Read and Caffeinated

2017: The Boy, The Life, and The Stories that Got Away

2017-12-31T02:37:00.000+07:00

Almost everyone posted that this year has been 'a rollercoaster ride', yet they stated so last year, a few years back and maybe they will do it again next year.

To be honest, many times this year, I didn't think I could survive it. I thought of joining Club 27, just like that. So this post, I'm going to share a little about my life turbulence and revelations (who knows it would give you a few little tips) of how I see about life, job, dream, reality, and finally going to see a psychologist for help and even trying KonMari method for decluttering some shits in my life (and my bedroom).

When I was writing this post, I remember I read Sophia Bush once said in her interview with CosmoGirl a few years back regarding her divorce after three to six-month-old marriage, “Life throws a curveball at you and you go where it takes you.” The line actually has been in my memory ever since I read it and it sums up my life over these years quite well, not just 2017.

And when I turned 22, a friend congratulated me a usual ‘happy birthday’, but followed with an unusual line, “now that you’re 22, brace yourself, life will give you more pebbles to step on”. I took it as a curse.

She was right.

So here you go, my share about what had happened.

The Boy

If you have read or talked to me before, you'd know that I don't want to get married or that I'm being single yet so happy. So 2017 has changed a little. Oh no, I still don't consider to have a family. But things are surely shifting.

This was started by a guy I've been seeing (now not anymore). With me being tired with previous work and all that jazz, being with this guy gave me a little thing in mind: it is nice to have a partner, where you can have fun with and talk to. And yeah, it turned out I really miss to build romance. Never thought I would say this.

The reality is... he didn't see the same way I did. Maybe because I am 'different' from him. That could be his consideration or I'm simply not good enough. So that's why he and many other guys I've met are ... treating me like a piece of meat, can I say so? On the other hand, I never wanted to show bluntly that I was interested in him. I just showed that I cared and prioritized him---which he didn't see it or ... he forgot.

Well, with my detective skills due to cops/detective shows, I found out he didn't treat 'us' exclusive, as I found out he went out with many other girls too. This might seem so usual for a love story, right?

Yes, all of this was just because me being stupid.

So, I started out Tinder which I was quite thankful that we can search guys based on his age as I fond of much older guys (35-45 y.o). Even 35 I consider too young. Anyway, there I checked the app on and off. I got many likes, thanks to my photos. But none ever ended up well.

In fact, many of them are looking for sex (again, I'm a meat, eh?) for free, or they think I'm a prostitute, or whatsoever. I got stalkers too on Instagram, thanks to linking the account with my InstaPage.

The things about guys are whether they are looking for friends for benefits kind of relationship, they can't take me seriously, they're not being supportive of my ambitions, OR they feel insecure. Oh what the hell!

But this guy treated me more like a back up. I try to understand him. Maybe he doesn't want to lose 'a backup' and going transparent is a difficult thing. He probably doesn't want to do the dirty job on making it clear.

I'm hurt. That's it. Now again, I give up.

However, I learn something though. It's not Brigida Alexandra if I don't learn anything at all. (Ha!) Well, compared to Sansa Stark, I'm much more worse!

I think when something like this occurs, it's supposed to be us who takes action first. Learning that kind of guy will hurt, we shouldn't give him a chance. So even though I'm asking why and why he doesn't reciprocate the feeling, the effort, and all... I choose to stop blaming him (and definitely won't blame on other girls he went out with). I prefer to blame myself and make it as a lesson.

Well... we all need a lesson in life, right? That's okay, some people are destined to be lessons or blessings. But, I think being a lesson is also a blessing. Sipping more in life enriches us somehow. Bitterness heals us.

The Life

During one of my episodes (I got many panic episodes coming back-and-forth after the mid-year in 2017), I came to the conclusion that we DO always have a choice. It’s true. But it’s way more complicated than we think. You might have many options as possible, but in fact, you are put in the situation where the options you could take is only between choose the one you have to (not the one you’d like) and not to pick anything at all which means you stay in place, not moving forward.

2017 was the year that gave me lots of decisions to make. Big ones. That made me worried until my anxiety attacks paid me lots of visits.

On the other hand, I was fed up... with all disappointment on myself, the choices I've made and people around me---how they've treated me (read: how I just let them treat me like shits, exploiting and not give a damn to see myself as the same human as they are) and how they are changing sides (read: how they are easily shifting from disliking and black-campainging on someone to suddenly picking his/her sides in the name of business) and how they see my choices (read: their total lack of capability to simply listen, understand and open-minded and not fussing over my personal life).

I was fed up. Overworked, underappreciated and fighting alone.

Sailing the boat alone, that's how I felt for months in 2017. During those moments, I just didn't realize at first that I piled up shits people threw at me, and psychologically it changed me into someone who made a fuss on small stuff, got short-fuse very quickly, and turned out neglecting the most important things I should've considered.

Above all, it resulted in a 'new me' --- forgetting my own dreams to chase, ended me keep on blaming myself and everything (people and my incapability to fight). It funneled through me being depressed. There were nights I couldn't sleep without crying and asking why. Crying and blaming why I AM LIKE THIS---ugly, stupid and nothing. To sum up: useless human being.

You know I don't really have many people I trust to talk to. I can't get another angle. People that I know might just have got tired of me and my problems.

Family? I give up talking to them about my thing. They just don't understand my POV, choices that I made. Simply, I can discuss freely on many things without being told that I'm dumb, stupid or weird. Even when they're curious, they would ask in underestimating tone. Well, like Remy (Ratatouille movie) said, it's family, they don't have your ideals. It's not that I don't love them, it's just I need distance. So I'd rather not talk.

But the angle isn't always the problem. It's more to... when you have depression, you just need help.

It is sad that when you're in total darkness, people think you're just not grateful for your life. People start comparing my life and others, and why I still feel like a shit. They see depression as simply being sad, that it is easy to get rid of by not thinking about it. Oh you know... I wish! I wish!

I fear of what lies ahead, the political shake, the city is much more dangerous, economy is failing. I know too much, I know... and I'm always scared if I couldn't make it through coz I am all alone. No backup and support system. That sounds crazy that those things become triggers for panic attack. But the truth is.... with this condition, there is a thought where I wouldn't survive.

Entering this depression mode, I started to be more forgetful, easily get tired, I didn't want to go out (to see people or even to smile, to greet or to pick up some conversation lines), the feeling of wanting to be alone in my room locked up got even stronger, I was lost, and there's shifting behavior in line with all these.... and those came with crying all nights. Plus, I think of dying sooner and sooner, or just to end it myself. So, I actually made it to my first psychological help. And he stated that all those things I mentioned above were due to depression. Believe it or not, even though I couldn't be more open up in my first appointment, there was a revelation for me to start over and move on.

So this is what I also did. I decluttered everything in my room. You might not see it as something big, but actually, it would give you a big deal! Check this article, no joke. I kept many things in my room coz I feel like I 'throw away something nice' or 'forgetting important people (who gave the thing to me----which I care about) deliberately with the memory too'. Well, my room turned out consisting of expired makeup, old clothes I didn't wear for years (too small or too big), expired meds, snacks I never ate, and unused things and gadgets. Later, I sold an unused bluetooth keyboard online that I found, well first time! I tried KonMari which is working for me but, most importantly, I just need more space, like my own house.

Bookshelf relayout

That's for the non-living things. I decided to limit my network and interpersonal contacts. I don't reply, talk, or meet certain people I think would only give me pain and unnecessary annoyance. I need enhancing, challenging people, plus the ones that are supportive. It is important to be with people who see you as a human being, not their toy, subordinate or other... no matter they are disagreeing with you, but they won't bug or push you to be the same like them. Simple: respect.

Accepting that you can grow tired of being exploited (and it's different from being groomed or challenged!). That you may defend or throw an argument. That you deserve to be angry. That you crying isn't weak.

Plus, I don't like childish people. No... not the one who loves toys. Childish isn't a behavior where you still love toys even as adult. Not like that.

I learned that in life, I come first isn't always the same with selfishness. It depends on with whom you're dealing so they won't treat you second or less of a human than they are.

I know we say this all the time, but in 2017, I feel like I see quite enough to fully understand (with many more to come, I'm sure) that people change and pick sides beneficial for them. I see how people can easily regroup after speaking ill about them. Business speaks, man! Shocking and disappointing, but now I'm learning to laugh it all.

This is my life now. Struggling, yes... for the things I haven't made so far. Hopefully, I can make it.

The Stories

Dream and reality. To be honest, I missed my days in journalism work. I still want to be an investigative/war journalist... and I don't know if I might still have a chance when this is all over.

So many dreams, so little time. I've kept this story in my head for so long, yet not a single page I have done. I want to write it on my Wattpad since early 2017. Ha! What kind of writer am I?

Due to time constraint and my depression, I was (can I say 'I was'? Hopefully yes) forgetful, like seriously forgetful. So whenever I got ideas, they're just pfft...gone! I lost vocabs and forgot many terms. Even when I got the chance to write the ideas down, I sometimes don't recognise the writing and unable to understand what I waa trying to keep with that notes.

I want to write a book again. Can I have your support?

2017 is also the year where I hoard books the most. I read less than 10 books last year. The dullest phase in my life.

This should give me a reminder:

What to Watch: Critical Eleven?

2017-05-22T04:07:00.000+07:00

I was talking to my friend who is also booklover about out current reads at the time. She said she was reading Ika Natassa's Critical Eleven. I said to her, oh it's on my next target to buy, but not now....

I wasn't a fan of Ika Natassa, although I admit I love her writing style and her signature wordplay. So I didn't buy any of her book right away when it was released. But I told my friend, about how I love her short story in Autumn Once More. I can't remember the title, but it was such a nice short story. I love all of the short stories in it.

My friend... hasn't read anything in it, then asked me of what short story she made as all she knew, Ika Natassa never wrote one. "She did," I said. I told her in brief of how the story was...

"Wait! I think it's kind the same with the one I'm reading now, Critical Eleven. But it's a novel."

Ahh, she turned it into a novel. Worth one to elaborate more.

I don't follow her Twitter. Some of my friends said almost the same thing, that she gave lots of teasers there about this book, boosting the promotion prior to its release. She made it greatly.

However, after she told me that it's actually the same story... I bought it right away. I wanna know how Ale and Anya's story after they're getting apart at the airport.

