Songbirds by Christy Lefteri

 

I just finished reading Songbirds by Christy Lefteri. It's my first time reading any of her books. I started reading this when I took a bus to the city one day and I got so engrossed with it. I love how she wrote the story and have you hooked as you turn page by page. 

At first, the cover caught my eyes. I have a thing for covers that shows leaves, flowers, birds and all the things you can see in a garden. It's like an automatic read for me. I want it on my to-be -read list right away! I got this as a secondhand copy from a live seller in TikTok. A very famous social media platform. There are so many  booksellers in the platform selling both brand new and secondhand books. I'm just glad I got it as it turn out to be one of my best reads in 2026!

It was a fast read to me. I did not know this genre would entice me in a way. It's a Historical Fiction intertwined with the modern times.

AUTHOR AND NISHA: with spoilers maybe

I just love how the author Christy Lefteri carefully wrote Nisha's story and the people involved in her life. Nisha is a woman from Sri Lanka to work in another country and met a lot of people. All these are mentioned and the author put everything into details carefully. It was written in two different POVs. Her Employer and her lover. 

If you are so updated with the news before and now, you would already have the ending in mind. The sad ending. But you just have to get into it step by step as how they have to confirm it's how it turned out. And then you would have a long sigh just as how the characters in the story did when the story unfolded.

I am a Filipino and I get shocked at the number of times my country is mentioned in a story but of course this is historical fiction filled with people working in Cyprus. There are a lot of Filipino working there as domestic workers just like women from another country such as Sri Lanka, Africa and more. 

Apart from knowing the lives of domestic workers there, I also learned one livelihood in Cyprus. Poaching birds. It is illegal and it is hard to read. But it is what's in the story. The lives of the men involved and how they are connected to Nisha is carefully unfolding in the story as well. 

All these will keep the grip in you to continue reading. You can't stop! It's unputdownable. You will see yourself going for the next page and never actually putting it down. 

 goodreads rating is 4 stars. I rated it 5 stars!

 Go grab a copy. 

Just keep reading! 

 

BINI SIGNALS WORLD TOUR 2026 CEBU

Me and my vivo29s 5G against the world 🤣 so happy to have witnessed another BINI milestone.  I enjoyed the concert a lot! Pang world class performance as always. Never slacking, always in synch, power belters.  Worth it ang BINI CONCERT AS ALWAYS!!!! ♾️

#BINI_SIGNALS_CEBU

Master's Dragon Peak in Borbon, Cebu.

I took these photos last year on May 02,2025.

I just got a new Vivo v29e 5G as my back up for work. I loved that it's 5G and it really served its purpose. The qualities of the photos are great in broad daylight. 

About the place:

Master's Dragon Boat is located in Borbon which is northern part of Cebu. You can get there via bus ride from SM City Cebu. All bus going north would definitely be okay. 

My photo has been sitting on my phone gallery in hopes of being published as all our photos do and finally did it.

I really want to be active here. And I think it's really happening. 

-MK

This and That

 

I really enjoyed this and as you notice, I can barely choose! Hahaha books are one of my weaknesses and it does show right there. I am always undecided to what type of book I like whether it is hardback or paperback. Haha! 

I have a lot for both types just to make sure I get to experience what it is like. Well, I have bunch of books here. Read and unread. It's such a lovely right.

I got this from Instagram and I had to capture an image and put it here. I just really really miss writing here. I know this isn't mainstream, you know, blogging isn't that anymore but I am just glad google had maintained this. That the page is still up! I wanna keep writing!

I bought a secondhand kindle

 

 

 

 

I brought my kindle with me while doing some errands yesterday. I got hungry as usual so I went to Jobee! The moment I got my order, I took my kindle out of my hand bag and comfortably ate and read couple pages. I did not mind everyone around me. Until, I snapped and was brought back to my reality that oh my I am in jobee hahaha. Then i started wondering what people may have thought about me while my kindle is placed like that infront of me. So, it's all theirs to keep. I will never know.

The term performative reader then came to me. Did I seem less performative using a kindle? Coz it did seem like just another gadget only that if you look closely, it was for reading. Unlike if we brought a physical book, I think it may seem performative to some? Especially, the term has been all over the net! But the reason I brought kindle instead of a physical book, since i got an option now, is because i wanna avoid spilling something on my book 😭i had experienced it and it felt very aweful! So, it's never about being performative and whatnot. I just wanna read when I can.

So, I just went back to reading and thank God I do not really dwell in what people think about me anymore. I wanna bring the Songbird book but I this time I just decided to bring my kindle. Doesn't matter anyway! JUST KEEP READING!!! Finish a book! 

 

HAPPY READING! 

