It is more than what we see: A blog about AnakniRizal's books "So, this is Youth" and "Wake up, Dreamers" by Davin Frialde

During the pandemic, my love for reading has once again sparked. Since I was in my elementary years I have been reading on the mobile app Wattpad. I have decided to read books from one of my favorite authors in the app with a pen name "AnakniRizal" or what we her reader would fondly call her Ate Demi.

While she has written a lot of books, most of them published under different publishing houses such as PSICOM and Bliss Books of Anvil Publishing, Inc. Two of her books stood out for me and I'll share with them today.

The first one is entitled "So, this is Youth" first written in Wattpad in 2019 and winner of the annual of The Watty Awards in 2020.
It talks about a rich bar owner named Golda who was diagnosed of a terminal illness. Due to that, Golda wanted to accomplish something she wasn't able to do before she dies and that is to graduate high school.She bribed the principal of the school so she would admitted disguised as a teenager. There she met teenagers who goes through a lot of things in life specifically the hardships, abuse, family problems, and mental health problems. While interacting with her classmates, she was reminded how it was to grow up without anything, how she amassed her riches. What I like about Golda's character is how Ate Demi potrayed her as an adult who somehow stops for a while, and just take time to hear and understand what the youth is going through.

This book has potential to become a world literature because it dives into subjects that aren't always talked about openly. It teaches us the value of "there is more than what you see" that we have different scars in life that no one else knows. This book reminds me that what I've been through is valid and what I feel is valid. It gives a sense of a "fresher" outlook towards life. That we in our generation will be the ones who will end the generational traumas that we've been through.

The second book that I would love to talk about is a book published under Bliss Books entitled "Wake up, Dreamers" which was written in 2019 and winner of The Watty Awards in 2019.

This talks about a group of young individuals who are a unlikely match for a group of friends. The group is comprised of a photographer, poet, musician, artist and a writer.

The story starts with Molly Lazuli meeting with Chrysocolla "Cole" Manzano who got called in the Office for Student Affairs because of a failed subject. Then the story goes with Molly telling it to her parents about her failed subject and she is to spend another year in college.

In her Art Appreciation Class, they were given a task for their finals it was any form of art with a theme of "Life" there is no rules and no limitations, just freely express oneself. They were asked to group each other by 5's.

Cole them asked Molly to join her and he also asked other people to join his group to create a film for their final project.

As the project started, it revealed a lot problems in life that hinders us from pursuing our passion in life. It also broke the ceiling when it shattered the glass that covers the projection of a perfect and a happy family when it showed that every family is flawed and nothing perfect.

It shows that if we let our dreams wake up, it will open a lot of opportunities for us. It also showed that the people we assume that are very cold have the warmest of hearts. That the people who laugh the most in the crowd, cries the loudest in their houses.

This book also showed how closet members of the LGBTQIA+ are being limited or forced into hiding by their families and even the society. They are inhibited to explore their identity and be who they are.

This book should definitely be shown in the whole world because it will break the stigma that liberal programs in college don't have a future. That careers are chosen base on the financial reward after graduating and not based on passion and what we aspire to be. It also breaks the taboo on the members of the LGBTQIA+ experience when they openly express themselves. It also breaks the norm especially in Asian Households that you have to follow what your parents and even grandparents' profession as a career path.

It shows the very reason why we should pursue our dreams. That our dreams makes us who we are and it is not something we should disregard because of pressure from our parents. This book explicitly tells us that our fate is in our midst, that our dreams is within grasp, and we should wake up and reach it out. Dreaming is not for privileged but for everyone, that we are free to dream and our dream is always within reach.

Both books present the things we should value, our time in this world and our dreams. It both tell us that life is short to waste,  but even though life is short, it does not mean we can't make it meaningful by spending it out on the things we are passionate about. That we should spend it on the things we love and do it with people we love.

In our current situation, while battling the pandemic that risks our safety and our lives. We should do what we are passionate about because death is always at our doorstep, we do not know when will it knock in our door and take us. We should focus on  ourselves and take a step back from everything, from the noises of life and from our inner battles within ourselves, and just focus on the things that matters to us and the things that spark joy.

I end this blog with a quote from Ate Demi, from her book "So, this is Youth."

"Your past may be dark but it doesn't define who you are. Forget the unpleasant, put the cherished ones in your heart while moving forward."