In Autumn Once More, they met without a purpose but Ale for going back to rig for work, and Anya to travel. It's how the two characters were being put into turbulence of questions on their next stop in life during their flight. They got what they weren't expecting to come so soon: a spark of love.

Another question left in their minds before being apart: should they pursue it?

The answer was found in the novel form with the same name of the short story, Critical Eleven.

I was thinking it might be about how they search for each other and struggle the different timezones and all that, but not really. Ika Natassa surprised me with the plot twist, they're in separation after being married for some years. Then, we were led to the 'HOW IT HAPPENED'.

If you read reviews on Goodreads, you can see some reviewers saying, the character was so cold... the author did lack of research... and many details should be mentioned but they weren't. It all regarding around the 'HOW IT HAPPENED' became the root of the problems of the split.

Yes, it is quite upsetting for putting pregnancy (fail or not fail) to women only.

Yes, it is not sensitive for a guy to deal with brokenhearted mother with blaming 'what if'.

However, it is surprising on 'HOW IT ENDED'. Like seriously, you think another kid/baby can replace one that has gone? It is way more insensitive. One reviewer also complained about it.

But the more I think about it, I think Ika Natassa isn't trying to say that the second pregnancy was to replace the failed pregnancy, but as the form of second chance for both character to rebuild their life together.

Well, it was purely love story, with another 'hitting rock bottom' plot and how they overcome the situation. It was nicely written, very urban kind of feels, but plain. You might be wow-ed on awesome life Anya and Ale had, but not for the core of their love story.

So, I don't know whether I need to watch it. But I can tell you, I really like reading it, even though not a big fan of such kind of story. I was about to watch it premiere but the pre-sale tickets was sold out very quickly. Till now, I haven't watched it.

REVIEW: Soekarno Poenja Tjerita

2017-05-21T03:27:00.000+07:00

If you enjoy reading the websites or even as simple and quick as tweets of @SejarahRI on Twitter, you might be happy reading this one.

Been having this book as my bedtime stories lately. Put it on my desk beside my bed, sometimes I did sleep with it. Because I was overslept---many times. Because I have no nightstand. Well... many reasons. Most of all, I got only one hour before passing out to read the stories. It's just nice, though, to waking up beside a book while you got no boyfriend. However, one hour per day had been enough and wonderful for me to get this one finished really quick without needing to speed up.

So, this is a collection of shortstories in random timeline yet not able confuse me, though (Thank God! Coz I'm sucks with timeline). I can say, all of those story cuts were a bit scattered. That's why it is quite a page turner.

Even though it's scattered, somehow, each cuts highlighted many details that might affect the whole story we didn't realize. But I won't tell you here as it would be spoiler.

In the end, we realized that we have read history book with lots of joy and fast, unlike we did in school (with many same things and lie repeated, over and over). The point of this publication is to bring lots of funny and unique stories of Soekarno, in order to see him as a human being. And yes, they succeed to make us see the other side of such a big guy like Soekarno. He was indeed purely genuine one human being.

Oh, one little thing that surprised me: I saw photos of Soekarno riding a bike, but who knows he's really good at it. I mean, really freakin' great! It was said he could do freestyling? Hahaha... He was told as someone who can stop his bike without his feet touching the ground. Well, for someone like me who cannot ride a bike, I was like, 'Whoa...'

The book depicted Indonesia pre-independence and post-independence better than in history books we have in school. (Sorry I have to bring it up again). The writers in the book surely leveraged the journalism writing style, right from collecting the facts, data, and how they developed it before turning into writing piece. I can tell you, its writing style is also enjoyable and as inspiring as the lead character they told, seems that they were so inspired and on fire when they wrote this story as if they did storytelling for us about it in person.

Yet, all of this story might be rumours. Or this might be true.

I think we have to appreciate @SejarahRI for doing this, especially for Soekarno---from their website, twitter stories and go down to this book. From the intentions, effort, and writing style that is simply beautiful without trying too hard.

And yes, we finally can tell people to see Soekarno's life ended as a designated tragedy, not natural cause---just how some other people in this country and many else in the world believe so.

Certainly, other than more detailed ones, you might catch various unexpected twist and different version of the stories. Well, one thing today's generation agreed with past generations is that we cannot afford living in lies, that we need to rewrite the history fairly.

By the way, they also have Indonesia Poenya Tjerita and published by the same publishers.

Title: Soekarno Poenya Tjerita

Author: @SejarahRI

Publications: 2016

Pages: 199 pages

Published by Bentang Pustaka

Language: Indonesian

Rate: 4

REVIEW: The Spy by Paulo Coelho

2016-12-16T10:28:00.000+07:00

Title: The Spy

Author: Paulo Coelho

Publications: 2016

Pages: 208 pages

Published by Knopf

Language: English (translated from Portuguese)

Rate: 3.5

I remember I read the beginning prolog by Paulo Coelho in Eleven Minutes, where he met a guy who said to him that his books made him dream. Agree to that. Well...

It's been years since high school where I first read Paulo Coelho books. The first one was The Alchemist. Yes, the book gave more sort of hope in my despair and a motivation to find joy in reading (more of his) books. At the time, as a young bookworm, I felt gaining more peace and wisdom as I read Coelho's writings. Anyhow, with the current situation I'm having lately, those pledge in my heart fell off.

I'm back to be... another stressed out estranged dark person, trying to say hi to people with positive energy yet can't help with my own sadness.

No books have made me feel better for a long term. All has been short term.

When I heard that Paulo Coelho would publish another book, I was like... umm, okay. His latest works, The Aleph and Adultery were just ok. I loved them. But it's just ok. Maybe I wasn't just in the mood for such stories. It might another phase as a bookworm. Dark clouds have controlled all over me. Fine. Could be, no?

The situation changed when I knew the book is about Mata Hari. The alleged spy from the World War I. How cool, I thought.

So, when there was a pre-order from Periplus, I surely went for it! Again, every pre-order I make with Periplus, it makes me feel awesome.

Then I felt the sparks of long-lost excitement just like when I had in high school years, my first years with Paulo Coelho's books. I really can't describe how it was like, but it becomes a good motivation for me to get things done fast and right so I can have special time with it.

After reading about Mata Hari on the internet, I was hoping to get something more on The Spy. Certainly, her life as an Erotic Dancer that became an international sensation for art and visual pleasure wasn't ordinary. Even more, she was executed... because she was considered a spy.

Margaretha Zelle was born a Dutch. She married after finding an ad about a Dutch soldier stationed in Indonesia (Dutch East Indies) looking for a wife which turned out made by her former husband's colleagues. According to the book, she was molested by her school principal just like many of her classmates. Due to this misfortune, her husband became violent towards her.

This is where I remember Jesse Eisenberg's line in Cafe Society, life is a comedy, written by a sadistic comedy writer.

After giving giving birth to two children that one didn't survive, she witnessed a wife of another soldier who was captivated by her, committed suicide. She thought people might think if she killed that woman or whatsoever. The next day, she insisted to go back to Netherlands.

Once she got back with all the family drama, she decided to escape and create a new self. Named her self Mata Hari, without nothing, crossing the borders to France. Then, she did everything she could to survive---impress French elites with her made-up exotic and erotic Asian dance.

The fame didn't last long in glory as critics started to give negative reviews after piles of positives thrown to her once in the beginning of her debut. Imitators were following her steps and taking over her spotlight. Well, c'est la vie, huh? So, things were getting harder, although she survived by being a free woman... a mistress of high-rank government and army people.

It was almost all smooth for her, before the war burst out and the proposition came to her for being a spy for France and Germany. Yes, both.

What I learned from the book is that Mata Hari is so much different from the writings I found on the internet. Paulo Coelho wrote her as a victim turned a survivor, yet still naive and clueless. Well, she was indeed a charmer and had the capability to manipulate men. It's just she didn't learn her lesson.

Because all connections she made went nothing when she was caught in deep shit.

Her country, The Netherlands, preferred to stay neutral during the WW I. Ignoring their citizen's life who was at stake. Somehow, it was pretty unlucky, another unlucky fate she had, as she was actually trapped by her own spy game---a game where she never played her role as a spy!

I love how Paulo Coelho brought Margaretha Zelle's version of more humane, less cocky and simply unfortunate person who tried her best to fight for freedom (as a woman, as a human being). But some of the facts were different from the news you can find on the internet. However, I was expecting more deep research to be written here, which now after reading the book doesn't give me anything 'wow' moment, but confusions: which one is real?

Plus, I didn't find anything I've read before (from the internet) in the book, or maybe it's just rumour.

At the first pages, it opened by the day of her execution. The aging Mata Hari who refused to wear blindfold while facing her death given by the firing squads. It tricked me to think she was a Great kind of character.

Yes she was, but not that 'Great'. But I agree, she's really iconic, I can tell.

Even so, I know that Paulo Coelho dig more into her feminism power of becoming her own true self, by gaining control of her life after a messed up marriage.

But still, reading The Spy has very much different take out, unlike when I read The Alchemist or Veronica Decides to Die long time ago. This is just... plain. Maybe I have read so much about Mata Hari before I skipped these pages of The Spy. Maybe I was over-exposed of how media portrayed this woman as a failed and arrogant spy.

I can't lie that I was actually expecting her story when she was in Indonesia. Turned out, it was a crazy brief part of her life, but not much to tell despite she actually learned a lot of things I never thought foreigners might learn from Indonesians.

Well, if you haven't heard about Mata Hari, you might be a little surprised and wow-ed by her fight for life. It's a bit drama twisted plot, but still enjoyable, page-turner, and easy-reading.

December 2017 Wishlist - Marituka Secret Santa BBI

2016-12-13T20:12:00.000+07:00

Here comes the end of the year...

...where it's time for us to be nice (and naughty, too, it's okay) and make a wishlist for Secret Santa with BBI fellows.

It's sort of addictive to create the list, even though I'm piling up some goodies *peeking at my overloaded shelf* I remember this was quite tricky at my first Marituka (a kind of Secret Santa but not Christmas-y). Well anyway, as we would only get one book from the list, I'm thinking to re-create the wishlist, with the rest of book options from the previous Marituka.

Here you go! (with the new additions, of course)

Ok, dear my giver, How To Read A Person Like A Book can be found at Periplus. It might be available online, too. *wink*

The rest of the buddies are easily found at local bookstores, I guess. Ahh soo excited.

Good luck!

Woohoo!