 

My little space

JUNE 14, 2018

// a space i’ve unconsciously created for myself, reminds me parts of who i am. There’s my headset for love, addiction,and passion for music, my Mac which takes meplaces virtually when i am online. There’s a pile of unread magazine which is reminding me that I have been lazy cause I haven’t read them for years, when I don’t read that means I am stuck on one thought and I have to execute it before moving forward. Whatever it is, keeping it for now. There’s got to be a way. Laziness is a big deal but you can be lazy for things we can delay,  when we feel so bombarded with different thoughts, that is okay, as long as you’re doing  what you’re supposed to be doing to survive the day. Sometimes, there are things that has to wait haha. I really just browse things on the mag, but I wanna read wordSs and their thoughts, so I considered it ‘Unread’. Haha Kidding aside.... those magazines remind me to never let go of my relationship to journalism and editorials. I love those things. I love magazines and write up, reviews and exploring and discovering things from magazines. It takes me to a whole new world and bring in new perspective and visions. I also have basic watercolor materials and empty, unsketched drawing books.,

Anyway, must be talking too much already.. So, I just happened to read Elizabeth Gilbert’s post today and here’s a part of what she wrote...

“The spaces that we make for ourselves in which to be quiet and creative MATTER. They don’t have to be big rooms. It can be just a little corner, like this room. But the space should be clean, and everything in that space should remind you of who you are. There should be nothing in that space that doesn’t bring your senses to life.”

after reading it, I looked at this tiny corner I created for myself and whenever fam come over, I had to move them out from the table and I get so sensitive like I do not want to move a single thing. It has to stay in there just within my sight. Whenever I am away, I have google to look for things I love staring at like Film Photography samples, or abstracts, quotes, Street Photog, music. whatever.. 

I just agreed with what she said. so, yea.. that’s it.. Good morning!

We are reading Iron Flame together!

 They are almost done while I am still at page 8 🤭😆

My Nicknames

I just remembered all the nicknames I was being called. It reflects the phases of my life. I just know who'd call me even when I am not looking. Hahaha

I want to start writing again.

Hiiii~ It's been soooo long since my last post and I am glad blogger/ blogspot stayed. I believe it will as it belongs to Google. 

I remember apologizing everytime, it took me awhile to make a post before I would start the proper input of my blog. i miss doing it.☺️

We can always start over right? 

Adulting hits so hard we often neglect what fuels our soul and focus on what requires lesser energy and what is right infront of us. I get consumed by social networks. It is very overwhelming until I got down the rabbit hole. It isn't a bad thing as it has been my free therapy and I had so much fun consuming the videos and so much more content. 

I think I have so much to share. I can just indicate some specific dates when I post about something from my experiences in the past years so we can keep track. I can do that. This is a blog anyway. 

Oh wow! Look, I wrote a lot of words! Is it a good sign to actually start blogging again? 

I love my blog. I will be writing some stuff soon. Hahahaha 

-mk

BOOKMAIL FROM HEAVENLY!

 

A birthday bookmail from Teach Heaven ( Anchelique) came early. It arrived April 1!

She gifted me with 4 books. Little Women is her precious copy from when she's 12 oh my gush! i feel special 😭🥹 Thank youuu sooo much

Performative Reading

 

Why do people say reading in public is "performative reader?" Sa tiktok ko lng nalaman yung term nayun ah. Parang bully naman pakinggan? Grabeh noh.

Saying such term is discouraging readers. I have grown accustomed to people reading newspapers everywhere, um well until 2020. Sad. I dunno what happened but maybe coz of gadgets? But people still read but through posts such as status and captioned photos.

That was never in my vocab because I read when I can. But back when I was still in school I do read in jeepneys, buses but syempre it wasn't fiction books, it was our huge textbooks. Performative reader na ba yun? Haha

I just hope it stops na uy. That is plain rude to be called performative reader. LET ME FINISH MY BOOK OKAY. Just as you try to finish watching your short stories.

Read when you can and wherever you can read. There's no law naman cguro that says we can't read in public😭

Not like fiction books are intended to be read in our house. Don't be shy .. just read that book! I am done with school so just let me be!

The girl beside is probably reviewing so good job sister! Goodluck!!!

People We Meet on Vacation

 

I will definitely miss Poppy and Alex! These two got me so invested! Why would some dnf this. Pick it up again! You will giggle, be angry, cry and cry some more. Stare at the ceiling, go on a week of being in a reading slump and wonder why and then you will pick up the book again! You will also question yourself. WHY YOU DID WHAT YOU DID 🤣 did I do the right thing? Haha

----

Just finished reading this book by Emily Henry! Now, let's pick a new book and get on another adventure 🤣i can't keep sobbing here! I am a big girl now! Emily girl you got be sobbing like a teenager😭😭🤣

It was such a cute book and makes you remember when and how you felt needing someone🤭 oh hahahahah

Get your copy now!

Crying in Hmart

 

 

I'm so happy to announce that I have finished reading Crying in H Mart by Michelle Zauner. I will miss the family I am introduced to. I will remember the whirlwind of emotions I've experienced while reading the book. She made me cry while I was trying to read while eating at the nearest carenderia in my place, stare blankly while seated. She put me on a reading slump because I was contemplating about my own life. This book is a non fiction. I highly recommend you read it, too!

Middle School Series

 

Too cute not to share! I am reading James Patterson and Chris Tebbets' Middle School How I Survived Bullies, Broccoli, and Snake Hill. And I love these pages right here!
 

You Belong With Me

Has anyone here read this book? Only few chapters left and I am done. There were times I felt lost reading this book and I know my friend told me this is book 2 and I totally forgot about it. I should have listened and went to look for Who's That Girl.

I have learned my lesson. I guess when I know it's a series, I must go seek the first book.!