Fiction Book Review

Review : Prodigy by Marie Lu

2013-04-03T10:22:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Prodigy (Legend #2)
Author : Marie Lu
Publication date : January 29th 2013 by Putnam Juvenile
Audience : Young adult

Okay, let's face it, Prodigy is one of the most anticipated book this year. I kind of like the first book (you can read my review here), and I do want to find out what happens next. This is not how I normally read a series where I usually wait till the final book is out (waiting is a pain, so hurting myself is just not my thing) and I admit I did forget a few things from the first book, but still not a big deal for me.

After escaping from The Republic's armies Day and June lived in hideout. Day was still very determined to search for his little brother, Eden. Memories kept running in Day's head making him want to avenge even more. June was now The Republic's most wanted fugitive and she must get inside The Republic's system is if she wanted to find out who was behind Methias death.

Let's me tell you what I feel about this book in three sentences. The first few chapters is boring as hell. The middle of the book is completely predictable. The ending of the book is just blah! I cannot tell you how much I dislike Prodigy . I am glad that I am not one of those people who loves to wait for a book to be released because if I were, I'd be very disappointed and demand my time back.

One main problem I got in the first book is the voice of the characters. They are identically the same! There's no way for us to tell whose story you are reading, Day's or June's. Well, the problem repeats in the second book and I am totally annoyed. The character's personality doesn't reflect in the narration and this is my biggest pet peeves when reading first person point of view from multiple characters. And this is the case where a book should've been made in third person's point of view. The author's allowed to narrate the story, why not take the privilege?

Now, let's talk about June. Oh, she's such a Mary Sue. Every guy falls for her and she's not realistic at all. She's 15 and the whole country is in chaos because of her? Yeah right! Even I who doesn't care about politics know that it just doesn't make sense.

Prodigy lacks of action and character development. Thus, for me the book is very unmemorable. It's such a shame especially when the first book is quite good. If only it contains more twist and turn and the story is much less unpredictable, I believe it would be better.

Now it's time for my favorite quote:

“I make sure to keep a good distance between us, just in case she decides to get happy with a knife or something.”

1 rating for this book. I wish I love it, but I have to be honest despite of the raves out there. Now, I find out that there's a third book to be released. I don't think I am interested to continue, though. Your turn now. Do you think this novel worth the wait?

Teaser Tuesday #10 : Game of Thrones

2013-03-19T09:43:00.001+07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

Here's my Teaser for today:

There were times-not many, but a few-when Jon Snow was glad he was a bastard. As he filled his wine cup once more from a passing flagon, it struck him that this might be one of them. (Game of Thrones by George R.R. Martin)

I dare to say that it's going to be a very joyous read. I have been wanting to read this series for a while, I can't tell you how excited I am!

Review : Mini Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella

2013-03-18T11:00:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Mini Shopaholic (Shopaholic #6)
Author : Sophie Kinsella
Publication date : September 21st 2010 by The Dial Press
Audience : Adult

Oh, I finally finish the last book, phew! What a ride! Well done, Shopaholic series, you really are one of the hardest series to rate! I know I didn't really like it during the third book, but I don't know why I kept on reading. I wasn't really into it, to be honest, still, I got my hands on Mini Shopaholic and reached the very last page!

Becky and Luke's daughter, Minnie is now two. She's wild and claim everything she likes to be hers. Becky and Luke are struggling to find a new home, but instead of getting a shelter, the chaos keeps turning up. Meanwhile Luke's birthday is coming and Becky wants to throw a surprise party. Could she handle it herself?

I cannot wait to tell you that Mini Shopaholic is very disappointing. I mean, I cannot believe it. I have invested my time to read all the books in this series and I ended up being smacked on the face (I know I'm kind of exaggerating, still I'd like to demand back my time if I could). This book is not funny at all. Yes, you read it right. I didn't even giggle or smile when I read it, somehow the book has lost its charm.

Now come to think of it, Mini Shopaholic is not about Minnie, after all. The book tells more story about Becky's effort for the surprise party. Honestly, I think "Luke's Surprise Party" would suit the book better as the tittle. Yes there's some scene about Minnie, but they're not important. I find Minnie to be unrealistic though. She's 2, but all she can say is "miiine (insert a fashion object)!" Well, I have a toddler of my own, and she speaks far better than that. A two-year-old should be able to speak in sentences, right? Minnie is 2, but she speaks like an 18- months-old (or even younger).

What I hated the most is, Becky is a liar once again. I hate it when she lies a lot. I mean, she's a mother now, what if Minnie grows up to be a liar as well. This kind of worries me, you know, even when they're just fictional characters.

And here's my favorite quote from this book (this is now a regular feature in my review so you can see the author's writing style):

‘It was after the bank went bust. We made a deal. Luke’s not buying a car and I’m not buying any new clothes. Not till October.’

‘But Bex.’ Suze looks really concerned. ‘Isn’t that bad for your health? I mean, isn’t it dangerous to go cold turkey? I saw this TV show once. People go shaky and have blackouts. Have you felt shaky at all?’

1 rating for Mini Shopaholic, I really can't stand it, I am sorry. I am glad that it's the final book, in fact if there were really the next one, I'm sure enough not to touch it. Enough is enough. Your turn, did you bother to read the series till the very end?

More posts from Shopaholic series :

Review : Shopaholic and Baby (Shopaholic #5)

Harry Potter Gets Cover Makeover!