Love, Equal, Dystopia - Equals the Movie Review

2016-12-12T03:18:00.000+07:00

It is hard to tell you how much I love 1984 by George Orwell. It has been one of my top list recommended books I will share to fellow bookworms. I'm not solely into dystopian even though I'm feeling like living in one.

On the other hand, I love Kristen Stewart's movies (Twilight series are my least favorable, though). I heard about her upcoming film, 'Equals' would be something like 1984. Of course, I wouldn't miss it!

A friend came up with sudden notice, luckily, work was... oookay, I can tell. So a few days ago, the film started occupying my head, with the song of 'The Feeling' by Justin Bieber and Halsey also stuck in my head for days and I kept singing and singing in heart.

So, what about it?
Aside that I found Nicholas Hoult was so damn cute, I found something that has been missing for so long---the feeling, itself.

[Spoiler alert, guys]

Silas (Nicholas Hoult) is an illustrator at Atmos, set in an unknown country affected by war in previous years. At first, we will be dragged into his boring life for quite long moment. Flat yet I think the director is trying to adjust our mind into the feel of dystopian life, when everything is controlled (by The Collective) and the citizen has nothing to do but work, eat and solve same old high tech puzzles every night before bed.

This romance science fiction movie brings room models in Ikea catalogue into life. Space effective and everyone dresses in one tone with same models every day. Yeah, life can be easy this way, though.

Here.... emotion, touches, love are forbidden. The citizen work and live their lives like a machine. They call those things are symptoms of an epidemic called 'Switched On Syndrome' or simply, SOS. The Collective, the leaders, are informing about the disease quite well enough, like on train and big screen in public. It is progressing from Stage 1 to Stage 4, where the person contracted with last stage of SOS will be taken to Defective Emotion Neuropathy facility, or the DEN.

As every character has empty mind and heart, we hear and feel silence from scene to scene. When Silas finally realizes that he is attracted to Nia (Kristen Stewart), you'll start to hear a melody---a plain yet stronger music score which plays a meaningful role in flat depiction... and sparks of colors between them.

After battling for what he has for Nia, he knows that Nia is giving him a clue to follow her into the bathroom where they start to explore each other, introducing themselves with feelings that caused by touches and energy from their emotional encounter. There, both of them develop deeper and complicated feelings for each other---getting into a phase called 'love' turning into the same black shadow inside the bathroom cubicle, two same equal human beings fight for their passion. To obtain this small freedom, they make effort every afterwork time to meet and talk, accepting that the two are SOS positive and embracing it.

One night, they are caught by the manager and decide to go separate ways to avoid death in DEN. Silas moves away from Atmos and gets another job. But Nia cannot take it lightly as she's drown lost and has difficulty to do her job. Then, she just appeared in Silas' apartment where they finally back together again.

When they become 'hiders' for hiding their love life, it was gotten into me, something that we've been lost or taken for granted---energy, connection and chemistry which were brought nicely in the scene. Those things make Silas and Nia much different than the other empty (read: dead soul) citizens (and me). At this point, I was reminded of what makes us human... the feeling inside us that we spark to people around us... the most basic element that makes us (feel) alive.

And yes, we are reminded that we are human, no matter what, created as a social creature where we'd always be in need of someone else. But far more than that, it is how far those feelings can take you and change you, bring you forward.

In this dystopian film, the love sparks between the two are marked by the colorful spectrum and loud pop rock sounds that vibrate the whole unspoken aspects that are considered forbidden in that sort of world. As if saying, those humane elements are actually simple yet very meaningful.

One day, The Collective announced that the cure which was said 'just around the corner' has finally been found. Of course, Nia and Silas don't want to recover. It is not death they are scared the most... but living without each other and the feeling are becoming the most fearful. The love that fills one's soul can fight against the misery of emptiness.

Equals the Movie takes me back to think of what makes a human human. Cracking down all the elements and put a question, "when we lost our capability to feel, would memory help us to remember and to regain what has been missing?"

The ending is predictable though, with a touch of Romeo-and-Juliet-alike with a twist of hope. Both suffer and try their best to maintain their future. Dragging me into a deeper thought that love MIGHT deserve a second try if it's equal.

I went home, energized and super happy... touched by the film. As it's been a while I'm turning into someone different, and that evening I was reminded of what I need to retrieve in me in order to feel alive in a better way.

Equals makes more futuristic 1984 world more real. Something that we all need to be worry about. As things are seemed to be obvious that we're heading there. Horribly, we're turning worse than we are now. Working everyday without knowing what it is for... no purpose, no soul. Our rights to be simply human is lost and taken from us. It's just complicated.

Well, if you haven't watched the film, here's the trailer. Get the DVD if you wish =) Coz I want to get one for myself.

Anyway, just like I told you... this film has let me drowning in another manic episode where I kept being mellow. And this song tears me apart even more... That's my drama, folks!

Blissful Sunday - On Trump, On Hillary, And What's Happening to Us?

2016-11-20T04:18:00.001+07:00

I know the election is driving us crazy. We have passed the US Presidential Election, despite people are intrigued by the results.

Yet, what is happening to us now? Changes we expect might (not) come. Some bad news will keep coming, too. It's predictably unpredicted. Post-Trump Speech, the stock is rising again after giving us a surprise shock. The rally goes on. As for me, my family is 'apart'.

But I'm telling you, like people always said about politics, 'poly and ticks'. You'll never win no matter who's winning. This is what most people are failed to see and to accept. Now, in Jakarta, only a few months to go for the governor election. While US have to deal with white or non-white differences, in this city, we deal not only with race, but also religion, as political game target.

Again, we are all apart. We're divided into different streams, standing up for people we believe are standing for us.

In Jakarta, now... even highly educated people lose their mind. Bashing their less favorable candidates with hatred and not-so educated approach and reactions---which, to me, is magnifying the truth that educated people in Indonesia doesn't show whether people have manner and dignity, and most importantly, conscience and logic. If I can be greedy, I shall add 'wisdom' to the previous sentence.

As I always believe, religions makes us lose logics. But, let's learn from the two candidates who have more world spotlight for the election.

What went wrong with Hillary?
I always think she's more capable in 'making America great again'. She has the experience and vision. And, I'm a democrat. I believe in gender equality and pro choice in Abortion Rights. I learned a lot from her, from her books.

Yet, on the other side, I do agree with Trump---which makes me accepting bitter reactions from the people who don't really get what is the real deal the world is enduring. First, I agree US should be more strict on immigrants. Why? ILLEGAL immigrants aren't welcome anywhere, why would Americans welcome them in US?

I know that many of those illegal immigrants might have harsh trouble in their home countries, but I'm sure there must be somewhere else for them to stay.... and manage their papers legally. US is facing weaker economy state. They have lost jobs, manufacturing jobs are gone... What kind of better life they can give to those asylum seekers? It's just going to make things worse for everyone.

What about immigrants who are illegal and being criminal? I think it is obvious why Trump needs to 'delete' those kind of trash for the sake of the country.

Sadly, I have to admit that I really dislike him for being misogynistic (maybe) due to some scandals emerged during the campaign. I hate that he can't control his language while speaking to woman or when speaking about woman. Such disrespectful.

I do understand, that this is a very difficult situation for Americans to choose whom to vote.
If, there isn't any media propaganda, which I am disappointed about from Hillary's side.

You see the media is being pro-Hillary. That's ok, though. But, not giving enough facts on Trump's vision? That's not ok.

Somehow, I can't imagine how the life in US is like, right now. Is it true that they're going back? Holding conservative christian's belief? Pro Life and anti-gender equality and anti-LGBTIQ? Why does it sound like life people have in Jakarta---like living in a cave?

Such attitude is so irrelevant, selfish, and disrespecting towards women and LGBTIQ.

Making America to be Pro Life again...well, if you hold on to religions too much, you'll forget how actually God wants you to. To use your brain and be wise.

We cannot let the government to rule over your body. Let say, if you see two pregnant women without husbands, it doesn't mean their lives and miseries are completely the same so you can apply one solution 'Pro Life' to be the answer for all.

By being Pro Choice, you'r communicating that society should respect women as equal individuals like men who can be independent and responsible for their life choices. That's what I call as respect. Society needs to be supportive in everyone's distinguished and particular conditions for them to make wise choices which might impact the society in bigger picture itself.

Once again, I learned from Hillary.

"This is one of the worst possible choices that any woman and her family has to make. And I do not believe the government should be making it. You know, I've had the great honor of traveling across the world on behalf of our country. I've been to countries where governments either forced women to have abortions like they used to do in China or forced women to bear children like they used to do in Romania. And I can tell you the government has no business in the decisions that women make with their families in accordance with their faith, with medical advice, and I will stand up for that right." - Hillary Clinton on Abortion Rights, at Presidential Debate.

Those three things are every important for me, a feminist, to fight for. I read Living History by Hillary Clinton years ago (when I was in college). From the book, I learned, "Too many women in too many countries speak the same language, of silence..."

There, it's tough to choose. US Presidential Battle in 2016 has shown us really well... we're hardly winning in politics. Even though we can still expect good things coming up in US (I always hope 'we'll always have America' still possible), there are things we need to fight for. Again, over and over.

I think, we're in the point where everything is still so biased. In Jakarta, religions close people's eyes and mind. Religions and races are the effective political vehicle in Indonesia. And that's what happening to us now. What's happening? It's just that we don't learn.

Rally against Trump is on. Minority victim numbers are adding up. What happens therr affect how scared Indonesian majority are...and turning it back to minorities here, in a way, making it easy for politics to drive them.

So who's gonna win? The game itself.

Money Broke for Books? Time to Deal with It!

2016-10-24T04:00:00.000+07:00

I know it's almost getting to pay day, but it's still a few days away.

Let's face it, you're struggling towards the end.

No matter what reasons behind the fact that you're broke every end of the month, it could be you ran out of money due to many unexpected urgent needs, shop too much, or bad money management... nevermind.

Get over it.

Do better next month.

Start today!

...at least, start by reading this post.

Most of us need food everyday, some of us also need (new) books. *peeking at those book piles every corner in the room* *bless me God*

I'm going to share some tricks (1) to make you survive to the pay day, and (2) to help you do better next month and ahead so you can finance your book desires, including other needs.

The Power of Plastic Cards

No, I'm not suggesting you to buy one (or some) with credit cards. No more debts to the next following month for you, girl!

