Why We Broke Up – Daniel Handler [DNF]

Handler, Daniel. 2011. Why We Broke Up. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Rating 2 bintang

(review in English, click here)

Saya berhenti di 32% dari buku ini. Dan, ya ampun, untuk sampai di 32% itu aja udah perjuangan banget.

Judulnya yang intimidating bikin saya menunda baca buku ini sejak lama. Tapi, setelah mengalami putus hubungan romantis baru-baru ini, saya merasa inilah waktu yang tepat untuk baca buku ini. Jadi bisa dibilang, harapan saya cukup tinggi sebelum mulai baca Why We Broke Up.

Buku ini berupa surat panjang (banget) yang ditulis Min untuk Ed Slaterton, mantan pacarnya. Isinya menjelaskan kenapa mereka akhirnya putus. Selain mengirimkan surat, si Min ini juga ngirim barang-barang memento mereka berdua selama ini. Ada macem-macem. Dari tutup botol pas mereka pertama kali ngobrol, tiket nonton bioskop, robekan poster, mainan mobil truk, dan barang-barang kecil lain yang semuanya dimasukkan ke satu kotak. Untuk setiap barang, Min menjelaskan cerita di balik barang itu dan semuanya diakhiri dengan “and that’s why we broke up”.

Why We Broke Up – Daniel Handler [DNF]

Handler, Daniel. 2011. Why We Broke Up. New York: Little, Brown and Company.

Rating 2 stars.
(review in Indonesian, click here)

I stopped at 32% of this book. And, boy oh boy, it was a real struggle to get to 32%.

Its intimidating title kept me away for quite a long time. But, after breaking my own romantic relationship very recently, I guess there’s no better time to finally start reading this book. You can say, I held my hopes high before reading Why We Broke Up.

This book form is this (very long) letter written by Min to Ed Slaterton, her ex-boyfriend. Its content explains why they broke up in the end. Not only sends him a letter, Min also sends some goods that she acquired in the meantime of their relationship. There are many random things. From a bottle cap when they first talked, a movie ticket, a rip of a poster, a truck toy, and other small things that she fits in in a box. For each thing, Min elaborates the story behind it and she closes her stories with “and that’s why we broke up”.

Shift - Em Bailey

Bailey, Em. 2012. Shift. Great Britain: Electric Monkey.

Rating 5 stars

I often read books before I go to sleep every night, because that’s how I roll since I was a kid. If the books are not interesting enough to keep me awake, I don’t mind because those books still help me to beat my sleep deprivation. As you may guess, the amount of books that keep me awake through the night is, of course, far more many than the books that don’t. But, books that keep me awake AND haunt me in my sleep are quite rare, I believe. 

This book. This book is one of those books that makes me lost my sleep time, and when I did sleep, it haunted my ugly dream. I admit, I had a nightmare after I read this book. It jabbed me right in my supposedly brave-heart.

I enjoy this book so much. I can’t believe that NONE of my Goodreads friends have read it (or maybe they just don’t put it on their bookshelves, I don’t know).

Mara Dyer Trilogy (Book 1-3) – Michelle Hodkin [SPOILER, obviously]

Hodkin, Michelle. 2011, 2012, 2014. The Unbecoming of Mara Dyer, The Evolution of Mara Dyer, The Retribution of Mara Dyer. New York: Simon & Schuster.

Overall Rating 2,5 stars.

Sigh. Another stellar debut, another love to give. I decided to pick it up and read it, solely because of the amazing cover on the first book of this series, the other two are not very satisfying but I couldn’t care less after I finished the first book. I think that is the kind of cover that will always attract my attention. You know, mysterious, dark, sharp picture, and doesn’t show any particular face to be judged. Totally my type of cover, yes. Safe to say, I knew nothing about this book until I read it, I even didn’t know its genre.

I know now, I should never judge a series if I don’t read its whole series. By that, maybe I did an unfair judgment with Marked, but that is one awful book though, ugh. I love the first two book of Mara Dyer Trilogy, but after reading the final installment, my love was fading pretty fast. I’m bumped because I can’t give more than 2,5 stars for this series, believe me, I really want to love this more. But the last book crushed me, and not in a good way either. Despite the failed ending of this series (I’m getting to that later), I really like Michelle Hodkin’s writing style (she has good humor) and I still will pick up her future novels, I guess. Now, shall we talk about who Mara Dyer is?