2013-03-14T05:38:00.001+07:00

Yes, you read the title. Our beloved series gets a makeover to celebrate it's 15 anniversary. Now, how exciting can it be? It's 15 years now and Harry Potter series still in our hearts. Oh, how fast time goes by and now I feel old, seriously!

The new cover is designed by the talented son of a gun Kazu Kibuishi, who is an artist and also an author himself. Here's a sneak peek for the new cover of Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone:

For those of you who love the iconic Mary GrandPré's cover, do not worry because they will continue to be featured on the U.S. hardcover and digest paperback editions. Can't wait to get the new covered books? Looks like we really do have to wait because they'll be released as a box set in September. I am very curious on how the rest of the books will look like. To tell you the truth, I think I prefer the new look because its more vibrant and eye-catching. How about you? Which do you prefer? The new look, or the original cover and why?

Review : Shopaholic and Baby by Sophie Kinsella

2013-03-01T23:24:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Shopaholic and Baby (Shopaholic #5)
Author : Sophie Kinsella
Publication date : February 27th 2007 by The Dial Press
Audience : Adult

Now, let's talk about the Shopaholic series again. I have a confession to make that this Becky Brandon (nee Bloomwood) series has been my guiltiest pleasure. I know Becky could be a very annoying character, however, I don't why know I always end up wanting for more. Yes, she could be shallow sometimes, but this series never fails to make me laugh (so far).

Becky is now pregnant and Luke is excited, or so it seems. She is so excited to change doctors because she thinks the one she's with now is completely boring. So there is this doctor called Venetia Carter who she's dying to be in labour with. She's young, stylish and many Hollywood actresses go to her. Becky believes she's just perfect, until she finds out about her past.

Alright, Shopaholic & Baby also begins with a letter, but this time it's not about Becky's credit card bill. Yay! Finally the repetitiveness is gone, me likey! I can say that in this book, Becky has changed to a different and more mature person. She's reasonably responsible, she still shops (well, that's the point of the book, right?), however it's not as crazy as in the previous books.

The story itself is light and easy, still of all the Shopaholic books, this one is my favorite and I cannot wait to finish the series. Reading it is such a wonderful way to relax myself after a long tiring day of work. Some of you may find this book to be irritating beyond believe, however I believe that Sophie Kinsella wrote Shopaholic to readers who read for fun (like me), so there's no need to take it too seriously.

As for the weaknesses of the book, I didn't really find much. I'd like to know more about what happens to Venetia Carter after the drama during Becky's labour, though, still it doesn't mean that the book is less enjoyable. I love Shopaholic & Baby very much. This is a must read series for all chick-lit lovers. Oh, here's my favorite quote of the book:

"Your contraction are coming every three minutes?"
"Uh-huh." Suddenly I realize I must have been standing in this reception are for at least three minutes.
"I'm coping with them silently." I inform her with dignity. "I'm a Scientologist."

5 rating for Shopaholic & Baby. If you are looking for something to cheer you up, by all means pick this book. Now your turn, did you find Becky to be an annoying and shallow character?

More posts of Shopaholic series :

Review : Shopaholic and Sister (Shopaholic #4)
Review : Shopaholic Ties The Know (Shopaholic #3)

Harry Potter Monthly Meme : Favorite Couple

2013-02-26T10:03:00.000+07:00

It's time for another Harry Potter Monthly Meme, yay! (hosted by Melmarian@surgabukuku). Since February is known as a love month, so the question now is somewhat, erm.. romantic. I decided to be the matchmaker (there are three questions you can pick like your favorite couple, etc) because there are some people I think would be good to be together. Here they are!

ARGUS FILCH & DOLORES UMBRIDGE

I think they'd be the cutest couple ever! I mean, they're meant for each other, are they not? Both of them love to bark on students, for example. They have so many things in common. I mean, if Umbridge went out with Filch, I believe it'd calm her down *winks* I have a cute name for them, anyway, The Filbridge! Ain't that sweet?

Review : Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling

2013-02-22T09:16:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows (Harry Potter #7)
Author : J.K. Rowling
Publication date : August 1st 2007 by Arthur A. Levine Books
Audince : Young Adult

Gosh, I finished this series, at last. I can't believe that it didn't really took me long to reach the last page of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (only a few days, actually). Now the adventure of the three friends has ended. Do I want it to end? Yes and no. I am glad that Harry has finished his quests, but I still want to find out what happen at Hogwarts after that. Kind of strange, is it not?

Harry was left with tasks that were almost impossible to do by Professor Dumbledore. With the Death Eaters roaming around everywhere looking for him, Harry, Hermione and Ron were forced to be in hideout. Being apart from those who cared for him made Harry devastated. Lord Voldemort was getting stronger than ever and he also sent his cronies to the only place Harry could call home, Hogwarts.

Oh, how do I start. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows is a very touching book. I admire Rowling's ability when it comes to putting together every bits and pieces of the story, making it a whole and complex yet believable plot. I kept on getting mixed emotion when I read this book, and I liked the experience. I mean, Rowling is the type of author who can still make you laugh when in fact, you're reading about two wizards who's going to kill each other.

I also guessed the plot during my entire reading, and all of my guesses were wrong, and I'm happy for it. I love unpredictable tale, and this one, my readers, is full of twist and turns. I finished this book last night and it left me thinking all night long. I have invested my very precious time for this series, and you know what, Harry Potter is worth every second of it.

