Fiction Book Review

Review : The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

2017-05-08T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : The Ghost Bride

Author : Yangsze Choo

Publication date : August 6th 2013 by William Morrow

I bet you also find the title intriguing. Well, how common it is for a ghost to get married? Ah! And the cover, people! Look at it! It's clearly for us to admire. Intriguing title and a pretty cover is a combo for a high expectation for me and I kind of believe this was going to be a lovely read.

Set in the 1800s of Malaya (now Malaysia) Li Lan was a girl from a quite rich family, but her family fell apart because her father's love of opium. So he told her, that there was this silly offer from a rich family that wanted her to be a ghost bride to their deceased son, Lim Tian Ching.

Just like any book with cliche, Lim Tian Chin was portrayed as a spoiler brat that even after his death, he still pestered the livings. He haunted Li Lan in her dreams, intimidating her to become his bride and he wouldn't stop until he got what he wanted. So, Li Lan looked for help, and this one witch doctor gave her a potion which induced her suspended animation thus led her spirit the into the ghost world. I forgot what it was called, but you get the idea.

The Ghost Bride has a strong opening chapter that got me hooked instantly. Choo clearly did a lot of effort infusing Chinese mythology into her book and I have to admit it is done very well. Other than that, I regretfully classified this book as a "meh" read. The only thing that got my interest is the mythology since we bookworms are somewhat a little more familiar with Western folklore. So, a Chinese version might seem like a breath of fresh air.

My interest stops there.

I didn't find anything special in this book. If you expect a love story from a different world (the living and the dead, that is) be prepared to be disappointed. I didn't expect the book to be that way, but I was still disappointed. Li Lan was a typical damsel in distress, the kind of heroine I loath the most.

"Don't cry." I felt his arms around me, and I buried my face in his chest. The rain began to fall again, so dense it was like a curtain around us. Yet I did not get wet.
"Listen," he said. "When Everyone around you has died and it becomes too hard to go on pretending, I shall come for you."

Didn't care about her. Instead of having a supernatural adventure, all she did was hiding and eavesdropping and the dead people's business. Ah, and there's the cheesiest love triangle ever, making this book even more unbearable for me.

"Well, if you were caught spying on Master Awyoung, it would help to look a little more alluring."
"Are you planning for me to be interrogated by him as well?"
"It might be quite useful."
"I hate you." I said before I could stop myself.
He seemed to be genuinely surprised. "Most women say they love me."

As you can see, the dialogue if far from catchy. This book can do better, it has a unique characteristic, but sill lacks of depth and complexity. It doesn't give any memorable impression, when you reach the last page, that's it. No thinking required, no "what did I've just read?" kind of question, nothing.

2 rating for The Ghost Bride. Don't blame my high expectation, it just fails to impress me. I am sorry I did not like it. Have you read any books with mythology? Did you like it?

World's Book Day Mini Book Haul

2017-05-04T08:00:00.000+07:00

As a bookworm, I consider myself lucky because my birthday is on the World's Book Day (April 23). How neat can that be? Now you can ignore those sentences because who cares about my birthday, anyway. I am not talking about it, so let's talk about books instead as we usually do.

That morning, I got this email from Scoop (an app where you can buy books, newspaper, magazines) offering for discounts to celebrate World's Book Day. I love discounts and what I love the most about it is many the books become dirt cheap. At least the ones I selected were. And gosh, the books which I have been coveted for years were available too!

So, I bought a half dozen of them. They're not my typical go-to books, but I lately I crave for something different. It has been a long time since I last read Indonesian literary fiction and I am so ready to have a happy reunion with it. Here they are, don't ask me what they're about because I haven't read them yet *scoffs*

Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas (Eka Kurniawan)

Currently reading it. I fell in love with Eka Kurniawan's Cantik Itu Luka and I want to read all of his works. His witty and often vulgar writing style was a little unusual for Indonesian literature but, yeah, I am an offical fan. Let's see if I am still a fan-girl after I read this one.

Canting (Arswendo Atmowiloto)

Eversince I read Gadis Kretek, I am longing for other stories about traditional business people who get knocked out by modernization. This book is a recommendation by Goodreads, let see if Goodreads really understands me my taste.

Entrok (Okky Madasari)

Entrok means bra. As an Indonesian, it's a new vocab for me, maybe it's Javanese? I am not sure. The blurb says it's a story about 2 women, I don't know other details. This has been on my most-wanted list for sometime because I can't find it on bookstores anymore.

Semusim dan Semusim dan Lagi (Andina Dwifatwa)

I bought this because I like the goldfish on the cover. I don't know what it's about either because I didn't care to read the blurb. It's kind of too complicated for a glance.

Di Tanah Tabu (Anindita S. Thayf)

Another cover lust. I have a thing about a little girl with curly hair (because my daughter have curly hair). A novel set in Papua, have no idea about the plot (yet). But I know some readers are raving about it, I hope it's worth it.

Lampuki (Arafat Nur)

Ha, the last but not least is Lampuki. Set in *gasp!* my hometown Aceh, is a good reason to buy it. Nah, this one is not coverlust, it's too... what's the opposite of delicate? Ah yes, crude. Too crude, but since it's a story about war or chaos, I think it'll do. Can't wait to read this, because gosh! I miss my hometown.

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Enough about me. I'd like to know about you! Does your favorite bookstore/bookish apps give discounts often? What is your recent book purchase?

Western Movies I Watched During Reading Slump

2017-05-01T08:00:00.000+07:00

To be completely honest, I am not really familiar with western movies despite of being the daughter of a lady who is a cowboy movie maniac. They're not my type of go-to movies, well if it weren't for my mom, I couldn't care less about them. It's not that I think they're not good enough, but to me, they are a bit dated compared to action-packed superhero movies I love so much. I mean, look at the special effects they make these days and try compare it with cowboys and their guns and horses. The western movie simply doesn't stand a chance.

Or so I thought.

I believe it runs in the family, because I noticed my uncle (my mom's brother) was also into it as well. You know, when we still meet regularly, she would ask me if there's new cowboy movie coming out. I simply said:

"No, Ma. They don't make that kind of movie anymore nowadays."

"Why not?" I would try to made things up, something that hopefully make sense.

"Well, because the horses, you know, it's hard to find trained horses that are not afraid of the sound of the guns." I shrugged and she'd just nod.

See, how annoyingly ignorant I was! It is only recently that I realized that the movie makers are still producing western movie. I was living under a rock and as a movie lover I am, this is shameful. It stayed that way until this movie came along and rescue my stupid self:

The Revenant

The reason why I watched this is because of the hype. This is also the movie that convinced me to be an official fan of DiCaprio. Even though The Revenant doesn't really have much dialogue but this movie speaks volume. This is one of the the best western movies I've ever watched (says a person who've watched only a handful of cowboys on screen).

The Hateful Eight

This movie, despite of being marketed as gruesome and full of gunshot - since it is made by Quentin Tarantino - actually made me laugh. I don't know which part that got me, but it looks like it's the scene where a character was getting shot between his legs. It's not suppose to be funny, I know. But still... The acting is superb, and so is the dialogue this is the kind of movie which I describe as "crazy, but good, but crazy, but good...."

Django Unchained

Another gruesome Tarantino's style, I love this movie so much. The story is darker compared to The Hateful Eight, but since this is Tarantino's movie, there's got to be someone being shot between the legs. I am giggling as I write this, don't ask me why. Not for the faint of heart, it depicts how cruelly slaves were treated back then, but the ending is awesome.