I'm talking about giftcards you can hunt from many blogs or websites to win. Too much hassle?

Ok, you can check your bookstore membership cards! Members usually have, well at least, 10% discount. Not much, but helpful. Make sure you ask for 'special offers for members', who knows... Just because.

I myself have Periplus and Books and Beyond membership. I'm collecting more stamps for my Aksara Bookstore membership.

Gramedia also has membership cards, a tie-in with Flazz Card BCA one, however, I'm not that interested yet. They have 10% off for Gramedia publishers books. Previously, you can have 10% using any Flazz BCA cards. Now, not anymore =(

Library Visit

Oh, what about it? Go out and hunt for free reads in a most quiet (maybe peaceful) and anti-mainstream place on earth today.

Coz love doesn't always mean you have to own it. Your love for books will last. Everyone knows!

It's time to brace yourself into an adventure of finding a random book or cross-genre reading challenge. As I'm a believer of live life limitless therefore I read without limits.

You can visit local library nearby. As for me, I'm in Jakarta and we got Reading Room in Kemang. My favourite =) There's one far away in Lebak Bulus called Rimba Baca, a place I've never been.

Now I miss how it is in the States where there's library in your area, instead of religious praying area like in Indonesia.

What About Digital Library?

In case you're really that broke that you cannot go anywhere but just to stay home, you can count on your gadgets and free wi fi at home. There are many sources where you can read books online for free and legally.

Even better, if you have library membership in the States, you can download OverDrive and put your library in the app and access with your usual digital login. You can try others apps developed by Moco and maybe BookMate.

When I say 'many', I mean it. Expand the list with Google =)

End of Bookhoarding

Don't you wanna check your bookpile before you crave for another new reads?

This might end your heavy burden to slip every one book between another in the bookshelf. Your shelf is so going to explore.

Prevent it from happening by scan them one by one and try to remember how each one book ends. This might help you to decide if you have really read it or not. Coz many times we think we did read it, but we haven't. Like me, I have ADD and short term memory loss. It happens a lot.

Done reading them all? ANOTHER TIPS: Try to fix your shelf by re-arranging those books in place again could help you thinking from buying more. Well, it will stretch your bookshopping mood until the next pay day.

Free Books on Google Play Store, Everyone!

Yeah guys! Freebies!

What more can I say? And remember, don't judge a book by its cover =)

Tap the 'Entertainment' tab, besides 'App & Games' and voila! Do you see where it is said 'books' to click? Enjoy!

It Doesn't Have to Be New

Time to Bookswap? Waving your friends or post a tweet or status on Goodreads who wants to swap.

Thankfully, I have bookblogger groups on What'sApp, forums, and book club buddies I can always scream to whenever I want to do this. I'm sure you're surrounded by cool people whose books you want to have. On the other hand, time to get rid of your least fave book collection, right?

Some say, secondhand books are as worth as what those people say secondhand Balenciaga. Even though, I don't think it's the same, but you can have a new book finally somewhere in Betterworldbooks.com or Half Price Books. Unfortunately I don't know where to find this kind of places in Jakarta, but I recently got followed and likes by online bookshops on Instagram.

The Power of Plastic Cards (2)

I have to repeat this point. I know they're amazing somehow!

Manage your book funds with another kind of plastic cards.

These cute Flazz Cards, E-Money---all those money that you topped up in a plastic cards---are not only handy for fast payment process. It can help you budget and limit your funds in certain amount, dedicated for books.

That's how I do it. So, I can always have money to buy books when I need it.

I'm using Flazz Cards BCA since years ago. You know I must have been grabbed by the cute designs. Yes! But the design determines what the money in the card is for.

I put the Batgirl Flazz Card for toys and Hello Kitty & Dear Daniel under Cherry Blossoms for books.

Save More for Books!

Yes, coz you know you'll need some bucks for this thing every month!

You can use your Flazz Cards, but I also have my Jenius account. It's an app where I can save and have another saving for certain needs. With interest, too!

The app comes with a Debit Card. Visa one. And a virtual card if you want to buy online books. You can buy books online with this... without worry. Why? You can set a limit of how much you want the money spent from the app to buy books (or any other things). Everything is under you control.

There's my favourite feature from this app, called DreamSaver. It's another saving section for your wishlist. I'm having Julia Child's cookbook as my wishlist. The new one is very expensive but I want the new one so bad. So, I'm going to save with this DreamSaver.

DreamSaver allows you to reach your wishlist/dream by auto-debiting your money in the app into this section everyday. Depending on how much and how fast you want to achieve the dream. Sometimes, you don't realize if you don't go take away coffee everyday, you can afford what you want. This is how the app helps you. It will send notifications every time it will deduct your money to be saved in DreamSaver section.

Good luck, girls!

4 Books to Movies in October 2016

2016-10-10T00:56:00.000+07:00

Hey all! I just got home from cinema, watching Snowden the Movie.

I was so impulsive. Calling out a friend to meet up for dinner and... bought the tickets when I landed. Crazy. Just can't wait to watch it. Searched all the closest XXI with perfect schedule.

20.45, it was. So be it!

Then, I simply realized that there are some movies made from great books you might have read already.

Well, I'm very bad in judging whether a film do justice to the book or not.
But if you're thinking for a movie day or day out. Maybe you can spend with one or two of these movies on the list.

It's after Me Before You movie, and now you got these!

***

---> THE GIRL ON THE TRAIN (Watched | 3.5 stars of 5)

For Gillian Flynn fans, you might like the book. It's thrilling and a real page-turner. I mean, it's narrating women's drama life but with a taste of danger.

You like it? Yeah, we got the movie. I've always loved Emily Blunt since I saw her in Devil Wears Prada and Salmon Fishing in Yemen. In The Huntsman: Winter's War, she's okay but this one you'll see more convincing acting than that one. *grin*

---> SNOWDEN (Watched | 4 stars of 5)

Despite the reviews saying that the director Oliver Stone 'is playing safe', this movie makes me leave home on a lazy Saturday. I usually won't ever think to leave my bedroom in raining 4pm.

But, I did!

I'm a big fan of 1984 from George Orwell. That book always makes me into international security thing, which I took online course on Terrorism Studies right now (still trying to pass the class), and anything in between. Well, I just can't understand, how could he be so visionary about all this stuff that is happening today.

*You might want to check this link from the Guardian, too.

News coverage on Snowden intrigued me years ago. Then, books about them start to be published: The Snowden Files written by Luke Harding and Anatoly Kucherena's Time of the Octopus. This year, we're about to see the combination of the two, interpreted into a movie, Snowden.

I have seen the film and I think... it's not disappointing. Joseph Gordon Levitt still brings out my sympathy as he delivers Snowden's sincerity in the whole film. The good thing is.. the plot is easy to follow for a better understanding of what the complicated sh*t is happening.

---> MISS PEREGRINE'S HOME FOR PECULIAR CHILDREN (Will watch soon)

Calling out fantasy lovers!

I remember seeing the book cover for the first time. I was in the middle of photoshoot when the model I was working with reading this book. She strongly recommended me this. Funny, I rarely found a model who's reading in my fashion magazine experience. Don't get me wrong, it's just not my luck to meet fellow bookworms so often in my job.

Well, with the original cover... no matter how the story is intriguing, I never thought that this one would be made into movie. Even Tim Burton as the director. Alice in Wonderland mix-match with 'Tim Burton's gloomy and darkness' style.

You can see these children in the book (and movie) as mutants as in X-Men but in peculiar way. Yeah, X-Men with Sucker Punch fantasies (only it's teen friendly).

...and it reminds me of Lemony Snicket's Series of an Unfortunate Events, as well.

---> INFERNO (Will watch next Saturday and update)

Yeap, I guess people who are going to see this movie are whether they're Dan Brown fans, and the ones who have watched the previous movies and still hoping.

The story is still engaging like the other books of Dan Brown. Yet, can't tell you how the movie interpretation will turn out. As the second one was disappointing, in my humble opinion.

Anyway, the author has his big fanbase and I'm going to join the special screening with the fan group before public can even watch in regular screening (if nothing ever is on my way this Saturday).

UPDATE: Yes, it's a kewl movie. Very attention grabbing yet many details missing (or that I missed 'em). Take it easy, don't keep your expectations high.

Enjoy October!

Le Livre Festin: Are You Coming to Big Bad Wolf Book Sale Jakarta?

2016-04-30T09:38:00.000+07:00

For me, yes! I did come yesterday, It was preview day where everyone with tickets can enter.

YES, I'm lucky!

But don't worry, it opens for public without any entrance fee starting today, 30th April 2016 in ICE, BSD. It might be a little more crowded than yesterday...

I joined with a group of cool bookish people from Jakarta Book Club and got a rare chance to see the whole-full storage while Andrew Yap, the founder of Big Bad Wolf Book Sale says, there are another five containers of books will be coming shortly. These books will be placed in display island every two days. Awesome! A reason to go back.

They bring 1,5 millions of titles. I'm sure you'll find you're looking for. BBW is a famous book event in Malaysia, now they're trying to make us also happy here. 1,5 millions is almost half of titles they had in Malaysia. Well, this is their first time in Indo. Hopefully they could come with more titles next year!

Ignore my sleepy eyes! I'm surrounded by 1.5 titles. So happy!

I didn't find that many of the preview day, so yeah... definitely, revisit is a must. What are the interesting part?

The staffs are super friendly and book lovers.

Yes! They understand what you're looking for and they are super happy to help you out looking for what you search. They even gave me tips, the books are piled based on surname alphabetically. My experience, I asked someone to help me to find another Moyes' book. She helped me to search and even asked another friend of hers to find it.

I saw another visitor even asked for recommendation. These staffs went along with him, giving suggestions.

Trust me, they have trolley...

So, if you're being doubtful whether you want to buy the book you just found. Just put it first. No worries. I was thinking whether to buy Poached. I didn't put inside my trolley. When I finally decided to buy it, it was gone!

If you came with heavy bag, the trolley might help you, too!

And they have storage, too!

One trolley might not be enough. Bringing two trolleys with you might be trouble. Ok, they have storage for you to keep it for awhile. They will put your picks back in display islands within 24 hours if you don't go back to get them back. Happy?

Bringing wheeled suitcases.

Just in case you came where all the book you're looking for are there to be found by you... you're lucky. But buying more than 20 books in a plastic bag? D'oh. Don't worry, don't be shy bringing suitcases. I have friends there who did that. Easier! All you need it to push those books with you.