Ah, here's my favorite quote of Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows

“Hide them all, then. Keep her – them – safe. Please.'
And what will you give me in return, Severus?'
In – in return? Anything.”

That was also a scene that made me gulped, and it really touched my heart that I cried a tear or two. Rowling, you really know how to play with our feeling! Bravo, undoubtedly 5 for both of this book, and the whole series! Those of you who haven't touch the book, do it now!

Review : Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince by J.K. Rowling

2013-02-14T14:52:00.002+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (Harry Potter #6)
Author : J.K. Rowling
Publication date : July 25, 2006 by Scholastic
Audience : Young adult

I can't believe I already finish reading Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. It means there's only one book left before I find out how the story ends. I have a feeling that the ending would be good, though (those of you who already know, please don't spoil it!). So far, I enjoy every pages of it and day by day I am even more confident to call myself an official Harry Potter fan.

Harry was now in his sixth year of magical education in Hogwarts. One day he found an old book of potion which helped him a great deal during the lesson. The book was filled with handwritten notes by a person who called himself The Half-Blood Prince. Meanwhile, the war against The Dark Lord was not going well because of the losses of the main members of The Order of Phoenix and Dumbledore who couldn't be there for Harry as often as before.

Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince offers more depths and complexities compared to its prequels. This might be because Harry almost reached his adulthood and as we all know, to some people, being a teenager is hard. There were many pressures on Harry and they seemed to bother him much. He kept on questioning why Dumbledore trusted Severus Snape, while in the other hand, his mind was also filled with the fear of the possibility of fighting a losing battle against Voldemort. Well, I feel for you, Harry!

There's nothing much I can say about the weakness of this book because I didn't find something that obviously irritating. I love every bit of it. It is a much darker novel, one of the most tragic and as usual, very unpredictable. I like books that keep me guessing, and J.K. Rowling clearly knows how to write them.

Oh, here's my favorite quote of this book:

Have you any idea how much tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realize that, one day, amongst their many victims, there is sure to be one who rises against them and strikes back! Voldemort is no different! (Albus Dumbedore)

5 rating for Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. I wish I could rate it better. This is indeed a must read series for everyone! Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to read the seventh book. I am so curious on what happens next *winks*

Teaser Tuesday #9 : Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows

2013-02-12T16:06:00.000+07:00

Teaser Tuesdays is a weekly bookish meme, hosted by MizB of Should Be Reading. Anyone can play along! Just do the following:

• Grab your current read
• Open to a random page
• Share two (2) “teaser” sentences from somewhere on that page
• BE CAREFUL NOT TO INCLUDE SPOILERS! (make sure that what you share doesn’t give too much away! You don’t want to ruin the book for others!)
• Share the title & author, too, so that other TT participants can add the book to their TBR Lists if they like your teasers!

I am now on my of finishing Harry Potter series and I finally get my hands on the seventh book. Phew! what a read! Here's the teaser:

It was stupid, pointless, irritating beyond belief that he still had four days left of being unable to perform magic … but he had to admit to himself that this jagged cut in his finger would have defeated him. He had never learned how to repair wounds, and now he came to think of it — particularly in light of his immediate plans — this seemed a serious flaw in his magical education. (Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows By J.K. Rowling)

Okay, that's it for now. I know many of you have read the series already *grins*. Still, I was living under the rocks during my teenage years and I didn't get to read it, until now.

Review : The Flower Reader by Elizabeth Loupas

2013-02-08T10:00:00.000+07:00

Tittle : The Flower Reader
Author : Elizabeth Loupas
Publication date : April 3rd, 2012 by NAL
Audience : Adult

Let me tell you something, I always have this soft spot for flowers. Be it floral dress, the current trend floral pants, you name it. Of course the tittle of this book caught my attention as well. The moment I found out about The Flower Reader, I knew I had to read the book.

Marina Leslie of Granmuir (was also called Rinnette) was gifted with a skill of reading the future with flowers. She was also one of the ladies in court and one day, the dying queen summoned her. She gave Rinnette a secret silver casket and ordered her to give it to the queen's daughter once she returned to Scotland. To Rinnete surprise, there were a lot of people wanted the casket and willing to do anything to get it from her. The court was then full of dirty tricks that caused Rinnete's to lose her loved one. Rinnette demanded justice from the new queen, would she get what she wanted? Rinnette was left alone with the flowers as her sidekicks.

I have to admit that The Flower Reader is one of the best historical fiction I have ever read. It kept my heart beating fast and I could feel Rinnette's emotions. I was so into the story and before I knew it, I reached the last page! It is such a page turner!

I like Loupas' writing style. She clearly knows how to write ancient dialogue. When I read them, I knew that they belong to historical fiction books. I dislike ones that sounds too present, let's say the setting might be in 16th centuries, but the characters speaks as if they lived in the present days. However, The Flower Reader is completely different and it also has a very nice ending. If you call yourself a historical fiction lovers, you definitely have to add this on your to-read list.

The book itself is quite thick, but don't let the amout of pages scare you. They are worth your time for plot is very rich. There is one thing I don't like about this book, though. Some of the dialougues are in French and I don't speak it at all. So yes, I had to go to Google Translate to find out what they meant. If there was a footnote or something for non French speaker like myself, it'd be awesome.