Jane Got A Gun

I watched this simply because there's Natalie Portman in it. Jane Got A Gun is probably my least favorite from this list. It's not that it's lame, but you know, I kind of enjoy the gun shots, this movie simply lacks of it. The story is good, anyway but it is slow as snail I even wondered if they were just going to talk and talk until the end of the movie. If you're patient, go ahead, at least the ending is good.

So, what do you do during reading slump? Do you like watching movies, too? What genres are your favorite? Tell us!

Review : Burial Rites by Hannah Kent

2017-04-27T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : Burial Rites

Author : Hannah Kent

Publication date : September 10th 2013 by Little, Brown and Company

It might sounds a bit weird but I came to this book because of a movie. I was exhausted at work and even convinced that I hate it, so I approached Google, our good friend and searched for "movies to watch if you hate your job".

And I watched this: The Secret Life of Walter Mitty and magically. I felt so much better. Maybe it is because I actually made time to laugh at myself, I don't know but that movie was good for my mind.

And some of the scenes were set in Iceland. As a tropical gal, I always admire Iceland. It's a totally different world compared to where I live. You know, when you're used to having the sun all year, you're bound to admire the snow, or the fjords or the northern light. We don't have 'em here.

Again, I began to search for "books that set in Iceland" and Burial Rites is at the top of the list. Unfortunately, the list is extremely short, if you know any other books that set in Iceland, please let me know! I am still obsessed with that snowy country. And I even wonder if the people could be as witty as in the book.

"Makes you think, doesn't it, Jon? We could do with another cow."
"We could do with many more things."
"Another cow would be nice though. The extra butter. We could afford another hand for harvest."
"In good time, Margret, love."
"In good time I'll be dead."

Burial Rites is a story about the last woman in Iceland that faced death penalty, Agnes Magnusdottir. She was sentenced to death for murder of two men. Waiting for execution date, Agnes was sent to a farm owner family where she was regularly visited by a priest to help her repent. Day by day went by and Agnes started revealing each and every layer of the tragedy.

Agnes already got my sympathy as I read the first chapter. The author portrayed her as a very understanding woman. From her voice, it never crossed my mind that she was actually capable of murdering a man, let alone two. Agnes delivered a very sorrowful story and Kent created a ridiculously vivid description of 18th century Icelandic village that make the book even more chilling. Oh, and also the fact that one of the victim was the village's sweetheart making it harder for Agnes to get fair treatment.

The famous Natan Ketilsson, a man who could bleed the sap of sickness from the limbs of the ill, who had been with the famous Poet-Rosa, who had heard the bells of Copenhagen, and taught himself Latin - an extraordinanry man, a saga man - had chosen me. For the first time in my life, someone saw me, and I loved him because he made me feel I was enough.

If I didn't dig deeper, I'd never know that Burial Rites is a debut. It is beautifully crafted that I wish I could give it more than 5 rating. It's haunting, it made me doubt about the necessity of death penalty, it is simply remarkable. Read it now, you won't regret it, I promise.

Enough blabbering, I'd like to know about what you read. Have you ever read any novel set in Iceland? What is the last historical fiction book you read? Do you like it?

Freebies Time : Printable Bookmarks with Quotes

2017-03-30T08:00:00.000+07:00

What's up, people? I hope you guys are doing great. Gosh, it has been a long time since I posted anything. I miss blogging so much and the last two months were a new beginning for me. Well, I was transferred to a another office and I am still adapting. Everything is new to me and I have to learn everyday. It's not easy because I am not as sharp as I used to be, blame it on my age. Thankfully, my new co-workers are nice and they help me patiently.

I really hope I can start blogging regularly again. All I have to do now is to figure out how to shove it into my new daily routine. Nevermind that, I am not writing this post to complain. In fact, I have freebies to share with you guys!

Available for download are three printable bookmarks and since I love pretty words, I added some quotes on them, too. I love flowers, so you'll see that they're sprinkled with floral images as well. They're in standard bookmark size, you can use regular cardboard to print them on.

Hope you like them. It's also one of the reasons why I believe paper books will never vanish, because we're so used to cute bookmarks and they're here to stay.

Download them here : free printable bookmarks

Click the "Freebies" section at the top of the page to see other freebies, too!

Enjoy! :)

Review : Harry Potter and The Cursed Child by John Tiffany & Jack Thorne

2017-02-06T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : Harry Potter and The Cursed Child (Harry Potter #8)

Author: John Tiffany, Jack Thorne

Publication date: July 31st 2016 by Arthur A. Levine Books

Raise your hand if this book seemed too good to be true to you! Well, in my case it did. At first, I was almost sure that it was a hoax made by the lunatic fan people. But heck, here it is. A book about characters that I miss oh so much.

I have to admit that even though Harry Potter doesn't belong in my childhood (because I read it when I'm an adult) nor I think that it's the best series ever (err.. I prefer ASOIAF but alright... alright, it's an idiotic comparison!) but somehow there's something (that I cannot pinpoint) in it that makes me miss it everyday. I wish I know about Harry's family, or whether Neville gets to reunite with his parents after all this years, yeah. Something like that.

The first thing I did when I started reading Harry Potter and The Cursed Child is to lower my expectation. Why? Because, it's a play, people. I am a novel kind of gal and I know nothing about a play. It's too fancy for me and I didn't expect myself to totally understand it. And yet, it amazed me. I enjoyed reading this book very much and I cannot describe how satisfied I am to finally get some news from those characters that I really miss.

This book is centered around Harry's son, Albus and Draco's, Scorpius. A very unlikely friendship indeed. Surprisingly, they get along very well and their cute lovely souls even manage to churn tears from my eyes.

Scorpius : All I ever wanted to do was to go to Hogwarts and have a mate to get up to mayhem with. Just like Harry Potter. And I got his son. How crazily fortunate is that?

Albus : But I am nothing like my dad.

Scorpius : You're better. You're my best friend, Albus.

How beautiful is that? I envy those boys, I really am. I wish I had that kind of friendship during my childhood.

Snape : You need to run. I will keep them at bay for as long as I can.
Scorpius : Thank you for being my light in the darkness.
Snape looks at him, every inch a hero, he softly smiles.
Snape : Tell Albus -- tell Albus Severus -- I'm proud he carries my name. Now go. Go.

It's hard writing a review about a book you're desperately in love with. I am going to end this now. 5 rating for Harry Potter and the Cursed Child. Grab it now, if you haven't read it. It's really sweet, I promise you. I miss HP world so much it aches, reading Harry Potter and The Curse Child is like meeting an old beloved friend.

Have you read Harry Potter books? Who are your favorite characters from the series? Tell us!

How to Suck at Converting People into Bookworms

2017-01-30T08:00:00.000+07:00

What's up, everyone? It has been a while since the last time I posted How to Suck at Everything, ain't it? Since, I am one the the sorriest blogger in this universe, you must have known that inspiration is never been my best friend. I felt blank often, wanting to write a new blog post but I stare at the wall instead.

Ahem.

Now, for today's topic, let's talk about every bookworm's dream. Converting a new soul into our kind. It's a hard process and what sucks the most is, it requires lots of luck (which most of us are lack of) and of course...

*drum rolls*

Patience.