Make sure you put the books in horizontal when the suitcase is standing. Won't hurt the books at the bottom. Here's the detail from bookriot.com How to Pack a Suitcase Full of Books.

They have many genres!

I'm serious. Including these...

From this...

to....yeah... cookbooks!

So, you'll find classics, comics, graphic novels, harlequins, politics, auto/biography, etc. Just be happy there! I'm guaranteeing you... a heavenly visit!

They are in partnership with Mandiri bank.

Which means... you can only do debit payment with Mandiri cards. Or, you can pay with any of Visa-Mastercard Credit Cards.

And yes, you can pay by cash.

What did I get on preview day?

Didn't get a chance to find what's in my wishlist. It was their preview day, anyway. So, I'm soooo going back again for more classics, business books, cookbooks, and award winning ones!

Ok, now it's time to talk about HOW I get there...

For those who live in BSD, you might be lucky this time. For me, it's an adventure!

I got a half a day off from my work...but it was also one of my lovely bosses' last day. *sad* I shouldn't miss our last lunchie as colleagues. So, I left at around 1.30pm. My colleagues told me it would take hours to get there by car. They suggested me...by train!

Trust me, it was my first time to go by train in Jakarta. From every train in the world, I only tried MRT in Spore. I didn't know why I agreed just to leave by train, while we all knew the public transports in Jakarta aren't really reliable. It cost me IDR 12k only as I'm a first timer and I have to buy the refundable access card. The tix itself is only IDR 2.500.

Adventure it is.... I left alone. My office building is in Thamrin, so I was told to go to Tanah Abang train station. Believe me, it looked awful but I was lucky it wasn't rush hour. Some officers were helpful, some weren't. I got to ask many people there because the signage isn't helping. I even asked an officer...well, I got to wait for an officer to finish fighting with a guy before I could ask.

Officer to a stranger: @#$%^&*@#$%

Stranger: $%^&@$%^

Officer: Go away!!!

Me: Hmm, sorry Sir.. I need to ask. Which way I shud go to? I am going to Serpong.

Yes, that awkward.

I knew that I still had my journo instinct somewhere inside. When I was about to jump in the train, I wasn't sure. Then I saw a guy with journo ID tag. "Hey, from K*****TV? Is this train heading to BSD?"

He said yes. So, I jumped in. There wasn't any officer to ask.

Long story short. I jumped out into a weird train station called Jurang Mangu. Then, you could summon an Uber car. It costs me around IDR 40k. But...

The driver asked, "Did you jump out to the wrong station?"

I said, "No, I was told to jump out to that station."

He said again, "You shouldn't. You should jump out to another two stations after Jurang Mangu."

There! Lesson learned.

Jurang Mangu station was... weird. They got many paths that made me confused, which way to take. Someone helped me out. I was lucky, the Uber driver miraculously could find me before it was raining, as I got to wait by the street, 100 meters from the station.

Overheard Corner: Feminism, Gender Equality (In A Book Club)

2016-03-20T02:40:00.000+07:00

Last week, it was my birthday. I was born on March 9th, in the morning of Jakarta time while the other part of the world still 'celebrates' International Women's Day. And so last week, part of the world is dominated in pink to celebrate women and... equality.

Talking about women, nowadays, cannot be separated with equality issue. When IWD came to 2016, my friend's Book Club is taking the issue with a popular book.

It was cool. Lots of men and women attended the club and shared the POV and situations. Yet, men's old ego and conventional thoughts were in, as well. Interesting.

The first pages of Lean In is about girl being bossy at work. Oh shits like that happen. Men can be bossy, but women can't. Men deserves better salary and privilege. If women wants more, they have to face sayings like "ambitious, selfish, and forgetting birthright" thrown to their face along the way.

So, people from book club... why is it interesting?
It's book club.
Where I think, people who read books are supposed to be smarter than those who don't. More open-minded and have knowledge more than anyone else.

Don't get me wrong. I naively think people who don't read aren't just plain stupid, they're just good at something else. (((MAYBE))).

Turns out. It's a blurry thing...of being open-minded. Once again, we found ourselves back in grey area.

A male programmer came up with statements and question. Long story short, he doesn't believe that women can do programming, because it's a man thing. Well, I was a VB programmer and web programmer starting when I was 12. I created my first website when I was 13. I received the best grade in school, winning from those men. It's just a matter you're interested to do it or not.

After the club was finished, I got introduced to a boy. I don't know his age and education background... or what books he has read. But this is our conversation:

This Guy: "As this is about women, not many of men coming. Usually there are many men, too."

Me: "Oh, really? So they're not coming because the women theme?"

This Guy: "Kinda"

Me: "Ha! So this is equality, huh?"

This Guy: "Yeah, I don't believe and agree with gender equality."

Meh....

---this stupidity surprised me.

Me: "What? Why?"

This Guy: "People aren't born the same..."

Me: "Yeah, everyone is always different."

This Guy: "There's rich and poor... we all can't be the same."

Me: (this guy is definitely @#$%) "Of course, but you're not born to be men or women, or rich or poor. This equality isn't just about a piece of shit. This is about more than anything you can imagine. See if you're poor, somebody says you can't receive better education. That's not fair. If you want it, you should be given a chance or people should let you try. and not stopping you. No matter what you're born to be, you should be allowed to chase what you want to do."

This Guy: "yeah, correct. Just like LPDP, the people who receive the scholarship is mostly upper middle class."

Then I started to get confused. Did he get the point? Or did he just try to runaway because he couldn't answer me back? Dragging the topic to LPDP receiver?

So yeah. Books are great stuff. But again, books are media. You have to choose what you read and believe. Or you shall be misled.

These men can say such thing like this because the so-called lame patriarchal culture. Why? On TEDx stage, Michael Kimmel ever said, 'privilege is invisible to those who have it'.

In mass media, we were given an analogy: does fish know that they live inside water?

People with power won't realize until what they have is taken away from them. Just like the fish. they won't ever thank for water they have until they live inside water. Once they are taken out from water, they will struggle to breathe and finally understand that it's actually the water that allows them to live.

Talking about equality won't be solved in a day. The change the world has for gender equality is actually like a fight with an iceberg. Too much power rooted down, so strong and unseen.

The challenge isn't just coming from the men who stands up with patriarchal. But also from lazy and brainwashed women who just gave up, who just bitch up towards other women, and who doesn't think far ahead.

What I think gender equality is.... that we shouldn't be classified of what we are. The same chances, the same respect.

I know some woman who still don't want to bring heavy stuff and saying that it's men thing. You know, even man has his own limit. It doesn't mean that you're a woman that you can't hold up heavy stuff. We all have certain limits. Every human does, not classified whether you're man or women.

I remember someone used to said, male pride only burdens and trouble man himself. He has to keep strong, not showing emotional feelings while he actually needs to. Some men are just faking up their strength to hold on their manly image. And it's exhausting.

Gender equality isn't arriving as it is the time for 'coming of age'. It's a matter of when we realize we should.

I Am Malala tells us that there are some men who oppose women for education; learn from Jane Eyre to make decisions for yourself; Living History opens up the journey to make it between love life, family, career and politics with betrayal in the middle; Entrok shows that feminism and modernity changes in each generation and yet spirit to fight conquer anything; Aku Jalak, Bukan Jablay reminds us that people see widow differently and unfairly; and, it is much more harsh for women who committed affairs? Madame Bovary shows love does should be passionate, as well.

REVIEW - Jerusalem (Cookbook) by Yotam Ottolenghi & Sami Tamimi

2016-02-28T04:26:00.001+07:00

When I say, "read without limits", I really mean it.

Books can save your life, living out from your bubble without actually leaving it. Sounds like Mathilda?

Anyway, I mean it (once again). Books can save your life and reading limitless could help you living throughout everything. Nowadays, there's nothing you can't do if you have (the right) books ... and YouTube---oh well.

'Anyone Can Cook'. I wish the book by Auguste Gusteau does exist. However, we have many other cookbooks to help us in the kitchen.

So I have been viewing (and reading) some recipes from Yotam Ottolenghi, Jerusalem. I don't have the book, but some recipes in the book can be seen online as well.

Click to view Ottolenghi's website

Recipes from anywhere should be adjusted to your own preference. Like in Ottolenghi's, some unknown ingredients I don't know and probably not available in my country. I'm reviewing this cookbook by cooking one of the recipes, shakshuka.

Some people also call it as Tomato Baked Eggs or Tomato Eggs? But in Jerusalem, it's Shakshuka. There, period. It has no meat. I am a meat eater and I hate vegetables, except broccoli, cauli flower and spinach only when it's thinly chopped and cooked with rice and ginger. Getting to Catholic fasting month, maybe this dish can be a way out when I have to skip eating any meat for a day. Or not. I just love eggs, so I think, why don't I try to cook another way to eat eggs?

Shakshuka, then. It's a Mediterranean dish. Reading the recipes, the ingredients should create a unique taste on the tongue. Tomatoes, with spicy paste and egg. This recipe is the first one that pushes me 'playing' with cumin. The interesting part is that the authors are Yotam Ottolenghi who is Israeli-Jewish and Sami Tamimi is Palestinian Arab. Both of them were born in Jerusalem. Together, they bring new level of Israeli's cuisine in mixed-cultural collaboration. Interesting, isn't it? I feel peace while trying this recipe in my kitchen.

Ok, this is my second time cooking the dish. My first time, my only pic of it was... blurred. I'm trying my best to take pics with my smartphone with shaking hands in the middle of rush cooking.

First try!

So, first...

Guess what, I have to ground the cumin!

I managed to find an excellent YouTube video on cooking Shakshuka. It's from Home Cooking Adventure. Scroll down to find the video. I change some ingredients I can't find with what she had in the video to give spicy flavor.

Oh yes, the red bell pepper is diced and looked like shiny dried cherry! It tastes different for sure.

Here comes the cooking part!

They say it's for breakfast, for lunch... for dinner. I made it for dinner. With my favourite carbo: pasta! You can add ground black pepper for better taste and fragrant, also fresh parsley. Next time, I will create an improvisation with minced beef, making it look like marinara.

More freshly ground black pepper and grated cheese will make it more fun, I think. If you like those two of course. A nice presentation will deliver perfection to your Shakshuka.

Here's my amateur try!

