Contact by Carl Sagan

Anything that tackles about the universe is always interesting to me. As a kid, I have always been mesmerized by stars at night and it always takes me back to a memory with my father when we were in the backyard having a bonfire and talked about how it is to be a boy/girl scout. The sky was so clear that night that I saw stars (including Orion's belt) while I was laying on the hammock and having a conversation with my father. 

In my teenage years, I liked watching the moon through the telescope. In my planner, I have kept the dates of all astronomical events for a year and tried my best to see the phenomenon although not much to see from my side of the world still I try and look up the sky. Whenever I glance upon the sky, I always try to find Orion's belt, when I was still in the Philippines, just because. I witnessed my first ever "falling star" while I was in the balcony with my cousins Melanie and Romel, just a few weeks before I left home for Dubai. I've seen the moon in all shapes possible and color - I love it when I see it shining so bright and most especially when it is almost-orange. I just love everything about what's going on out there, it makes me feel that whatever shit I am going through right at the moment doesn't matter in the grand scheme of things, and because of that fact, I feel fine. It works up to now and will be throughout my lifetime.

Anyway, so I was really looking forward to reading the book after I watched the movie. The book is very rich in scientific details and although it needs more understanding of what, why, and how some things are discussed, I think that there is no necessity in actually knowing all these scientific stuff anyway, the story touches on so many relatable topics such as skepticism towards religion, the inevitable politics, trust issues, and more importantly, you find yourself wanting to know more possibilities, asking "what-ifs" and find yourself reading anything related to astronomy. This book has that sense of adventure and wonder and leaves you appreciating the infinite wonders of the universe. Must read!