Because who has patience? None, silly. Actually there are some ways. My ways. The lamest ways. I wouldn't do that if I were you, but since this is my blog, I am free to blab about anything. I can talk garbage, if I want to. Like this post you're reading. So, the first ingredient of the disaster is to...

Stop talking to them imbeciles

... and tell me what differs us from the ~~non-readers~~ mortals? Yes, we're bookish and that's our superpower. There's no need to talk to them, what for? All you need to do is to act like a coolest person ever and fake that you're too busy to socialize. Show them books keep you occupied. The best way to attract people is to make it looks exclusive or mysterious. Humans are curious, entice them and once there's someone silly enough to notice your attitude and show interest...

Welcome the beginner

... but tell her/him his new favorite book is stupid. So, this new puppet loves cozy mystery. Pretty obvious she/he is attracted by the fancy cover. You can't let that happen. So act snobby, and shove War and Peace to him/her. He/She would most likely to ~~be intimidated or think that you're stepping too far~~ show interest. Congratulate yourself, it's actually his/her way of ~~hating~~ admiring you! *winks*

Spoil the stories
See those guys hanging out right there talking about the newest movie on the cinema? Consider yourself invited to take part of the discussion! Ask if they already see the movie. If they say no, then it's time to unleash your bookish gift. Tell them what the movie is about, I mean who the hero is, how he kills his enemy, what's him motive and of course, how the story ends. If they hate you for spoiling the story, relax! It's already in the book, it has been published and out in the open, why would it be a spoiler? Silly!

Bring your most expensive book set to work/school
... and make sure they notice. Show them you've got expensive taste! Nuff said. Whether you're actually going to read it is irrelevant. The most important thing is to make sure their eyes are on them. People love fancy thing. Once they see it, it's only a matter for them to realize that you are either dedicated bookworm or simply an annoying troglodyte. Most likely the latter.

Speak with fancy words out loud
...so they know you're an avid reader or ~~acting like it.~~ Choose "confrontation" instead of "fight" or "au natural" instead of nude. Yeah, I mean even when you're buying a new shade of lipstick. Tell them "I'm looking for something in au natural shade" and watch them scratching their head.

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That's all for now, folks. I hope this sucky post ~~inspires you in becoming a real life troll~~ entertains you. Tell us your story! Have you ever converted anyone into a reader?

Review : The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

2017-01-26T08:01:00.001+07:00

Title : The Snow Child

Author Eowyn Ivey

Publication date : February 1st 2012 by Reagan Arthur Books

Hello, everyone! Nice to see you again. The first time I heard about this book was around 2 years ago. It had glowing review and people even mentioned that they nearly cried so I was instantly interested. I love books that can make me cry. Only the bittersweet one, mind you. Tears are good, as long as it's not overdone.

Set in 1920s of the snowy Alaska, Jack and Mabel were too elderly couple who longed for a child. They felt their marriage was falling apart and Mabel even felt if their decision to move to Alaska was a mistake. One night, out of the blue, the couple released their inner child by building a snow girl, and since them a little blonde mysterious girl started to appear out of nowhere.

I have to admit that Ivey is a superb writer. As a person who lives in a hot tropical country, The Snow Child let me experience the cold snow of Alaska and gosh, it even gave me the chill. I also love the dialogue, the magical bits and pieces, but for the life me, I cannot feel for the character. To me, they lack depth and I wish they were written in a more complex way so I can believe that they were human. So, no. I do not get the same reader experience as some of the reviewers might do.

“Sometimes these things happen. Life doesn't go the way we plan or hope, but we don't have to be so angry, do we?”

I am not saying that I don't enjoy reading it. It's a good story, but it's far from heart-touching. Since it is a debut, it's very obvious that Ivey is a gifted writer. As a mother, I can relate with Mabel's feeling. The emptiness she felt, the self doubt, the longing for a child. Some women need a child to complete her and not having one leaves them an emotional pain.

She had watched other women with infants and eventually understood what she craved: the boundless permission-no, the absolute necessity- to hold and kiss and stroke this tiny person. Cradling a swaddled infant in their arms, mothers would distractedly touch their lips to their babies' foreheads. Passing their toddlers in a hall, mothers would tousle their hair even sweep them up in their arms and kiss them hard along their chins and necks until the children squealed with glee. Where else in life, Mabel wondered, could a woman love so openly and with such abandon?

I don't have anything else to say on this book. Maybe I had an expectation that was too high and as always, made me disappointed. Fortunately, I don't hate The Snow Child. The book is good enough, but it doesn't touch my heart.

3 rating from me. Grab it if you are a fan of magical realism or fairytale retelling. Have you read any books from Eowyn Ivey? Are you a fan of magical realism? Please share!

Authors I Want to Read More of

2017-01-23T08:00:00.000+07:00

I thought being a bookworms means impossible to have a favorite author. See, "most favorite book" is the most despised question ever, so a favorite author must be a similar thing, right? Fortunately, no. Well, as am omnivorous reader, I read almost any genre (except for what I am not comfortable of, actually), but just like eating food, of course you will have your favorite, too!

If you check my profile on Goodreads, you will see the names listed below are on my favorite author list. I can say that I want to read every book written by them and I pray that they will continue writing for as long as possible. And of course, I wish that they get the attention they deserve because, gosh! They're too good to ignore. Let me introduce to them (yeah, as if they're not famous already!)

Tracy Chevalier

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you must be familiar with this name. She has written 9 books so far which some I have read and I am always satisfied. It didn't take me long to add her into my favorite author list and gosh! Chevalier is so underrated. The Hollywood so far only has made one movie out of her books. Can you believe that? One! (start with : The Virgin Blue, The Girl with a Pearl Earring).

Sarah Addison Allen

I discover her books by accident, actually. I was a but new to magical realism and at first, I didn't get the point of her books. I kept on waiting for real magic to appear but instead, only a subtle hint appeared. I was intrigued, so that's how you serve your readers? Yeah, I like that! She has this tendency to read about magical people in a small town, making it seems like book version of Storybrooke. Try her works if you are looking for something light and airy, but heartwarming. (start with : The Girl who Chased the Moon, Garden Spells).

Jonathan Auxier

He has written "only" 4 books, so what? Doesn't mean Auxier is not gifted. He's one the most talented fantasy author out there and I am glad that he gets the attention he deserves. He has this witty writing style and I love it when he makes the protagonists a hero on their own way. The last time I heard the news about him, Disney is going to film one of his books, The Night Gardener and I can't wait to see it on screen. I am so going to take my family to the theater! (start with : The Night Gardener, Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes).

Jan-Phillip Sendker

You must be tired of me praising this guy. Well, in my defense, Sendker is that good! Sometimes I resent the attention he doesn't get. The first time I read The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, the book haunted my mind for a few months. Can you imagine that. Now it's still roaming in my head as I am writing this. That book clearly changed my life and funnily it made me believe that true love really does exist. (start with : The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, of course).

Enought about me! I am sure you have favorite authors, too. Tell us about authors you want to read more of! Do you think they get enough attention? How do you find new authors to read? I am so curious!

Review : Jack : The True Story of jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

2017-01-16T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : Jack : The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Author : Liesl Shurtliff

Publication date : April 14th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

If you hang out on this blog often, you'd know that I am a big fan of fairytale retelling and middlegrade fiction. Jack : The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk is both, so yay for me! Well, a few years back, YA fiction was filled with lots of retellings (and dystopia, ugh!), but not in middle grade books. I am glad I found this one and was so excited to read it.