I understand Julia Child would love bloggers who try to cook to share what they learn in trying recipes.

Lesson learnt:
1) I put less salt and it was weird. I should put some more braver!
2) Yes, I should've put grated cheese after it's finished. Let it melt while shakshuka is still hot. Nice?
3) I didn't try how it tasted before I ended the cooking process. Take a taste to make sure things are okay. I got to do emergency fix, in my case.
4) My problem was that I didn't ground the cumin too soft. It didn't make any trouble. But, for 1 tsp cumin, if it was well ground, the taste could be more 'enhanced' evenly.
5) Don't dig the shakshuka too deep when you're about to crack the egg and put it in. The yellow won't show. It's not that important, just to make sure if those eggs would look like eggs.
6) The measurement for spices are perfect! But adjusting to your own taste is always fine, though. I used less red bell pepper (1 pcs) and tomatoes (4pcs). The rest is alright.

Take some more ideas to cook Shakshuka from Home Cooking Adventure's video below won't hurt =)

Good luck!

Marituka 2016

2016-02-22T03:46:00.002+07:00

This is embarrassing. I have been Indonesian Book Bloggers member for years, but this is my first time joining in an event held by the group. Oh well, here you go! I'm telling you how excited I am to give and to receive books (and playing riddle in the middle) from this special-yet-casual event called Marituka Jabo.

The idea is that each member of the group will give someone else a book of her/his wishlist, and on the hand, another person in the group will send a book to him/her with a riddle to solve on who is the mystery giver. The book to be put on the wishlist should be 150k max... aaaanndd I hope I put the right books onto my marituka wishilist. It's funny, kinda hard for my long waited books to pop in my head. At last, I have to think of a cute way to send my target a memorable riddle of myself before I send out the book of my target.

So, here are some book picks for my mystery giver on my wishlist. I hope you don't have any trouble for my late wishlist and any difficulties in finding one of these. I think I have seen some copies sold less than 150k =P

For Eka Kurniawan's Pramoedya Ananta Toer dan Sastra Realisme Sosialis, I have to put the link where the pic belongs to. It's hard to find the official cover for common use.

I wish these are enough... Can't wait for the exchange to happen!

Playster x Read and Caffeinated: What Type of Coffee Would Your Favorite Book Boyfriend Be?

2016-01-16T23:32:00.000+07:00

Hello readers! Happy 2016 =)
To start the year... well I know this is a bit late but coffee never goes outdated, so today Read and Caffeinated is excited for a post from Playster!

Like most readers, the staff here at Playster love to sit down with a nice cup of joe and a great book. With unlimited to access with some of the greatest titles, it’s easy to get lost in a story for hours. One afternoon while reading Wuthering Heights and sipping on a cappuccino, we got to thinking: if Heathcliff was a cup of coffee, what would he be? Then we started dreaming up all these other literary boyfriend/coffee combos. How do you feel about these?

Christian Grey would be… an espresso lungo.

Mr. Grey, we want to drink you up, what with you being tall, dark and handsome and all that. You’re sophisticated, and being with you makes us look sophisticated too, but your bitter aftertaste makes us think twice about whether you’re really all that good for us.

Mr. Darcy would be… an affogato.

You know when you want something sweet, but not too sweet? Scoop yourself up some vanilla (that far superior) ice cream and pour some hot espresso over it. The blend of sweet and bitter flavors will leave you hooked, much like Mr. Darcy himself. Let’s be real for a second: Mr. Darcy didn’t make the best impression at first, and in that way he’s a lot like a black shot of espresso. But when you add sweet, cool ice cream to the mix, you’ve got yourself arguably the most delicious combo of all time…

Heathcliff would be… a macchiato.

Oh Heathcliff. You poor, dark, twisted soul. I mean, we still love you, but just a teeny tiny bit, like the same amount as the small dash of a milk in a macchiato coffee. The rest of you is too bitter to handle, and you’ll never be as soothing as a full blown café latte….but to be clear, at the end of the day, we’d still drink you up.

Noah Calhoun would be… a mocha.

Noah continues to be the best leading man Nicholas Sparks ever wrote, for many reasons. We could write whole books on why he’s perfect, but we’ll save that for another day. If he were turned into a cup of coffee, Noah would totally be a mocha, the best of chocolate and coffee combined—sweet, desirable and utterly flawless.

Romeo Montague would be… a café con leche.

Romeo, Romeo, what flavor art thy Romeo? You’re a café latte’s tortured older brother, of course: the infamous café con leche. Think about it: you want a nice warm cup of milk and coffee, warm enough to take that first sip as soon as it’s in your hands. Instead you get a café con leche with scalding hot milk and BAM! You’ve burnt your tongue. No one said loving Romeo was easy; just look at poor Juliet...

Peeta Mellark would be… a cappuccino.

Poor, sweet Peeta has experienced enough hardship in his life already, so we’re not going to transform him into a coffee. Instead, after the revolution has ended, we like to imagine him finally getting the chance to sit down with a nice Cappuccino (complete with Mockingjay foam art) and a fresh-baked croissant—made with his own strong hands, of course. ;)

Jay Gatsby would be… an americano.

The Great Gatsby is the epitome of the rags to riches tale, albeit not in the most legal of ways. For that, we think Mr. Gatsby would be an americano. You order an americano when you want an espresso but aren’t ready to deal with a sophisticated shot. Add some hot water to the mix and make it last a little longer, kind of like how Gatsby holds on to his past experiences with Daisy when he knows in his heart that they can’t really be carried forward into the present. Can you tell how serious we are about coffee yet?

So, who’s your favorite literary man? Does he match up with your regular coffee order? Let us know in the comments!

Check Out Playster!

Playster is an on-demand entertainment service that takes care of everything: books, movies, music, games, whatever the moment calls for. Boasting the world’s most diverse digital collection, Playster offers everything from timeless classics to the newest blockbusters, on almost any device. Members get all their favorite things in one place, with unlimited access to titles from the world’s largest publishers, labels, movie and game studios, as well as specific niches and hidden gems. Constantly evolving with new content and features, Playster is the future of entertainment. Follow them on Facebook and Twitter for updates.

REVIEW - Re: by Maman Suherman

2015-10-08T23:30:00.000+07:00

Title: Re:

Author: Maman Suherman

Publications: April 2014

Pages: 150

Published by POP - KPG

Language: Indonesian

Rate: 4.5

I think I would not ever see that crossing into big mess could turn out into a blessing. Thanks to Maman Suherman who puts it that way. I mean, blessing in this case means... it doesn't keep you in the dark, instead it reminds you to be grateful. Especially when it comes to make you understand differences and to be tolerant on that. Something that most people fail to do.

My dear friend who works in a publishing company and I met in by coincidence. She has been one of my 'clients' in the film festival I worked for (and it's been my 5th year there). There was a book launch event, by an editor-in-chief whose magazine is under the same company as the magazine I worked for previously. I was still at 'THAT MALL' at the time. She told me about this book and might be great for the next event.

And yes, Re: became one of the books that I organized the event some time ago.

I had to read the book before I could proceed for the book event. What I went through until the last pages shocked me.

Firstly, a guy that is well-known as No Tulen in a local evening TV talkshow (which is my mom's favourite) had been a journalist for so long and had gone through this dark side of the city. Something I am always interested of, but never got a chance to be in.

So this book tells about a female prostitute with lesbian specialty. Yep, for female clients. Re, the main character besides the author himself, worked for Mami Lani, a pimp, who trapped her and some other girls too. One by one, prostitutes who work for her get killed in tragic ways. According to Re, their deaths were set-up. The story continues to the author's POV, thinking and re-thinking what he learned as he dug into Re's world for his thesis.

All the way through, Maman retold what he had been through, including a sex party that only members could get in that left him with scar on his face because one incident happened. He also shared this thoughts that turned the readers to see the kind of life from many angles and dimensions, leaving the judgmental motivation far behind.

Secondly, I can say, this is more than I have expected from this book. Really.

RE: has successfully captured the bigger picture of prostitution in Jakarta. Through fast-moving storytelling way, the author, in one special book event I organized some time ago, revealed that the reality left unwritten has more stories than the whole 160 pages in total.

Dragging the main character from victim to survivor, Maman takes the readers to see the story he observed for his thesis in many different aspects. Thanks to his ranging background---graduated from Criminology with Journalism experience! This 'trick', I think, helps many to flip their old thinking patterns towards women, especially on those who work as prostitute by taking a line between theory and truth. Twisting misogyny-minded assumption is something this society needs by mixing political and social cultural motives in.

If you're a CSI, Castle, Law and Order (especially SVU) fans, you would enjoy learning a few criminology theories. And if you have interest in gender studies, you might also like it.

Personally, I kinda have a connection. I mean, in a weird way. Because the hotel Maman wrote about, it's close to my school. I have spent 9 years seeing that school almost every morning.

On the other hand, somehow, it's just interesting to see the world most people see with disgust and hate, could affect more than everyone can imagine. And how this whole thing has something dear left for the author himself. Maman dig the humanity in the world most people would only condemn, yet adore in secret by some other, seeing the other unseen half of life told in Jakarta Undercover.

It's shocking, tearful, emotional and touche. Another jaw-dropping ending closed the story that held me back from sleeping for couple of nights. Then oh, I'm a tearjerker. Wondering and thinking. The complexity gives a lot to my mind. Re: also reminds us that life is tough battle (for everyone).

So probably, good night, Re.

Selfie Tuesday - The Great Political Theories

2015-09-15T23:19:00.000+07:00

How to deal with politics? Smile!
Coz a smile is a trickiest strategy and powerful weapon.

Share me your #selfietuesday on Instagram, would you?

Blissful Sunday - (INFOGRAPHICS) International Literacy Day

2015-09-13T02:30:00.000+07:00

It's never too late for something good!

Been busy for this week as I just finally started a new job and the film festival me and my friends have been doing for the past year has also begun at the same time. Wow, isn't it?

And yes, I would like to remind you who also missed the special day or you remember but probably don't know the what's going on the other side of the wall. It's International Literacy Day.

Do you ever imagine living without books? Without the ability to read? Grammarly shared an interesting fact to me into this amazing infographics.

We should be happy, I guess. Coz what? We can read! How world can be a different big thing with reading one awesome book?

