Sebelum dia merasakan sesak dan tidak sadarkan diri.

Lyph is notorious killer. She kills for a living. Either good or bad, Innocent or not. She simply doesn't care. Her heart has nothing but emptiness, She is completely heartless. All of this was a result of all the betrayals and hate she experienced in this world. She walked the darkest path, people can't even imagine, she sought for satisfaction through all the things she do to ease her desire, she had long hold unto. Yet unexpectedly she experienced another betrayal which pierced her deep. The noment dhe woke up all her desires disappeared like a bubble, leaving her with nothing but warmth.

I returned home after studying abroad for three years, only to find that my brother’s girlfriend had brought her entire family to live in my mansion. The moment they saw me, they pinned me against the floor. "How dare you! Call him your sweetheart, spend his money, and now you're here to take my mansion? " When I saw the girlfriend’s crazed antics, I was shocked. “Who did you say owns the mansion?” “It’s my boyfriend’s, but it’ll be mine sooner or later. It has nothing to do with you.” With her parents, she yanked off the ancient pendant on my neck and crushed my heirloom bracelet. They even tied up my limbs, put me on the table, and positioned me in a humiliating pose to post online. Her brother pinned my legs down and reached under my shirt…

Ty was born unlucky. An omega to a cruel pack, he was used and abused, till finally it went to far. When he ends up pregnant he is forced to flee to save his baby, and winds up meeting a rather peculiar gamma wolf.

After being saved by a Stygian Beasts lord Stan Indelcio from death, Cami now was a part of the Stygians and promised to serve and devote herself to Stan. Dylan is with Stan that time, so the two of them became her hero, Dylan is one of the Stygians member, offer her a shelter and care. Noong una di siya naniwalang maging mabuti si Dylan sa kanya dahil na rin sa mga napagdaanan niya na sa ibang tao lalo na sa sariling pamilya. Mas naging malapit siya kay Dylan, dahil narin siguro sa nakatira sila sa isang bahay. Napakabuting tao ni Dylan, gentle, caring, passionate at charming but grumpy sometimes. Nagustuhan niya na ang binata. Pero alam niyang malabong magustuhan siya nito, mabait lang ito sakanya dahil sa mabuting tao ito. Palagi siyang nakamasid sa binata mula sa malayo, Dylan is quite close to Stan's sister Zaneah because Dylan is Zaneah's protector. Ang gusto niya lang ay ang protektahan si Dylan pero ito naman ay walang pakialam, which is nakakasakit. Sa pagmamasid pala niya kay Dylan, nakamasid din sakanya si Gabe, ang tinitingalang prince charming ng Crown University. Walang araw na hindi siya kinukulit nito. Isang araw magkasama sina Dylan ng iwanan siya nito para kay Zaneah, nalungkot at nasaktan siya ng husto, biglang dumating si Gabe offer her his comfort. Mula nung araw na yun, sa tuwing nalulungkot siya, isang tawag niya lang kay Gabe dumadating agad ito para icomfort siya. He become her comforter. Dylan is her unrequited love and Gabe is always there for her. Sino ang pipiliin niya?

The things between truth and lies, honesty and secrets, trust and doubt. We surround ourselves with the right people and good people. People we trust and most of all, people we think they deserve to be a part of our lives. Truth can be manipulate. Lies can destroy. Trust can easy to break. Honesty can set aside. Secrets can keep you guilty. Doubt can bring out your fears. But what if your life of truth is full of lies, and those persons who you trust are keeping secrets and what if your life of honesty turn into doubt. I am Divina Clare Reyes and this is my story, life that I thought full of truth, full of trustworthy and honest people but it turned out to be full of lies and secrets.

Those were the initial days of her university when she saw him for the first time. She fell for him without talking to him even once. He was her 2 years senior. She clearly knows that he likes her too. She waits for him and 2 years passed. He graduates. She felt like she have to make a first move. But then she saw him with another girl. Her world was ripped apart and she made a decision. Loving him is a mistake and she closes her heart clearly knowing that there is no path in which they will again intervene each others' life. But she was wrong.

Fairytales are all about fantasy and happy endings but this one doesn't have magic, fairy godmothers, evil stepmothers and stepsisters, evil queens, and poisoned apples. This is an untold fairytale about a sophisticated lady who cares so deeply about reputation and a shameless man who doesn't give a care. Will they be able to have their happy ending like most fairytales?

Simula nang mag-transfer sa unibersidad na pinapasukan ni Max si Ridge ay wala ng ginawa ang lalaki sa bawat araw na nagdaan kung hindi buwisitin ang araw nya. Hindi naman nya alam what Ridge can get from doing it so. Satisfaction? Happiness? Nah. Imposible. Malamang, napasobra lang ang nalanghap na usok ng katol ang lalaki kaya't sya ang napagdiskitahan. Ngunit nang lumipas ang ilang araw, her enemy's action and act gets destructive, weirder and seductive. Kaya't naging mariin ang pagpapaalala nya sa sarili na kaaway nya ang binata, that he's an enemy.