I am sure as heck that all of you are already familiar with the classicstory Jack and The Beanstalk. The novel is pretty similar, though it has a few differences as well. This book involves a curse, the naughty boy Jack, the magic hen who lay eggs non-stop (yeah I know the magic hen also exists on the original story, but for the life of me, I swear it doesn't lay egg non-stop, yes?) and a sister! Guys! Jack has a sister, do you know that? I bet you don't!

Liesl Shurtliff's version of Jack and The Beanstalk begins when the crops on Jack village mysteriously disappear. Their cattle, too. It turns out that the giants are behind it all so Jack decides it has to end and he alone would face the giants. Bad-ass move, don't you think? That's all the description you're getting, ladies and gentlemen because otherwise the story is spoiled considering you already know how it goes in the original story.

This novels is hilarious. I spent my time checking my belly to make sure if it's still alright. I laughed out loud until it hurts me. You really should read this book, I swear it won't be disappointing. And those giants have the funniest king ever!

The queen sat down on the smaller throne, next to the king and held Prince Archie on the lap. "I thought our son should know how a kingdom is ruled," she said, "since it will be his kingdom one day."

"That won't be necessary," said King Barf, sneering at the baby. "I've decided I shall never die."

"How will you manage that?"

"Magician will see to it."

Gosh, I love King Barf to bits! Every fairytale should have a king like him. Well, actually I love every characters in this book. Jack especially is a gifted adventurer and funny like mad. He, along with he annoying little sister makes a deadly combo for a story like this. Oh, even the giants are so lovable. I could ramble on and on on why I love this book, but I'm going to stop now as you already get the idea.

Easy high 5 rating for Jack : The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk. Grab it now, you won't regret it. Prepare a cup of hot chocolate, and lay down on your favorite reading spot. See, happiness is simple! How about you, guys? Do you have any favorite fairytale retelling?

Review : The Midwive's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

2017-01-09T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : The Midwive's Confession

Author : Diane Chamberlain

Publication date : April 26th 2011 by Mira

The Midwife's Confession is my second time reading Chamberlain's work. I read The Good Father a few years ago and I liked it. This book has been sitting on my to-read list for a while. I was actually on a mild reading slump and by picking this up, I was hoping to chase it away.

The Midwive's Confession is a story about three best friends, Noelle, Tara and Emerson. Met at college, their friendship grew but despite of the closeness, one of the girls (the midwife, of course) hid a very dark secret that changed their life forever.

As cheesy as it sounds, I had to admit that I expected this book to be a novel version of a soap opera. Well, I wasn't completely wrong, but The Midwive's Confessions is just more than that. I like the way Chamberlain describes the friendship. I envy those girl.

“If you have a friend, a good friend, a woman you love, and you learn she’s done something abominable, do you stop loving her?”

Er... I take that back. I am not envious. Sorry.

This book is full of twist and turns (and dangerous curves as well!). It's a nail-biting as a typical crime book, and you'd forget that you are reading a chicklit. This was also unexpected by me. When I thought one secret was finally revealed, another one appeared.

I stared at the phone in my hand for a moment, then started to cry, hugging the phone to my heart. I sat on the stool next to the kitchen island and sobbed so hard my tears pooled on the granite. I'd thought I was done with this part of the grief -- this sucking down, soul searing pain -- but apparently not.

For some people's taste, it might seem overdone, though however, I think the twists are still reasonable. I don't mind them as long as the story is still unpredictable and in this case, it is. What made me cringe a bit from this book is the typical rebellious teenager who disrespected her mother. Why are teenagers often portrayed as a**holes? There are many good and sweet teenagers in real world, highlight them! Honestly, I can never relate with that kind of characters and I dislike it.

5 rating for The Midwive's Confession. Despite of its weakness, I digest this book within 24 hour so yeah, it speaks volume. Have you read any books by Diane Chamberlain? Do you like twist and turns in a story? Do you think it can be overdone?

Favorite Books I Read in 2016

2017-01-05T08:00:00.000+07:00

So, the year 2016 was a unfortunate when it comes to blogging. However, I managed to read more books compared to the previous year, so yay! This is not something worth bragging about, I know, since many bookworms out there even tackle hundreds of books a year. It's a skill I am very envious of. I finished 35 books last year, the very number I input on Goodreads. I usually only able to finished more or less 25 books. The audio books helps, and I am glad I discovered them. Don't ask me why it never crossed my mind to try them in the past, because I don't have the answer but my own silliness.

Out of those 35, two were DNFs. I just could not continue because they were so not my taste. Below are my top 3 favorite. Please do let me know in the comment section your version of 2016 top books!

A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor (Review)

This is my #1 favorite a.k.a the best book I read in 2016. It is the kind of books that I called "toys with your emotion" and it successfully made me cry like like it's the end of the world.

The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier

No explanation needed as I am Chevalier's #1 fangirl. I love how she insert fiction into real historical figures and event and make it believable. If you haven't read any of her works, I strongly recommend you to start reading her works and be amazed by her tales.

The Girl who Chased the Moon by Sarah Addison Allen (Review)

I am also a fangirl of this author. She has this tendency to write about people who live in a small town where some of the citizens has this subtle magical abilities. Her works are magical realism at its finest. Perfect for people like me who are too old for popcorn fantasy books where the characters who teens whose responsibility is to save the dying world. Meh.

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So, why not tell us your favorite! Oh, and how many books you are planning to read in 2017?

Audio Books I'd Been Listening To

2017-01-02T08:00:00.000+07:00

Happy new year everyone! Great to see you again. As I have mentioned before, I am so very new to audio books. They caught my attention because I was tired of listening to music (which I usually do whenever I need to chase the bad mood away). See, many people of my age are not that up to date when it comes to recent music, so we listen to songs from our teenage days over and over. Most of our favorite artists have stopped performing because they get too old to be on stage or something like that. It's boring you know, listening to the same album over and over *shrugs*

But thanks to audio books, I don't have to deal with it anymore. I can listen to books, how wonderful is that? They're too long to memorize, they're impossible to sing along to, but still they kick ass. The saying that bookworms rarely get bored is accurate. We always find a way to devour books. Now here are some audio books I listened to:

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. A nautical thriller set in Scandinavian sea. This is the first audio book I tried and I enjoy it, thanks to the wonderful narrator. The story itself was nothing special. I honestly dislike the main character because she was drunk all the time even while she was on medication. I just loathe characters that lack of self control. The ending is a bit rushed, still a decent thriller book, if you ask me.

How to Find Love in a Bookshop by Veronica Henry. At first, I had no expectation on this book. All I wanted was something that is easy to listen to and yet, I was definitely surprised. The book was much much more interesting than the title. See, how ~~cheesy~~ simple can that title be? It's a typical chicklit book, yes, but it left me with a smile on my face when I reached the ending. A sweet tale of a woman who tried to took over her late father's bookshop and how the shop affects the people around it. This book is simple, sweet and it makes me happy. A must read for bookworms who dream about owning a bookshop!

Radio Girls by Sarah-Jane Stratford. This one if the most complicated of all. I reckon it'd be nicer to enjoy in book format considering that it's sprinkled with many historical facts. Radio Girls is a book about real historical figure from a fictional character's point of view. Despite of its complexities, I enjoyed listening to this audio book. Even though I understand the plot, I wish I could absorb all the facts and information from it, but I couldn't. It's just too big to digest especially if you listen to it while doing something else. Read it, if you're interested. The audio book couldn't pull it off.