So here are cool things you can do to celebrate International Literary Day (like I said, it's never too late, so don't just do it for celebrating this special day---DO IT ANYTIME YOU CAN):

Support Schools/Education Program

Schools in need... it's not always about money, poor building and facility condition. You can volunteer!
In Indonesia, you can join programs like Kelas Inspirasi (Inspiration Class) where you can deliver stories of your amazing life and career so kids will get inspired to achieve more by dreaming bigger and higher, and of course, make it happen with education. There are also the fun Sahabat Anak and Indonesia Mengajar.
Grammarly helps me to support to one of these wonderful organizations. Maybe (internationally), you can donate and support them: Reading is Fundamental, ProLiteracy, and First Book.

Donate Books

You can drop books directly to orphanage or SOS Village in your area. Some schools or district libraries maybe options for you. Even better (and easier), you can find some social media accounts who are organizing book charity. The more book available and accessible, people have more courage to learn to read/start reading/simply, read more.
I know people are trying to emphasizing their brands with CSR program and all that sweet things... but the good thing is you can have the opportunity if you don't know where. You can always check where the charity programs are going to deliver the books you donate. Find the appropriate books for the readers, whether they're all underage kids or do they need more textbook for school or dictionary or encyclopedia. Psst... make sure it isn't scam.

You can make an App/Campaign/anything

Whether it's an app to help people donate books, or crowdfunding in the internet to rebuild a library. Help by promoting issues like this... it's also a nice big thing! Limitless.

If you have any other idea, let me know in comment box of this blogpost. That would mean a lot =)

REVIEW: Grey - As Told By Christian Grey

2015-09-04T11:17:00.000+07:00

After reaching half of the book, I said to myself, why am I reading this one?

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Title: Grey - As Told by Christian Grey

Author: E. L. James

Publications: First edition, June 2015

Pages: 559

Published by Vintage Books

Language: English

Rate: 3.5

As Fifty Shades trilogy has been a major brouhaha that generates big fame for the writer, E. L. James surely won't let the fans feeling done and enough with Anastasia's story. Well, people has heard it and some have bought it.

Yep... Grey: As Told by Christian Grey is on the bookstore and also on my bookshelf!
What's even better? I pre-ordered it. And it made me feel more awesome.

Christian Grey, like many of you have known before, is a super rich and young man who has predilection on BDSM lifestyle. On one interview he is willing to give, things start to get twisted. So is his life afterwards. He meets the girl-next-door type, Anastasia Steele, who comes to replace her roommate who happens to be sick. The rest of the story is a complete fairy tale with an unexpected ending.

The readers will be taken to the journey of knowing that lust and love are only divided by fine line. Along the way, it is unique impression we readers get that E. L. James has successfully relive people's hope on true love. Anyhow, the mix of secret past of the main characters, the narrating mind, and the grey area in one's feeling become the attractions that lead readers along the way to the end.

But, that was what happened to me when reading the Fifty Shades trilogy. Yes, all three. I have read all of them.

What about Grey? What so special about it when you actually know the ending already?

It's the same story, but narrating on Christian Grey's side. You'll know how the days are like for Christian. It tells more stuffs that answer Anastasia's confusions and assumptions she got in mind. Something that used to be left answered is finally opened up in Grey.

Anyway, I found this one rather boring. That's it. Like I have told you before in previous post (On My Tray: Back to Grey). I know this is strange. It could be something wrong with me, with my reading habit. I was so giddy when the book arrived at my desk, but it took quite some time for me to finally get in the end. Funny, I read all Fifty Shades books---yes, all three of them---for only 2 days maximum for each book.

In fact, after reaching half of the book, I said to myself, why am I reading this one?

The Fifty Shades trilogy puts you as Anastasia Steele, depends on how you might feel or read it. Somehow, the effect the I got after reading Fifty Shades is... that Christian Grey is a mysterious guy, of which the mystery itself is what pushes me reading the book, loving it---the story, the character, the whole thing and even makes me want to keep reading it again and again. I'm obsessed, I know, right? I'd prefer to keep things about him... a mystery.

For you who might be quite obsessed, differently obsessed, I mean, you might want to know more about Mr. Grey. In Grey, you'll know what he actually thinks of Anastasia---and at first, that makes me quite annoyed with him, you might have read a sneak peek of it at the end of Fifty Shades Freed---and all of his musings, nightmares and childhood memories. Including on how he remembers Leila, the character that appears on book two, Fifty Shades Darker.

Speaking of the writing style, it wasn't that different with the previous three. Although I can feel the writer has tried to bring masculinity in Grey, but it's just not there yet. For example, I've read so many lines belong to Anastasia in the previous trilogy and I also find Christian narrates the story in almost the same style. Like when he said, "She smells of Ana and apples and sex.". That one is just so Anastasia. Or, the writer deliberately puts it like that to depict the two characters think of each other the same way?

You'd probably enjoy it, or you don't. Can't say that much. I did enjoy, only... not that much.

Tell me what you think. I'm waiting.

Waiting, while I'm still dreaming of my Mr. Grey...

Kinky Friday (3) - Reading During Bath, Why Not?!

2015-08-28T00:19:00.000+07:00

I have a book that I'm dying to read. I have a lovely packed coffee scrub arrived at my desk. I have limited time with so many other things to do.

What should I do?

Can't wait for everything at the same time. You can call me greedy multi-tasker, it's fine.

As Friday comes once a week (well, which day that doesn't, Brigida?), here we go again... You have perfect reason to make your reading time more 'valuable' and time-savvy. So, let's emphasize something happy to do as something useful for you, as well.

Oh, I'm overly obsessed with multitasking. Let me introduce you to...

TADAA....

Girls, I'm serious! Pampering yourself with Frankbody Scrub while reading. I mean it. It has been my favorite scrub. Totally love it. You can google for its reviews, and I'm really trusting this one. It smells strong coffee, which makes me love it even more. Read and Caffeinated has passed the test!

Ok, you're thinking how it works? Well, the scrub should be applied to your damp skin. Then, you have to leave it for 10 - 15 mins so the scrub would work on your skin. Just like other scrub. (Hey, haven't you tried any scrub before?)

Anyway, what would you do with those idle moment for 10 - 15 mins?

Me? Grab my current read, sit in your bathtub and read! Yeay!

I think it should be fine.

Just make sure to set the temperature right.

That easy? No, it's kinda hard, actually. Your bathroom is wet all over. You got coffee scrub anywhere around your skin and all over your bathtub. Your hand, too. The book is in danger somehow. Now it reminds me of a book holder made from wood---I don't know what it called---or plastic, I really don't remember.

Long story short, it's a magic thing that I regret not buying, it is useful to have your book keep standing and stay opened over your bathtub while you're enjoying your bath. Or, you can put it on kitchen table when you need to read recipe book and to cook at the same time. When I saw that thing for the first time, I was like, "oh, c'mon... what for?" Damn!

Now, I regret it. I should've bought it for my Frankbody moment together with my book.

Anyway, anyhow... My Frankbody moment was.... awesome. Even though, I left a coffee stain on my Falling book. Yet, I felt my skin was perfectly clean after that. It soothed my veins. Don't worry that it won't turn your skin tone yellowish like it did to my book. The smell of coffee might stay on your skin for awhile, but that's no big deal, right?

They say the scrub is good for blood circulation if you do it with massage, helping out with varicose veins problems, acne, scars and even cellulite, eczema, and psoriasis. You can apply it on your face, too. Do it while reading won't hurt. Yee-hee!

So just enjoy your Friday evening with your this week's book pick! Be gentle to your book, extra careful if you're taking my idea to try Frankbody or any scrub you want. Don't let your book fall and get wet.

You can't learn from SpongeBob this time. Hold you book!

If you have Kindle, I have seen a pic where a bookworm put it inside a ziplock bag. That will do. Well, yeah, reading an e-book is easier. Just try, okay?

Well, this idea is really recommended for busy people. Or super-busy bitch like me.

And if you don't have any boyfriend to accompany you in the bathtub...

Jealous? Yeah.

Me, too.

Oh no, wait! I have my book-boyfriend as company.

Never mind.

On My Tray: Back to GREY

2015-07-27T03:05:00.002+07:00

I wish you have read my previous post that I successfully pre-ordered Grey by E. L. James. It's been a month or two, I don't keep time track. But, as you can guess, I haven't finished it.

Well, I have been gone back-and-forth with the book. I have four other books that require to be read and finished in no time. Meanwhile, I have read new Indonesian books, Flambe (Club Camilan), Falling by Rina Suryakusuma, Coming Out by Hendri Yulius and Re: by Maman Suherman. Those four needed to be done before it was too late. I'm telling you that I have plans with Falling, Coming Out and Re:.

I can't wait to tell you the details, but I should keep it a secret for now. Wish me luck for this one!

Well, after being held back by work and all that jazzy life I've been having (lately I just resigned from my main job, but I still have my writing projects and side jobs---Thank heavens!), I can be and should be back to reading Grey. Seriously need to.

So why do I have to? I'm writing a story with a male character. Kinky one, yes, thank you. Maybe not. Maybe ok. Grey can be one of my helper. My main problem is... I have to write in Indonesian, which is a bit difficult for me. It's been a long time I haven't been that active writing in Indonesian. And what? I was a journalist. Not a fiction writer. Interpreting my imagination for the story in English has been one of my temptations.

Back to Grey.

After the trilogy, after the movie of the first book, time to revisit Mr. Grey!

First of all, something bothers me. Is it me getting slower in reading or Grey is just not as exciting as Fifty Shades of Grey. Because I remember I can finish FSOG in 2 days. Almost the same thickness, but Grey takes more time to finish.

Even though, I'm super in love with Christian Grey (and who doesn't want to be Anastasia Steele if you know you'd have a guy like him?), I found it a little boring. Surprisingly.

Post-reading effect that I got from FSOG was that Mr. Grey seemed to have increase my highly-impossible standard for boyfriend-type expectation. As for Grey, I could see more of Christian Grey in his POV. You'll find interesting 'missing links' about him, too. All of them are his past, his submissives and his career. Certainly including what is happening on his side when we were on Ana's solely narratives in James' first book.

Somehow, I got the impression that Christian's side was sort of being imposed in this book. Sorry. nothing isn't fit. Things do makes sense in Grey. In addition to that, I don't really enjoy the part he told which we have read in FSOG.