5 rating for The Flower Reader. I might dislike the French dialogues, but it doesn't lessen my fondness of this book. It is a good read, even for those of you who hate historical fiction *winks*.

Now, your turn, have you read this book or other Elizabeth Loupas novel?

Review : Shopaholic and Sister by Sophie Kinsella

2013-01-17T08:56:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Shopaholic and Sister (Shopaholic #4)
Author : Sophie Kinsella
Publication date : November 28, 2006 by Dell
Audience : Adult

You may wonder why it took me so long to review the fourth book of the shopaholic series. The reason is quite simple, actually, because I wasn't impressed by the third book. I mean, the plot was getting repetitive and in the third book, Becky became the most annoying character ever. So yeah, I ended up abandoning this series for a while.

Becky and Luke were on their honeymoon. They seemed like the happiest couple on Earth and Becky thought nothing bad would happen to their marriage. On the tenth month of their around the world journey, Becky felt she was ready to go home, and to her surprise, Luke felt the same way too. But when she came back, things weren't as she wished them to be. Suze had a new best friend and Becky felt left behind, and her parents announced that she had a long lost sister!

The first few chapters of Shopaholic & Sister didn't really impressed me. Becky still has thing shopping addiction, however the amount is severely reduced *winks*. It's more like, she still loves shopping, but she's not that addicted anymore (does that make sense?) And to my surprise, I cannot tell you how impressed I am by this fourth book. I loved every bit of it. So far this is my favorite book of the series.

Becky, though annoying in the first three books, has grown up a lot in Shopaholic & Sister . To me, she seems more mature and she is willing to sacrifice everyone's good. I mean, since Becky is kind of careless girl, seeing her act like an adult is a good thing. People changes, so does Becky (for the better, course).

Shopaholic & Sister has more depth than its prequels and yes, it makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Well, those other three books only made me giggle, that's all. I definitely recommend this book for those of you who quit reading after the third book. This one should worth your time!

5 rating for this novel. Gosh, I can't believe I gave 5 for a shopaholic book *giggles*. Oh, this must be one of my guilty pleasure reads! Now, how about you? Have you read this series, or did you quit because you were annoyed?

More Shopaholic books :

Review : Shopaholic Ties The Knot by Sophie Kinsella

Harry Potter Monthly Meme : If You Were Teacher of Hogwarts...

2013-01-10T11:32:00.000+07:00

I am so excited to tell you that I have just joined a Harry Potter Event hosted by Melmarian @surgabukuku. It's such a good coincidence because I am now on my way of finishing the series. In this event, a monthly meme is included and the question for January 2013 is :

If you were a teacher of Hogwarts, who would you rather be?

Hmm...not a difficult question to answer. Of course Remus Lupin! he's such an amazing teacher, he has this charismatic charm that makes the student more confident in his class. I mean look at how awkward Neville Longbottom was, still, he did a great job during Defence Against Dark Art lesson. Remember the scene when the boggart turned into Severus Snape? He managed to make Boggart Snape wore his granny's clothes, how funny is that!

Speaking of which, who thought Severus Snape could look this friendly?

Oh, I think he's actually very good looking too. Take a look at this :

To sum it up, I think we all agree that Alan Rickman is indeed a great actor! *winks.

Review : Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix by J.K. Rowling

2013-01-08T10:28:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Order of Phoenix
Author : J.K. Rowling
Publication date : June 21st 2003 by Scholastic, Inc.
Audience : Young adult

You know, Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix is one of the thickest book I've ever read. Phew! More power to me, because usually a book's thickness scares me. The "what if the story is not good enough" and "what if I get bored with it" are the main culprits (to be honest, I have thousands of what ifs and of course, I won't be writing them here).

Harry was on his fifth year in Hogwarts. He was now busier than ever, the homework and the upcoming test are waiting for him. To make matter worse, The Daily Prophet was publishing false news saying Harry was nothing but a liar and a seeking-attention brat. Of course, they had a new defense against dark arts teacher (ooh, my favorite subject!). Harry was again on adventure between life and death because Voldemort and his cronies were at large to hunt him.

I have to be frank to you, my dear readers that Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix is quite an exhausting book to read! Beware though, I didn't say it's boring, but if you think it is, it's completely understandable. Though we all know that this is one of the most famous series on Earth, it doesn't mean that it's for everyone. I am glad, though that this book is a page turner, so I didn't resent the amount of time I spent to read it.

I have a mixed feeling for this book, actually. While I think the adventure is interesting and very emotional, I find Harry to be an irritating teen. Yes, he's 15, for heaven's sake, but are all 15 year old boy as angry as Harry? I mean he's mad at his friends, Dumbledore, his Duddley relatives, I mean, calm down! A good deep breath wouldn't hurt you, Harry dear! (Gosh, do I sound like Mrs. Weasley?)

Oh, I kind of like Dolores Umbridge. Yes, I know, she's annoying, but she added a bit of color to the whole story. A good villain is an annoying one, right and I believe Umbridge and Filch would make such a nice cute couple, don't you think? *giggles*

Alright, 4 rating for Harry Potter And The Order Of The Phoenix. Though I like the overall story, deep down I believe this may not be the strongest book of the series. So far I prefer the 4th book than this one. How about you? Did you enjoy reading this one? Did boredom strike you during reading?