The Missing Wife by Shela O'Flannagan. Just like with How to Find Love in a Bookshop, I had no expectation either when I picked this up and this book surprised me. The story is complex enough, it even brought out my emotion which is unexpected because I thought it was a mere light and sweet chicklit book. It was indeed a sweet treat, in fact it's my second favorite on this list. A story about a woman who escaped from her emotionally abusive husband and her journey picking herself back up. Very touching!

The Girl with a Pearl Earring by Tracy Chevalier. I saved the best for last as this book is my number one favorite. You can't go wrong with Chevalier's work, believe me. She's also the author I swear to read each and any book of, so it's obvious why I picked this one. Just like Remarkable Creatures, The Girl with a Pearl Earring is also based on real historical figures. A background story of Vermeer's masterpiece painting that made me almost forgot that this book is fictional.

So, do you like listening to audio books? Is there anything interesting you found lately? Please share!

Review : Cantik Itu Luka by Eka Kurniawan

2016-09-05T09:00:00.000+07:00

Title : Cantik Itu Luka

Author : Eka Kurniawan

Publication date : January 2015 by Gramedia Pustaka Utama

First of all, I wouldn't have heard about this book if it wasn't for a phone app I downloaded about a month ago. A bookish app, a virtual library to be precise where users can borrow ebooks and read them on their phone. An awesome app, if you ask me. It is called iJakarta, and if you are from Indonesia (or speak Bahasa Indonesia), it is a good source for reading materials.

People rave this book and it got me curious so I borrowed it. Cantik Itu Luka has been translated into several language as well, English included, which called Beauty is a Wound. I read this in its original language, Bahasa Indonesia (because I speak it, duh!) and well, here's what I think of it.

Cantik Itu Luka is a complex story about the citizen of Halimunda, a fictional small town set between the fall of the Dutch colonization, the incoming of the Japanese until the rise and fall of communism in 1960s. The story started with the resurrection of Dewi Ayu, the most famous prostitute in Halimunda. Well, I meant it literally. She came back from her death after 21 years being buried on a grave. Ain't that chilling?

I cannot tell you much about the plot since this book is complex, complicated and intertwined with each other. If I can shorten it into a few sentences, I would say that it's One Hundred Years of Solitude a la Indonesia. Some scenes are even too similar with OHYoS, if not the exact carbon copy.

That irritated me a lot, actually. I wish Cantik Itu Luka to be more original because gosh, Eka Kurniawan is one heck of a writer, he could do better. I wonder where and how he got these crazy ideas, some of them are absurd and the rest are hilariously strange. This book made me laugh, scoff and cringe. Oh, and there's rape. A lot of it, actually and it got me confused because we Indonesians don't really talk about sex out in the open, but this book, geez! There's rape, incest, bestiality, practically everything we consider as taboo.

Since this is a very strange and crazy book, the characters are strange and crazy as well. I am not telling because I believe you have to find out for yourself. I am going to keep this short. I originally rated this 2, but since it haunted my mind in the past few weeks (it's an unforgettable tale, anyway), I have to raise it to 4.

I'd love to know about what you've read. What's the craziest book you're read so far? Tell us!

So I Started to Workout and This Is How I Feel

2016-08-29T08:00:00.000+07:00

I am one of the most nonathletic person in this planet. I am skinny, petite and sport is just too intimidating for me. I am not built for it. I don't have any reason as to why I should workout. Don't blame me, if you watch Youtube videos or look at Pinterest infographics, 99% of them are labelled with "weight loss". I don't want to lose weight, heck I need to gain more pounds, to be honest. I felt grumpier and grumpier.

And guess what, feeling grumpy is one of the signs that you need to workout.

Ironic isn't it? So I started digging. I didn't like the way I feel, didn't like the way I looked. After giving birth of two children, this body really needs to be toned up a bit. I started with what they called the easiest and cheapest workout ever. Running.

So, there's a jogging track just beside my workplace. A perk that I didn't take advantage of even after (almots) 7 years of working at this building. Everybody goes there, young and old. Not only for running, there are also kids practicing with their skateboard in the afternoon. It's a fun place, actually but I overlooked it.

And I started it, 3 times a week in the morning and loosely follow this method. I said loosely because I've been doing this for a month now and I still can't run for 36 minutes non stop. Everybody has different stamina, and in this case, it is okay just to go with your pace. I don't force myself, it's not like I want to be a running athlete or something. I just need to chase the bad mood away arrrgh!

Guess what? Darn, it feels so good! It is worth every drop of your sweat (gross, I know). It definitely improves my mood and my sleep quality. I wake up feeling rejuvenated and I now have better appetite. I thought working out would only make me too tired to work. But that's not the case. It doesn't interfere with my productivity at all.

So far, I am happy with what it gives me. I hope I will never lose my motivation. Oh, and I know how to keep my motivation for a longer time. By buying something new. So, I bought some working out clothing, nothing fancy, but they're new and they make me excited. If you are like me, maybe shiny new things will keep you motivated as well.

I also do some variations. Aerobic workout is my favorite, because it's oh so much fun! I found some videos on Youtube, many of them are for beginners and easy to follow. You should check them out, too!

And these are what I learn after a month of starting to workout:

Don't force yourself. Take it easy, you want to enjoy it and it's not going to be enjoyable if you feel like you're doing a chore.
Your diet matters. Eat crappy food and you won't get the benefit at all. What good is the workout it doesn't give you benefits? Love yourself and choose healthier meals.
Rest, rest, rest. Your body needs time to heal, especially if you are new to this. It's not used to it yet. Expect to feel sore the next day. It is normal. Light massage helps, resting helps. Do whatever makes you comfortable.
Don't forget to hydrate, and ...
Having fun is a must!

I am glad I made this decision and I hope you will consider it too. I wish I did that sooner, since it is actually not very difficult to start. I'd love to hear from you. Do you exercise? If yes, when did you start? If no, are you planning to?

Review : Sophie Quire and The Last Storyguard by Jonathan Auxier

2016-08-25T08:46:00.001+07:00

Title : Sophie Quite and The Last Storyguard (Peter Nimble #2)

Author : Jonathan Auxier

Publication date : April 5th 2016 by Harry N. Abrams

Hello everyone, happy to see you again? If you come to this blog often, you'd notice that Jonathan Auxier has a place in my heart. I blabbed about how much I love his stories many times. And it is not without reason, of course. Ever since I read The Night Gardener, I knew that this magical writer is my new favorite author.

This book we're talking about is the second installment of Peter Nimble series (read the review here : Peter Nimble and His Fantastic Eyes). Sophie Quire and The Last Storyguard is an adventure story of Sophie Quire (duh!) and of course, Peter Nimble (another duh!). Sophie here is a kick-ass bookworm, also a daughter of a bookshop owner and her mission is to save all the books from a wicked Inquisitor Prigg.

The Inquisitor is not happy with nonsensical things a.k.a. magic, so he banishes any magical things he sees. When one days he feels like he's lack of inspiration of what to do next, he decides to banished children books as well. Because they teach children nonsense, according to him. I hope my brief description of him is enough to make you loath that imbecile. Sure, he needs to be stopped and that's why we've got Sophie and Peter with us!