On the contrary, Christian Grey laughed out loud more in Grey than you knew before. He was depicted to be more attentive towards his employee with casual and friendly speaking tone. That's my man! I have to go back and finish it soon in order to be able giving a review. More of this guy's story on my blog. So wait for it, would you? I have bought a new pair of bondage-style underwear, garter belts and a pair of lace hosiery to motivate myself. Psst...somebody might have missed the opportunity to see me in those sexy stuff! Hahaha... Well, it's for my Mr. Grey only then.

But before I end this post, I wanna know something. What are you looking for in a guy? Simple question that most people would have asked you before. Hmm, ok well, let's make it a twist: what are you looking for or expecting in a kinky boyfriend? Or, do you want one? Let me know coz I do really wanna know.

Will be writing my projects and reading Grey and This One Is Mine by Maria Semple.
Wish me luck again, please?

HOW-TO: Decorate Your Room with Books

2015-06-29T00:00:00.000+07:00

My tiny room got more crowded. At the same time, I'm feeling down. I'm bored. I'm sad. So, I realized... I had to do something with my room! With Anggun's song, 'Still Reminds Me' played in my room, I spent my weekend sleepless for something fresher, different angle of my first HOW-TO post about decorate your bookshelf. One thing remains the same---book cover design is still the best as centerpiece. Now, time to have your room decorated with books, even with ones you don't like.

As books always have special place in my heart (just like magazines, animals, toys, video games and other random stuffs), I decided to have them as my decorations. Yes, they give you something to learn, something to think about, something that inspires you... and you can also have your book collections as piece that cheer up the mood in the room. How surprisingly limitless innovation!

If you had read my previous post about Papabubble candies to sweeten your bookshelf, you can still use this trick to have cheerful touch.

Let's get started!

1. Size DOES Matter

If you wanna have book piles in pyramid-shape, pay attention on the length and the thickness on the book. Don't put very thick Larousse dictionary with Barnes & Noble SparkNotes which comes very thin; and, not to put a very long one like children's bedtime stories book together with small paperback one. Those two are big NOs.

First Phase

I know you know better... Just stay calm, coz it's easy. Make it proportional... and everything will be fine. The pyramid pile would look good if you put in the middle of other tall and medium decoration piece, which could be anything. For this case, I choose my TWG tea can. On top of the book pile, do your best with cute taste. Place a photo frame, action figure, or anything not heavy and big... that should do it.

Setting the pyramid-pile books would cover rigid corners, too. Plus, put a tea light candle or other small-size candle in front of one book end. I moved some of my small friends from first bookshelf as all of the animal characters are crowding it. Need to transmigrate them to this new land.

And then.., with small buddies from first bookshelf moving in here.

If you want to have an OCD style. I mean, looking more organized, then you should try stacking the books with same-size groups. Thick books are pretty if you stack them both vertically or horizontally. If they come in almost the same tall, then, try to stack them vertical in zigzag to make it unique. And that could happen nicely when you have more space on both sides of the book pile. You can do this for your desk and place a calender on top, or for your nightstand with alarm clock above (note that don't stack too high).

Horizontal row is just casual, as we know. Place small action figures on top of the book piles. I put my bunny posing on mine. You can always row your toy troops (small-size ones, please, or else the books aren't seen enough) in front of the book rows.

With my Bunny sitting gorgeously on top like a mermaid.

What if the books are so thin? Like short children book? Hmm... if you have space, place them with front cover facing us.

2. Forget Genres, Would You?

Yes, please!

Book covers, mostly, have interesting color and design. For now you can forget about piling book based on genre or category, except you want them stay accessible in future/sudden need.

Combine books with random side cover colors for surprise effect. Sometimes, side part of the cover could be very artistic, or the sides could act as puzzle if they stay together in order. There's always a DON'T: place a book with pattern not with almost the same crowded pattern, find lighter pattern or just choose blank one (just one color or mild gradation).

The font of the side covers also affect your eyes when you see them. Get big sizes with medium sizes and small sizes. Or else, get the one with cute font.

3. Just Be Confident and Break the Boundaries

Just like what I have told you before, you can put this book pile at desk, night stand, and favorite corner. The tips to have a good book pile is also working if you want to have the books in a real shelf.

What I am trying to say in break the boundaries is... books aren't always going with flower or anything. Me? With beer can and favorite Hello Kitty mineral water bottle.

Close-up Number One

And here's to introduce my recently-bought Hello Kitty bottled water....used as my bookend.

Yes, it comes in handy to hold the book standing in place

Actually this part should be vanity, with my everyday-use skin care like L'Occitane and Laniege moisturizer, night cream, toner and Vaseline petroleum jelly, makeup remover---L'Occitane's Immortelle Cleansing Oil---and Roses et Reines Body Lotion. I have two tables in total, another one to keep the makeup and as well as the drugs (and other books, too). Books are just amazing to be side by side with them, right?

I put my blue round floral tray at the back, eventually, looking like a happy plate decor. Not bad, huh? I also decided to put something over this on the wall to bring more vibe. It's supposed to be vanity actually, then I decided not to make it fully a vanity. I want no big mirror attached. Why? Coz I'm afraid to look at my own or any reflections too often. Only small portable mirror allowed in my room. Weird, yes, thank you, I know!

Sorry if the photos are too dark. For these photos, I played some filters: A5 and A6 from VSCOCam, and Crema from Instagram. They don't fade the real color, but giving a moody touch for the overall look.

Blissful Sunday: The Time of Our Lives...

2015-06-21T01:29:00.000+07:00

Nothing makes me happy the past week, but Christian Grey. Yes, he's ready to share his POV!

I felt awesome when I pre-ordered Grey: As Told by Christian Grey by the one and only E. L. James from Periplus.com. See, I buy books online more than before now. The book arrived on time to my office. Thanks for Periplus for that. Fast delivery that cures my high curiosity and lust towards my Mr. Grey.

So far, I've read a few pages. Gosh, I can tell you already: he's charming, naughty and lovely---exactly what I search in a guy, besides witty. Curiosity is still on to the next pages....

Sadly the next day... I should've read the book with full of excitement. But I got a news that my friend passed away. Instantly things were so upside down. I couldn't help him when he needed help, then he's gone. He was a good friend with quiet nature, funny English writing and pronunciation due to his limited skill. Well, that's okay. I could tell you... he's a good guy.

The story of his life and past made me hurt even more. It's a big loss for me and my friends. We are like family now. We've been together for years.

Actually we're colleagues as we work together. (By the way, this is not my Grand Indonesia work, it's other work that I do outside weekdays). It's just unique how things are going among us. We fight, we tease and we talk or joke like there's no tomorrow. That's because we understand the issue we are facing and pushing through, and that we're together in this.

Then again, you are put through in sadness and mourn. A friend is gone, and there's nothing we could do next but missing him. It's the hardest part. What else? Regret? That you didn't share much time together, to know better, to understand deeper. Time has cut our opportunities to be with our beloved (good) people we want in our lives. It's how I remember a book about loss...

You'll want another day together. Do things you should've done but you haven't. Mitch Albom's For One More Day speaks up a lot, reminding us of what we can do now with what's left in your life. To yourself, to your work, to you family and friends. To your future.

And what's more? I tried to entertain myself by getting Happy Meals with Minions. Didn't help much, but.... it works a little. So, this post isn't the most blissful one, but you know you'll always have reasons for distraction and smile a little bit.

Happy Sunday....

xoxo

Brigida

P.S. By the way, I just found out that I lost one of my other Mitch Albom's book, The Five People You Meet In Heaven.

Happy Saturday, Sexy Bookworms!

2015-06-06T22:28:00.001+07:00

From my Instagram @brigidalexandra

No need a boyfriend when you can dress like the world is going to end tomorrow with a book with your hand and super-motivating coffee mug!

Hope your Saturday will be nice, relaxing and awesome. Happy reading, everyone!

My First Periplus Delivery Order

2015-05-27T00:13:00.001+07:00

Oh yes, I'm sooo going to put 'buying books online' as one on my lists for the upcoming Kinky Friday topics. Coz what? I just had my first online order on Periplus.com arrived safely to my office!

Can I be happier than this?

The goodie is on my desk!

I ordered Will Grayson, Will Grayson by John Green. They were having good deals on John Green's book. Thank God for subscribing---I'm Periplus member, by the way, so the emails are sent to me regularly. The price was cool and what's more... the package!

You can see the details on how the box, shaped and looked like a pizza box, covered my book. They glued the box very tightly, too. At first, not only that I confused how to opened it. I pushed the sides but nothing happened. Then, the only way I could figure it out was to pull out the fold, fighting with the glue trace. Like I said, it was tight and kinda difficult to open. Well, that way the book will be saved.

It is kinda unique to hold the book in place. So, there's another box inside that stick to the outer fold. Nice, isn't it? The book is safe and you can easily take it out. Plastic cover is also intact to the book.

Can you see the baby coming?

I guess, no reason not to buy book online. Now, I will not only visit the book store in building next to my office, but I'd also prefer to order online now. Awww! Super excited... this is just awesome. I feel like I got a special package when it arrived. As it's from myself, I would say... I was actually giving myself a reward.

You can be the member so you can get special price or latest deals through emails. They usually get good ones. That is why... the emails I got from them is the only one thing I have subscribed but never left unopened or directly deleted, then clicking 'unsubscribe'. I always check their weekly emails---those make happy.

Happy Birthday, Mitch Albom!

2015-05-23T18:30:00.000+07:00

Happy Birthday, Mitch Albom!

May, 23rd is my favorite (one of my favorites) author's birthday! Mitch Albom. I remember how mad I was about his books. I read The Five People You Meet in Heaven, Tuesdays with Morrie and For One More Day in high school. All of them. I cried and was mesmerized on the way the story touched me, giving me so much hope when everything good seemed to be far away.

I was crazy about books. I can't stop reading and writing. Somehow I was quite strict to myself as well. I wouldn't touch my current reads when there was a homework from school unfinished or an upcoming test. After all those school things done, I would be gladly back to my reading. Oh that moment... miss 'em even though things weren't easier or beautiful.

The stories Mitch Albom wrote change my paradigm of the world and the people in it. Nothing's ever black and white. Reminding me about family, friends and spirituality bonds. Sadly, one of the books of his that I own, The Five People You Meet in Heaven, is borrowed by someone who hasn't returned it for years. It's almost five years, though. Hopefully I'd be the one he meets in heaven (if heaven really exists).

A book done reading always change you.

A great book won't let you be the same person at the last page.