Review : Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire by J. K. Rowling

2012-12-12T15:55:00.002+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Goblet of Fire (Harry Potter #4)
Author : J. K. Rowling
Publication date : July 30, 2002 by Scholastic
Audience : Young adult

As I have mentioned before, one of my reading goals for the end of this year is to read all the seven books of Harry Potter series. Since the books are quite thick, I guess I have to be quick. And guess what, it's not a problem at all because as you all know, this series is a page turner.

Harry Potter was in his 4th year of studying in Hogwarts. His scar began to hurt again and according to his previous experience, that is not a good sign. Meanwhile, the school held a Triwizard Tournament and only older students were allowed to enter. Harry realized that it wasn't for him but something unexpected happened and he must face all the troubles alone.

I can say that Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire opens more interesting part of the series. It offers darker side of magical world, even more than the first three books. The plot gets more complex, thus more details and description, however, it didn't bore me even just a bit. That's why I like Harry Potter series so much, I always reach the last page before I know it.

Some people may say that it's quite predictable, but I don't really care. I was enchanted by the whole story and there's nothing I want to change about it. As for what I don't like about Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire, well, nothing. I love every bits of it and that's why this review is brief and only contains praises.

I definitely cannot wait to finish this series soon. I have to find out what happens next, and please wish me luck that the remaining days of 2012 are enough for me to reach the last page of the seventh book *winks. Oh, here's three things I like about Harry Potter series :

1. The world building

2. Defense against dark art lesson (I almost believe it is a real lesson)

3. The Weasleys (come on, who doesn't love them?)

What about you? What do you like about Harry Potter series?

Oh, I almost forgot, 5 rating for this book. I just love it, no explanation needed *giggles*

Review : The After Wife by Gigi Levangie Grazer

2012-11-30T10:14:00.000+07:00

Tittle : The After Wife
Author : Gigi Levangie Grazer
Publication date :July 10, 2012 by Ballantine Books
Audience : Adult

When I first saw the cover of The After Wife, it made me wonder what on earth was the lady doing on top of the tree while wearing high heels? I mean, you just don't climb a tree with those on your feet, right? Very inconvenient indeed!

Hannah Bernal has just lost her husband, John due to tragic and sudden accident. She was left devastated and she didn't even know how to move on. Still, she had a three-year-old daughter who "forced" her to be strong. Lucky for Hannah, she had a grief team, a group of her bestfriends who were there for here during the toughest times.

Hannah thought she was crazy the day she started seeing and talking with the dead and after a while, she definitely had her chance to see and talk to John again. Having this kind of gift, would it be a blessing or a disaster for her? Is it true that the dead tells no tales? Only her can answer.

During the first few chapters, I didn't know it would be a ghost themed story. The After Wife seems just like any other chick-lit books. I love the sense of humor, the dialogues are hilarious. I can feel the ache Hannah felt when she missed her husband. I mean, it must be a real tragedy that is definitely hard to cope with. The characters are interesting, I like Hannah's friends and they seem real and believable.

However, things went a bit slow when I was halfway of the story. There was just too much unnecessary filler. If only it were filled with "necessary" stuffs which gives more value to the plot, I am sure it would be more interesting. I find myself putting down the The After Wife several times because of it.

Now let's talk about the ending. I don't think it was executed very well either. It's like it happens just like that and because the author says so. I definitely question many things about the book, like what happens with the characters after that or whether Hannah would keep on dating her dead husband John. Ending should mean a closing and conclusion, I didn't really find them in this book.

Frankly, I have a mixed feeling about this novel. It's one of the hardest book to rate. Well, I think 3 would do it justice. It's a good book, actually, I enjoyed it, but the filler and ending just don't work really well.

Now, your turn. Do you like reading paranormal romance?

More ghost love story:

Review : On The Fring by Courtney King Walker

This review is submitted for Annual Contest at Kumpulan Sinopsis Buku

Review : Touch of Power by Maria V. Snyder

2012-11-20T10:27:00.001+07:00

Tittle : Touch of Power (Healer #1)
Author : Maria V. Snyder
Publication date : November 20, 2011
Audience : Young adult

Touch of Power has been sitting around my to-read list for a while. I have soft spot for pretty book cover and I admit that's what makes me interested in it. I also read many positive reviews on this one so somehow it convinced me even more. I was quite sure that I was going to love this book so much.

Avry of Kazan is a healer. Unlike doctors or witch doctors, she heals people by absorbsing their sickness and pain and send it through herself. Yes, that's how the healer works in her world. One day the world is infested by plague and healers are left to blame. People believe they cause it and in rage, they send every healers they know for excecution. Being the last healer, Avry is forced to live in hiding, until someone finds her.

Let me tell you MORE about this book. Considering the amount of plot it has, it is ridiculously thick! Reaching the last page of it seemed like a pain for me. The story is just flat, there's no depth in it whatsoever. All the characters do in Touch of Power were go into the woods, get attacked by a bandit or a man eating plan, escape, then get attacked again, rinse and repeat. This is the 90% content of the book. It's exhausting!

Now let's talk about Avry. I think she's such an unbelievable character. She's a kind and greathearted angel. Absorbing people's sickness and the pain don't bother her a bit. I mean what kind of job is that? Would a sane person bother to learn such magic? The funny thing is, she can also cure people by medicine, so why not cure them all with it instead of suffering from that ridiculous magic?

And the world building? Please don't get me started. When people are healed with magic and medicine, one of the characters in the book have syringes. I mean what kind of world is that ? Syringe just doesn't fit in non urban fantasy world, a president doesn't either (yes, there's a president in it).