"I don't understand," Peter said. "How can burning a bunch of books hurt things in the real world?"

"The real world," Professor Cake repeated with a tone of notable contempt. "The very notion is absurd. Worlds and everything in them are made real by the stories that inhabit them."

Peter is an ever-charming boy, and Sophie is a smart bookworm type of girl. I don't need a reason why Auxier needed to add a heroine in this sequel, but I love the idea. This duo is hilarious, I can't get enough of them. The way they quarrel is very cute also. If you decide to read this book, be prepared to at least chuckle, if not laughing out loud.

Auxier is still using his typical move, which is the villain is always the adult, because children are too innocent to do stupid things. This, I agree with him and this is the reason why I read his book, because he reminds me that long long time ago, I was innocent too, as the children in his books. Oh, he also gave some tips on what to do when you meet your favorite author:

She had, in fact never met an author in person before. As you can imagine, it was a singularly thrilling experience. Should you ever be so lucky as to encounter an author in your life, you should shower her or him with gifts and praise.

5 rating for Sophie Quire and The Last Storyguard. If you haven't heard of this series, go ahead and dig about it on Goodreads. You can never go wrong with Auxier's book.Your turn, what's the last fantasy book you read? Did you enjoy it?

5 Reasons Why I love Reading Your Blog

2016-08-22T08:00:00.000+07:00

I love reading various blog posts. Not just the bookish type, actually. I also subscribe to beauty, fashion, fitness and lifestyle blogs. It is amazing that today there's a blog for every niche possible. I also prefer blogs to a magazine website, for example, because I get to see the writer behind is and somehow it makes it more interesting.

I have seen bloggers come and go, many of my favorites decided to stop blogging and it saddened me. Well, I guess that's just what life is, but I also learned that blogging, in general is here to stay. As long as there's the internet, blogs will stay alive. If any of you recognize me as one of your subscriber/follower, consider your blog has one (or more) of these traits:

You write with your own voice, this is the reason I landed on your blog home page in the first place. Your voice and personality captured me. You are unique and know how to make yourself stand out from the crowd. You make sure that your blog doesn't look (or sound) like governmental website. Where's the fun in that, really?

You make the readers feel welcome ... with your friendly gesture, like caring when they leave comments. Discussion post in a regular thing on your blog, this make me believe that you care about your readers. Having conversation with them is important to you, it like we're friends on a virtual world. Who wouldn't love having more friends?

You share helpful tips. Well, we're all good at something. You, my friends must good at something too. I for example good at making myself getting sleepy while reading. While I am good at something silly, I am sure that you, on the other hand are good in doing something useful and you kindheartedly share your tips to your readers. Isn't that heartwarming?

You write about books. I love reading what other bookworms write. Even when you are not actually a book blogger, but have some bookish stuffs sometimes and I find them interesting, I'd be sure to follow. Pretty obvious, right?

Your blog is just interesting, or maybe I could say that it's "just because". I have some blogs on my feed that have nothing to do with my interest. I am lack of words on how to describe it properly, but some blogs catches your attention within seconds and you can't help but to click "follow". I wish mine to be as cool as theirs. Have you ever had similar experience?

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Now I would love to know about you. What kind of blog catches your attention?

Freebies : Three Printable Quotes to Brighten Up Your Day

2016-08-15T08:00:00.000+07:00

Hello everyone! Here I am again bringing you more freebies. I actually enjoy turning quotes into something decorative. Who doesn't love pretty words, anyway. I decided that this will be a continuous feature, though I can't say it's going to be regular thing because sometimes inspiration won't come as you want it to. Ugh! So, below are three printable quotes for you to download. They're absolutely free for all my readers. No need to sign up for anything, no string attached. I just want to share these lovely quotes to you and hope you will enjoy it as much as I do!

Oscar Wilde (Live!)

"Live! Live the wonderful life that is in you! Let nothing be lost upon you. Be always searching for new sensations. Be afraid of nothing."

Rumi (Fly!)

"You were born with potential. You were born with goodness and trust. You were born with ideals and dreams. You were born with greatness. You were born with wings. You are not meant for crawling, so don't. You have wings. Learn to use them and fly."

... and say hello!

These prints are in standard 8 x 10 inches standard photo size (10R). You can print them with your home printer. For best result, I strongly recommend to have them professionally printed at photo lab or print shop. They have better paper, they know how to set the colors ... well, it's just easier. You can download them here : Printable quotes

I hope you like them, people. Thank you so much for reading (and downloading), see you again at the next post!

Don't forget to click the "Freebies" section at the top of the page for more free stuffs!

Review : The Paris Key by Juliet Blackwell

2016-08-11T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title: The Paris Key

Author : Juliet Blackwell

Publication date : September 1st 2015 by NAL

Family secrets is one of my new soft spots. A book about locksmith is unusual and since The Paris Key has a nice combo, I decided to read it, especially since it is set in Paris. Ever since I read more and more contemporary/chicklit books, I discovered that there are so many books set it France. I wonder why?

Genevieve Martin's marriage was crumbling apart and to make things worse, her locksmith uncle who loved in Paris passed away. Genevieve thought it was time to move on and take over her uncle's lock business despite of her minimal knowledge of lock and keys. As Genevieve unlocked more and more doors she found out that she also unlocked the family secrets that had been buried for decades that almost no one had discovered.

I love Blackwell's writing. It is sweet, light and has every characters of how a lovely chicklit book narration should be. It somehow reminds me of savory ice cream on a hot day. How can I not love that? The way she describe Paris, the shops, the lock and key nature, the statue of the Gargoyle, it's like walking on the street of the city myself. Blackwell knows how to write an enticing description.

"So, they won't open all the doors anymore?"
"Not all, of course not. But back in the day ... they probably opened most of them. Just like love -- this is what the saying means. Love laughs at locksmiths: love cannot be locked in or out. Remember that, Genevieve. Love has its own set of burglar keys!"

Unfortunately the book doesn't live up to my expectation. While the writing is beautiful, the plot of this novel is very thin. Since I was reading a book about family secret, I expected it to be mysterious and full of twist and turns. I didn't get any of them in this book, and frankly it was very disappointing.

During the first few pages, I found Genevieve to be a little too whiny for my taste. Yes, I get it that her marriage is falling apart, and that she's brokenhearted but, hey, she's an adult and I wish her to act like one. It's not until I reached the middle of the story that she grew into a tolerable state.

Love was destined to destroy you, was Victor Hugo's basic message, as far as Genevieve could tell. A couple of years ago Genevieve wanted to believe in love. But now ... now that her mother's abandonment had nearly killed her, she understood. Hugo got it right. Love was out to get you. To destroy you.

I hate to tell you this, but there's almost no family secrets you're going to find in this book. There is no mysterious side of it at all. How can a secret be not mysterious? I don't get it. The clue is out there in the open, I could tell the second I read about it. I hoped and hoped I got it wrong, but voila, I got it right. No surprising plot, nothing. I reached the last page questioning so, that's it? Where's the family secret you bragged about earlier?

I believe I wouldn't have gotten to the last page if it were not for the writing style. I hope Blackwell's future books will be better. Reading The Paris Key is like reading about something you already know, no excitement left anymore.

"I guess you know the secret to life in France by now, don't you, Genevieve?" Killian said in a low voice.

"Ne te rends jamais." Genevieve said with a nod, surrendering. "Never Give up."

2 rating for The Paris Key. How I wished it gave some twist and turns. If it's not a problem for you, go ahead pick this one, otherwise, there are many good books about Paris you can choose. So, have you read any good book set in the city of lights? Care to recommend? Do you like reading chicklits?

So, I Tried Listening To Audio Book and This Is What I Think of It

2016-08-08T08:00:00.000+07:00

I never thought I would give a try on audio book. I believed it is not the same as reading because you actually don't hold the book on your hands. See, I was naive and being a cow. So, after all these years I finally decided to try it and I am glad I did. There are some reasons that caused my hesitation, though. First, I am not a native English speaker. Although I can understand different accents, I am still not confident enough when it comes to dialects. What if the narrator has a heavy accents that is hard to understand?

Now that I have given audio books a try, I realized that it's actually a stupid reason. Why? Because I found out that audio book narrators are carefully selected people, many of them are even real actors/actresses, they know what they're doing. It's very unlikely that they narrate it with some weird accents nobody can understand. Narrating a story also means that they also have to read dialogues between two or more people, and as an actor/actresses, it's like their daily meal. The narration is the monologue, the dialogue is the... well, dialogue.

Second, I am into quotes. Audio book doesn't allow me to highlight a sentence to quote it later. Maybe this is the minus of audio books, but I learned to deal with it. Nothing is perfect, but it has a different way to compensate it, by being extremely convenient. What I love about audio books is you can ~~read~~ listen to them while you're doing your daily activity. In my case, I listen to it while at work, doing my task. Mind you, my task doesn't demand full concentration, so having my attention divided between work and book is not really a problem. This might not work if you are trying to solve a math problem or something like that.

I believe audio book is a unique beast. It has to be devoured while you are doing something. It's not like its cousin the paper book, where you can sit, read it and be happy. You don't listen to audio book while staring at the wall, do you? It's silly. Just like when people listen to music, it's usually while they're doing something, unless we're talking about concert, of course.

Oh, in my case it also means that there are some genres that suit audio version perfectly. Crime, and thriller for example. They come to life as soon as you turn it on and it also adds extra thrill which is so welcome in these genres. I also love it for chicklit as it usually light enough and don't require full concentration. I'd stay away from heavy literary fiction, if I were you. That sophisticated baby does better in printed/ebook version because it takes time digest those beautiful words. This includes a deep sigh and staring at the wall for a while (a.k.a. things I do while reading litfic)

To sum it up, audio book is indeed not the same as reading, but it's just another way to digest information out of a book. In my case, it also seems a bit nostalgic because it reminds me of my childhood, where a book was being read to me.

I'd like to know about you. Are you a fan of audio books? What is the first audio book you try? Tell us!

Review : Eragon by Christopher Paolini

2016-08-04T08:29:00.001+07:00

Title : Eragon (Inheritance #1)

Author : Christopher Paolini

Publication date : April 2005 by Knopf Books for Young Readers

Fantasy lovers, raise your hands is you haven't read this series! I am a little ashamed to admit that I know almost nothing about Eragon (except for the boy and his dragon ride, of course). You know, this series was big here in my country. I still remember bookstores hung around the posters with gimmicks like "the next Harry Potter" or something like that. People were so... into Harry Potter back then.

I watched the old Eragon movie. Can't remember the story, it was a long long time ago when the world was young and the hearts were pure. I actually was quite impressed with it but years after that, I wondered why they don't make the rest of the books into screen. I have this weird belief in me that when they stop making sequel movies, there's always something wrong. It could be the film makers to blame, or it could be the book that sucks (still remember This is why I read Eragon. I need to find out what's wrong, and I hope it's not the books.

I am not going to say much about the plot because first, many of you have read it and already know story. Second, there's nothing much going on. It's more of an adventure tale. So, it basically follows the one quest + wondering around formula. 15 year-old Eragon found a peculiar stone while he was hunting. He developed a special bond to it and one night it hatched. It was not a stone, but a dragon egg. Eragon didn't know what to do, he couldn't just abandon the baby dragon, so he took care of it secretly. It turned out that the wicked king Galbatorix was looking desperately for the dragon egg.

Alright, I need to stop right there. One more sentence, and I will spoil the entire book. The fact that this book was written by a 15 year-old boy really shows. It's like creaming at me. However it doesn't mean that its not good. I even think it's a quite nice work and by starting reading this series, I hope to see how much Paolini grows as an author. He clearly has the talent, whether he will use it to its full capacity, we'll see.

I adore Eragon and Saphira the dragon as I find them very likable. Eragon with his teenage naivety and Saphira with her wisdom, they compliment each other. It's a bit funny because Saphira is a very young dragon but she's so wise as if she's born thousands of years ago. This book is a good example of how a relationship of a character and his mythical beast should be. Now, let me show you this quote:

"First, let no one rule your mind or body. Take special care that your thoughts remain unfettered. One may be a free man and yet be bound tighter than a slave. Give men your ear, but not your heart. Show respect to those in power, but don't follow them blindly. Judge logic and reason, but comment not. Consider none your superior, whatever their rank or station in life. Treat all fairly or they will seek revenge. Be careful with your money. Hold fast to your beliefs and others will listen."

I am going to keep this review short because I actually don't have a strong opinion about it. Was it good? Yes, it's good enough especially since it is written by a teen. I have read better books, though. Will I continue? So far, my answer is yes. I didn't find anything wrong in this book, I even enjoyed it. Maybe the film stopped because it didn't get enough positive reviews? I don't know.

3 ratings for Eragon. I am now reading the second book, I hope it will be better and I hope to see the characters grow. What about you? Have you read this series? Did you like it?

Gosh, This Is Awkward! : Identical Book Covers

2016-08-01T10:02:00.000+07:00

I am a fan... nope, I am a sucker for pretty covers. Many books I added to my to-read list is because I think the cover is lovely. I also have this weird hobby of window-shopping around the web (a.k.a. Goodreads) for book covers hoping to refresh my eyes. I am sure I am not the only one with this habit, but hey, who doesn't love lovely art on their books?

For this particular post, I'd like to highlight some lovely books that actually have identical twins. Yup, different books, same covers. I think it's somehow unavoidable especially if you're using stock images to decorate your book. Some photographers are extremely talented, they consistently take great pictures it only makes sense that many people will fall in love with their work.

I don't know what to think about this phenomenon. The book below have pretty face, but there is a risk of people to confuse one title and another. Take a look at Flora, for example. I have mentioned before that this book has a place in my heart, but it's a pity that there are two different books that share the same face, Margie and When We Meet Again. All three use the same Drew Barrymore lookalike as their cover. Now imagine you are walking or browsing on a bookstore and tell me about the chance you'd confuse them with another. Pretty high, isn't it, considering two of them has similar color scheme.

Now, let's take a look at Twilight. Even a book as popular as this is not free from this happening. This apple picture is also the face of C.S Lewis book, Words to Live By: A Guide for the Merely Christian. Or J.K. Rowling's The Cuckoo's Calling and compare it lo Liza Sips' Soapsop. Oh, there's more! Take a look at Playing Dead and Playing with Matches. Notice both of the title start with "playing" yet it's not part of a series nor from the same author. They have nothing to do with each other.

I don't know what to think about this, because I actually love great photos but I believe that all books deserve a unique cover. I guess it's more than choosing the prettiest photo! So, what do you think? Have you ever mistake a book because it has similar cover? What kind of book cover you like the best? Photos, illustration? Tell us!