I rate this book 1. I didn't enjoy it. If only the story has more depth and complexity combined with a good world building, I am sure Touch of Power would be a more interesting book.

Now, let's talk about you. Do you like this book? Have you read Snyder's other books?

Book Blogging on Budget : How to Blog Without Digging Your Pocket

2012-11-07T10:33:00.001+07:00

As we all know, we book bloggers are in constant need of books supply. This, especially for newbie bloggers can be a problem because you may not yet receieve books for review yet either by publishers or authors. Sometimes you have to buy books, whether you like it or not. Still, there are so many books out there that may interest you while in fact your budget for books is limited. Is there any way to get many books to read (and review) without spending a lot of fortune?

Well, actually there is! In fact, there are several ways that may help you. Here they are:

Use the library

I know, this is the most classic way to get books without spending money. Yes, there's still the drawback of it because you cannot fully own the book. However, most library have a good and various supply of books and if you are lucky, you can get the newest ones from there. Make sure to take advantage of your favorite library, you never know what you will find.

Join a book swap community

If you are active in socializing, you may find this community. People usually tell what books there are looking for or ones they're willing to swap. You may need to pay for shipping if your book swapping partner is outside your area, but the shipping price is (usually) a fraction compared to buying new books.

Take advantage on pre-order

Some online bookstores, Amazon for example has this feature. If you want a book that is not released yet, this is the best way to get them. Pre-order usually cheaper, thus saves you some money.

Of course, there is NetGalley

If you don't know about the site yet then you should check it out. It's a huge center for ARc's. You send request on books that interest you, you get them for free in return on giving an honest review. I personally love this site (even though I rarely send review request there), it's user friendly, there are many tittles to choose from, it's definitely a heaven for book lovers.

The last but not least...

Image source

The books don't have to be newly released. The point of being a book blogger is to help your readers find good books, no matter what date they're published. So, don't hesitate to start reviewing books you already have, borrow one from your friends or even buy some on sale from your favorite book stores.

Now, bookworms, what is your favorite tip on getting good deal or even free books to keep yourself contented?

Related post:
How to Get Rid of Blogging Boredom

Review : Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban by J.K. Rowling

2012-11-06T09:42:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban (Harry Potter #3)
Author : J.K. Rowling
Publication date : May 1st 2004 by Scholastic Inc.
Audience : Young Adult

I still remember the good ole times when me and my college friends went to the movies to see Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. To tell you the truth, I didn't really get the story. I was just amazed by the special effects of it, I was such a visual person back then. But when I finally read the book, I know what really happens and the good thing is, the story is now very memorable (even without those fancy effects!)

Harry Potter is now a thrid year Hogwarts student. The world is shocked by the news of Sirius Black escaping from the Azkaban prison. Rumor says he is the follower of Voldemort and now looking for Harry. The school is also not fun anymore because it's surrounded by dementor, a thing Harry is afraid the most.

I prefer Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban than the previous book. This one has more interesting adventure and the plot has become more complex. J.K. Rowling is the master of making unpredictable tales, hands down. The book itself is also a page turner ( I reached the last page in no time), just the previous ones and that's what makes me feel I have to finish this series as soon as possible.

There are new magical creatures being introduced and the description of the dementors is enough to bring chills on my spine. I feel for you, Harry, those creatures are indeed creepy. I think this is when the story starts to become more interesting, I mean the first and second book are okay, but this one, well, it really is worth your time!
Ron is still my favorite character so far. I wonder how he will develop in the next books. 5 rating for Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban. I cannot wait to read the fourth book and find out about Harry's next quest. I recommend this book for fantasy lovers, those of you who love easy but valuable reads, and of course you folks who have soft spot for unpredictable stories.

Now, over to you. Who is your favorite character in Harry Potter series?

Related posts :
Review : Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secret (Harry Potter #2)
Review : Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)

Review : Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secret by J.K. Rowling

2012-11-01T09:46:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Chamber of Secret (Harry Potter #2)
Author : J.K. Rowling

Publication date : June 2, 1999 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Audience : Middle grade / Young adult

After a fascinating read of Harry Potter #1, I couldn't wait to read the sequel. I think I am now officially a Harry Potter fan. I know some of you may say "did you live under the rocks" or something, well, let's pretend I did. I though watching the movie would satisfy me, but I was wrong. I am a reader, and I believe sometimes a book can be more powerful than a movie.

Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets is still an exciting book to read. The book began with Harry being with the annoying Dursleys (again, this may be the typical on how this series started). As the school started again Second grader (of magic and wizardry school) Harry Potter once again have to deal with dark art creatures. To make matter worse, the enemy was now attacking people he cared about. As the rumor of the chamber of secret was spreading around the student, Harry had to find out whether it had anything to do with the attack.

I have to be honest with you, I much prefer the prequel to Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets. This novel seems to lose its charm. There is no further explanation on how Harry's magic skill improve because the plot seem to focus on the new teacher too much. Yes, we do need an annoying character to color the story however when one is done too much, it would be seriously boring.

It looks like Ron would be my favorite character on this series. He's an interesting and loyal friend who comes from a humble family. He kind of reminds me of Samwise Gamgee in Lord of The Rings with witty and cheerful side added.

I did enjoy my reading experience with Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets and I have decided to read all the books in this series. I hope the plot and the characters will be more and more complex as Harry gets older because I saw a lot of interesting and jaw dropping scenes in the movies and what were described in book should be far better than that.

3 rating for this novel. Not my highest rating, but many people said that this is the weakest book in the series. At least I have five more books to go and I am sure I would find my favorite among them. Now, your turn, which Harry Potter book is your favorite?

Related post:

Review : Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)

Review : Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone by J.K. Rowling

2012-10-31T10:58:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Harry Potter and The Sorcerer's Stone (Harry Potter #1)
Author : J.K. Rowling
Publication date : September 8, 1999 by Scholastic Press
Audience : Middle grade / young adult.

I know Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone may not be the newest book and I am sure most of you have read it already, so I'm going to make this post (kind of) brief. I have a confession to make, I call myself a bookworm, but I haven't read this series. Such a shame, I know. I still remember my friends in high school proudly brought the book to school and share stories about it while I only sat in the corner trying to figure out what they were talking about. I wasn't interested in reading it, actually because its thickness scared me to death (the translated version is so much thicker than the English version).

I watched the movies, but since they only represent certain parts of the stories, I have to admit that I didn't really understand them. Now, since I am glad that I finally could read it. Ten-year-old Harry Potter lived with his aunt, uncle and annoying cousin ever since the death of his parents. They treated him like dirt and acted like he didn't even exist. One day came mysterious letters saying that Harry was to enter a wizard school.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone is a very enjoyable read. I keep on resenting why I waited this long to pick it up. That's really my big loss, I mean really big. I wonder why this book was previously rejected by many publishers, I just can't believe it considering there are too many so so books wandering around nowadays.

I LOVE how J.K. Rowling describe the world she created and yes, I think it's original. The characters are so alive and strong and their personality are very well described in their dialogue. And the ending, God, even me as an adult find it unpredictable and intriguing, of course.

There is no doubt that I give Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone 5 rating. It really does deserve it and you know what, this book is sure is one of my most favorite book this year and I cannot wait to read the sequel!

How about you? Are you a fan of Harry Potter?

Teaser Tuesday #8 : Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

2012-10-30T04:55:00.000+07:00

Teaser Tuesday is a meme hosted by shouldbereading. Anyone can play along, simply do the following:

Grab your current read.
Open random page.
Share 2 teasers from somewhere on that page.
Be careful not to include spoilers (make sure what you share doesn't give too much away! You don't want to ruin the book for others.
Share tittle and author too, so that other Teaser Tuesday participants can add the book to their TBR list if they like your teasers.

Now here are my teasers for today:

Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban

They reached Hagrid's cabin and knocked. He was a minute in answering, and when he did, he looked all around for his visitors, pale-faced and trembling.

Now, that's my teaser for this week. I am so excited that I finally get to read this legendary series!

Review : Girl of Nightmares by Kendare Blake

2012-10-29T15:18:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Girl of Nightmares (Anna #2)
Author : Kendare Blake
Publication date : August 7, 2012 by Tor Teen
Audience : Adult

Girl of Nightmares is the second installment of Anna series. I love the first book and I couldn't wait to read the sequel and I am glad that I finally finish it. Cas Lowood had a creepily great adventure and I have to find out what happens next.

Cas Lowood kept on thinking about Anna. He saw her everywhere and it drove him nuts. Cas, along with his bestfriends Thomas and Carmel headed to London and Scotland to solve the problem. There they revealed the greatest mystery of the athame and met a secluded ancient group called The Order of Biodag Dubh.

Girl of Nightmares has the same amount excitement as the prequel does. This book, however is not really about ghost hunting. Don't worry though, if you expect Cas versus paranormal monsters battle, you'd be happy because there are some scenes that will entertain you. I don't know if it's just me but there was this discomfort because I thought the main point of the story is about Cas being a necrophilia. However, as I reached the ending ( I love the ending by the way), I was so glad to be wrong.

Blake still used her charm in Girl of Nightmares. She did a great job writing the ending that way because she doesn't leave her readers with questions. Every problem is solved very well, no unfinished business left. Having said that, I can say that this might be the last installment of Anna series. I still categorize the novel for adult readers. There are swear words and gore scenes that might not be suitable for younger readers. I know the main characters of the book are teens, but I personally judge it by the content.

I recommend this book for horror lovers, alright, I recommend this for everyone as long as you don't mind a bit of profanity here and there. 5 rating both for this novel and the whole series.

Now, how about you? Have you finished reading this series?

Related post:
Review : Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

Review : Wife 22 by Melanie Gideon

2012-10-26T17:38:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Wife 22
Author : Melanie Gideon
Publication date: May 29, 2012 by Ballantine Books
Audience : Adult

When I read the first page of Wife 22, I was almost sure that the book would turn out to be fantastic. Since it is about boredom in marriage, I was prepared for drama and tears. But nope, I didn't shed a tear during reading, in fact this book is quite hilarious. With 400 pages thick, I cannot say it's a short read however the writing style is very interesting which make the book a real page turner.

Alice Buckle was bored with her marriage. She and her husband William became more and more distant and there seemed to be no way to reconnect to each other like the good ole' time. William then lost his job which makes matters worse and Alice was even more drawn to her virtual life on the internet. One day when she check her email spam folder, she found out that she was invited to take marriage survey. She started to answer the questionnaire then her life unexpectedly changed.