Review : A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor

2016-07-28T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : A Memory of Violets

Author : Hazel Gaynor

Publication date: February 3rd 2015 by William Morrow

A Memory of Violets actually wasn't on my to-read list. I had been eyeing this book for some times but acting like a dumbass I was, I kept on hesitating and postponing. It haunted me, really. Everytime I logon to Goodreads, this book pops up on the recommendation. Well, I do have soft spot for books about flowers or garden, maybe that is why it begged to be read?

This novel is true to the tagline : a novel about London flower sellers. What makes it special and heart-wrenching is, the flower sellers were two sisters age 8, Flora Flynn and 4, Rosie Flynn from a very poor family. Decades later, Tilly Harper discovered a box filled with trinkets and a diary of Flora Flynn revealing a heartbreaking facts about her life. I am not telling what it is, you have to read yourself.

The story is told by different perspective mainly by Tilly and Flora. Within the first few chapter, I knew that this novel was going to toy with my emotions. The entries from Flora's diary especially. It's written so beautifully that I could feel how painful her experience was. Mind you I am not a person who cries because of a book, but this one successfully made me sob like a possessed mad woman. I cried whenever I read Flora's point of view and I am glad because Gaynor arranged the chapters alternately, otherwise I'd end up sobbing until the last page.

I've walked the streets these last days and nights, desperate to hear Rosie's sweet little voice. Like the cock linnets, singing in their cages, that's what she sounds like. If only I could hear her sing. If only I could see that beautiful red hair. If only I could feel her little hand in mine.

I thought Tilly's story was just fillers and has nothing to do with Flora whatsoever. I was wrong. Tilly's point of view is also as interesting as Flora's. Don't blame me, though. She was just a 20 year old girl with a family crisis, which is not usual for people of her age. She also had her own mystery to reveal and although it didn't release my tears, I did find it touching.

"You'd do well to observe your appearance as closely as you observe those wildflowers. Sketching harebells will not find you a husband, Matilda, of that I am quite sure."

Don't you love it the way people back then defined success with finding a husband? While I am a family oriented person, I find it funny they judged a girl by whether she was able to attract a man. Oh, and I love how this book ends. It sort of giving me goosebumps although this is not a horror book to begin with. A lovely conclusion and I reached the very last page with a satisfaction.

Easy 5 rating for A Memory of Violets. Prepare a box of tissue if you intend to read it. I am sure you're going to need it. I have this feeling that this novel would be one of my top favorite book I read this year. It is still haunting me the very second I write the blog post. Now I'd love to know about what you read! What book made you cry?

Why I Love Reading Historical Fiction

2016-07-25T08:00:00.000+07:00

For those of you who visit this blog often, you might know that I have soft spot for historical fiction. Before my blogging days, I definitely didn't really know it was a huge thing. A friend of mine introduced me to Tracy Chevalier's work and I was hooked. She also actually helped in releasing my inner bookish side. After I read my first historical fiction book, I felt that it was nice actually nice to read something from outside your world without involving magic or dragons and the likes (a.k.a. the kind of book I was obsessed with back then).

So, next I tried to read more and more. Some were set in China, others in 17th century of England, most of them are wonderful reading experience. But, let me tell you my secrets, people. I sucked at history in school. I sucked big time. Well, my last day in high school was13 years ago now, I was young and foolish. I was also overwhelmed and I have no idea who is to blame for this. All I remember is that the teachers strongly encourage us on science and maths, while history, not so much. Like them, I used to believe that history is not a very important subject. Got good marks for history? Great! Suck at it? No big deal.

So, I was taught about history once a week. It was a very boring class and I fought with all my strength and soul not to fall asleep. During my boredom, I'd flipped up our text book and I discovered that this subject was actually pretty cool. It's such a shame that a subject as interesting as this wasn't admired by some people (teacher and students especially).

One of the perks of being an adult is you get to read whatever you feel like. In this case, high school boredom led me to historical fiction books. How? Well, since high school is over, I get to read any historical books I fancy. But they're fiction, you said. Yes. That's actually my reason, because reading text book (like my teacher used to do) is boring. I learned very little, but I was bored for hours. It's not a rocket science to tell that this method is not effective.

So far, historical fiction novels has been my catalyst in learning more about the past. It's not a substitute to learn from a good academic books, mind you, but I can say that if you learn it as a hobby, this can be effective and fun. I would read a book about one subject, let's say this book Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefield. If it not for the book, I'd never knew that there was a camp for Japanese people in the US after the business of Pearl Harbor. Or, maybe Empress Orchid or The Last Empress by Anchee Min. From them I learned that there were about 3000 concubines in The Forbidden City and many of them were never even summoned by the Emperor. Tragic, isn't it?

To sum it up, in my case reading historical fiction lead to more and more digging on a particular subject on my own. At least, I would Google it to find out if it's historically accurate, who were behind the tragedy and how it affects the people today. Almost (if not all), every country has their own dark past, and it teaches us that we are not perfect. Humans made mistakes, could hurt other people, we did things we're not proud of. History is like a reminder not to do it again. It's a shame that I didn't learn it thoroughly during school days, and this wonderful life lessons I learned on my blogging days.

How about you? I would love to know how you discovered this genre. What's the book that got you hooked? Which era/subject is your favorite read?

DNF Review : 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl by Mona Awad

2016-07-21T08:00:00.000+07:00

Title : 13 ways of Looking at a Fat Girl

Author : Mona Awad

Publication date: February 23rd 2016 by Penguin Canada

Humorous chicklit is one of my go-to genre whenever I feel like I need something fluffy. I am all for twist and turns but sometimes my old brain is too tired for all that and it makes me crave the sweet and light read.

So, I chose 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl, hoping to find some sweet and fluffy reading experience. If you take a look at the title, I bet you'd expect something funny. Unfortunately I can guarantee that that is not what you're getting.

This novel is about two overweight girls with their life problems. I can't give you further details because I stopped at around 20%, so I didn't know much. Just like other books I DNF, this book has too many appalling qualities that I decide to stop reading.

First, the book itself is confusing. It is written in short stories style, each chapter is a new story still related to the previous chapters. I find it to be extremely annoying. Why start a new theme when you still have something to say? Why make it look like short stories anthology while your story screams it should be made into a regular novel? Why catch a reader's attention only to ignore it later when you start the next chapter? I don't know what's behind the author's motive, but certainly this method doesn't work. Period.

Second, the characters are as annoying as dust mites. You guys, I've never been overweight, but these girls don't deserve a sympathy. They're bitter, cold and judgemental and believe that everything is about their weight. They hate others that have better figures, condemn them when they devouring their snacks. I can relate envy, but these girls are over the top, I can't stand them.

Later on I'm going to be really effing beautiful. I'm going to grow into that nose and develop an eating disorder. I'll be hungry and angry all my life but I'll also have a hell of a time.

To sum it up, my hope of feeling happier after reading this was ruined. 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl is a depressing story with depressing characters. Definitely don't pick it up if you don't feel like being annoyed. Such a shame because the first chapter started quite strong, only to get worse in the pages.

DNF, and an auto 1 rating for 13 Ways of Looking at a Fat Girl. Not my cup of tea. Gosh, I never thought that hunting for a good chicklit book wouldn't be easy! So, have you read any good chicklit books lately? Care to recommend some?