Now let's talk about marriage. For those of you married folks must know that it's kind of a never ending getting-to-know-your-spouse kind of thing. Wife 22 is a very realistic story with realistic characters. I can relate to Alice and I can understand how William feels.When someone is confused, he/she might do crazy things illogical things.

The story is filled with the characters' Facebook status updates, emails and Alice's responses of the questionnaire. What I find to be irritating in this novel is, the questionnaire are place at the end of the book so you have to turn the pages back and forth just to find out what Alice was writing about. I mean, why not put all the questions and answers at the same page. I bet it would be easier for the readers to understand the story better.

The ending is quite predictable (at least for me) because I could guess what comes next but still, I find

Wife 22 to be a heartwarming story. I rate this book 4. I really wish the ending would be more unpredictable, more complex twist and turns (FYI, it does have twist and turns. Lots of them), I think the book would be more interesting.

Your turn, have you read this book or any other Gideon's novel?

Review : Anna Dressed in Blood by Kendare Blake

2012-10-25T08:30:00.000+07:00

Tittle : Anna Dressed in Blood (Anna #1)
Author : Kendare Blake
Publication date : August 30, 2011 by Tor Teen
Audience : Adult

I have been wanting to read this novel for months, but I don't know what kept me from picking it up. I am not really into a horror story, actually. However, I told myself to stop being such a coward because hey, it's just a book. A fictional book, for God's sake, read it already! *blushes*. I enjoyed the the TV show called Supernatural and yes, it's a horror show, so, yes, I finally convinced myself.

Alright, enough for the nonsense. I won't be bothering you with boring details anymore *winks*. Anna Dressed in Blood is a story of a ghost hunter named Cas Lowood. His job pretty much summarize what he does. He kills ghost in his daily life. Cas with this inherited-by-his-dad enchanted knife slay the dead in heroic way, at least until he met Anna.

Anna was totally different. She was a very angry ghost who rip people apart for fun. There was no way for Cas to be near her (let alone slaying her), she was way too strong and Cas had to figure out another plan to kill her whether he liked it or not.

My first impression when reading Anna Dressed in Blood is the book's characteristic. If you are familiar with the TV show Supernatural, this novel is pretty much the lookalike. Sam and Dean slay ghost, they also do not stay in one place for too long. So does Cas, being a nomad, he travels a lot with his mother. However this doesn't bother me as much because frankly, I cannot put this book down.

Yes, Anna Dressed in Blood is amazing and it sure be one of my favorite books for this year. I love how the story goes, the world building and everything. It is not scary, I repeat, not scary but still I think those of you who love horror would still find this book to be exciting.

Many people categorize this novel as young adult literature, however since there are some profanity (the f word is included) and gore bloody scene in it, I personally think that this book is more suitable for adult readers. The ripped bodies and blood can give younger audience nightmares, I reckon, as for the f word, well, there's no need for further explanation.

This book gets 5 rating from me and I cannot wait to read the next book. It's definitely on my to-read list and I will review it soon enough. Now, your turn, did you find the novel to be scary?

Check out more ghost themed stories:

Review : On The Fringe by Courtney King Walker
Review : The Great Coat by Helen Dunmore

How to Get Rid of Blogging Boredom

2012-10-24T09:37:00.000+07:00

Have you ever felt nowadays blogging seems like a chore for you? Writing a new post feels like trying to solve difficult math homework, there's just no sense of excitement there anymore. We've all been there, so you're not alone. I can call myself a newbie (book) blogger. I started this blog a year ago, and yes, blogging could be a very demanding task. Fear not, my friends because there are some things you can do to get rid of the boredom. They are actually quite simple too. Here are some activities that I find helpful to improve my blogging mood.

Get your motivation back

This may sound funny because when you are bored, it's very unlikely for one to have a motivation after all. Well, think about why you start blogging in the first place, like it or not it's the thing that was strong enough to to make you write that very first post. Is it because you have some thoughts you like to share with your readers or maybe you want to have more friends in blogging community? Whatever it is, it's good to remind yourself about it in order to get your motivation back.

Take time to evaluate your blogging development

There's a reason why I personally do not correct my blog post (except for typos). My first few blog posts are quite short actually. When I read them now, I find them kind of funny. I mean, I ask myself "how on Earth I have the confident to publish these contents?". As I continue writing, I finally be able to write more in depth and detailed content. Now, take a look at yours! I am sure you will notice some development in your writings too! Are you happy with your good job? Well knowing about that may bring back your spirit to continue blogging.

It's okay to look at the stats

We all know what many advanced blogger discourage this action. I like to look at my stats and compare them month by month. When I see my visitor number spikes up, I am contented and this, ladies and gentlemen is the most powerful thing that keeps me blogging. Being read is indeed one of the best thing in the world, at least for bloggers.

It is also okay to write some off topic post (sometimes)

Read other blog from other niche may help you find some inspiration. Sometimes being too strict on the topic could be the source of boredom. Don't do this too much, though because your readers will question your ability to focus. A blog about random topic is not an interesting blog.

If everything fails...

Then maybe it's time for you to get a blogging vacation. Your mind can be tired (even when you blog for fun) so take your time to relax. Don't worry about your readers leaving you. When you are ready to blog again, just tell them that you are back for business.

Now, let's talk about you. Does blogging boredom strike you often? How do you get rid of it?

Related post:

5 Things I Wish I know Before I started Blogging