Marked - P. C. Cast & Kristin Cast [DNF gladly]

Cast, P. C. and Kristin Cast. 2010. Marked. United States: St. Martin's Griffin.

Rating 1 generous star

 

Below is my review in Goodreads that I wrote after I read this horrible thing:

I stopped at 42% of the book.

Apparently, this demonic chic Zoey Redbutt is so exotic and awesome so she has the right to trash-talking everybody else. I'm so very done with this piece of crap.

That's all I got to say, at first. But I guess I did an injustice deed by writing that short unclear review, although I show my disliking toward this book quite clearly, but that's beside my point. It is unfair for future readers of this book because they wouldn't get enough warning to not read this crappy crap. So here I am, warning you... no, I give you proof! Please proceed reading if you want to see all the evidences I managed to collect.

Menanti Cinta – Adam Aksara [DNF... kind of]

NOTE: Dearest readers, I’m not going to review this in English. No more people should care about this book. You're missing nothing.

Aksara, Adam. 2014. Menanti Cinta. Malang: Mozaik Indie Publisher.

Rating 1 bintang

Saya mendapat buku ini dari penerbitnya, jika kalian tertarik bisa beli di sini.

Setelah buku DNF pertama saya di blog ini, saya enggak menyangka bakal secepat ini ketemu buku DNF lagi, ada satu buku lagi sih bahkan tapi saya masih belum memutuskan akan menulis ulasannya atau tidak untuk yang itu. Uuugh saya enggak suka baca buku enggak sampai selesai, tapi seriusan deh, saya. Enggak. Sanggup. Baca. Habis. Buku. Ini. Dan kalau saya diminta berusaha sekali lagi untuk menyelesaikan buku ini...

Dan saya merasa enggak enak hati, kan saya dapat bukunya gratis.... Hei kamu, Adam Aksara, JANGAN baca ulasan ini. Enggak perlu marah atau sakit hati yah. Tidak, saya mungkin tidak akan memaki-maki. Mungkin tidak juga berkata kasar. Saya cuma akan ngomong apa adanya.

Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge

Hodge, Rosamund. 2014. Cruel Beauty. United States: Balzer + Bray.

Rating 4 bintang
(review in English, click here)

Nah kan, ini dia masalahnya kalau ulasan buku dibuat DUA BULAN setelah bukunya selesai dibaca. Saya sudah hampir lupaaaaaa sama efek buku ini ke saya. Dan selama dua bulan ini pun banyak buku yang sudah saya baca (dan beberapa buku itu bikin saya tergila-gila!), jadi euforia Cruel Beauty di kepala saya sudah tipis banget. Ya sudahlah, mari kita lihat bagaimana saya menghancurkan ulasan ini.

Cruel Beauty - Rosamund Hodge

Hodge, Rosamund. 2014. Cruel Beauty. United States: Balzer + Bray.

Rating 4 stars
(review in Indonesian, click here)

Well, this is the problem if I write a book review after finished reading it TWO MONTHS ago. I almost forgot the effect of this book to me, it leaves a vague feeling now. And I’ve read many books in these two months (some of them I’m crazy about), so I’m not really euphoric anymore about Cruel Beauty. But anyway, let’s start the review which I’m sure will be a mess kind of review.

Nothing Left to Lose – Kirsty Moseley + Author Interview + INT Giveaway! *CLOSED*

Moseley, Kirsty. 2013. Nothing Left to Lose. Self-published.

Rating 4 stars.

I’m participating in Release Day Blitz for Nothing Left to Lose by Kirsty Moseley which is TODAY! Yay! November 5th, finally you’re here! I received the e-book ARC for participating, thanks Kirsty.

So, guys. This will be slightly different than my other review, because my other review doesn’t usually contain Author Interview or International Giveaway! I am so excited I think I’ll combust in any seconds! Without further ado, let’s see my two cents about this book (I know you’ll skip my review and just jump to the rafflecopter giveaway! Meanie!).

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Green, John. 2012. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Dutton Books.

Rating 3,5 stars
(review in Indonesian, click here)

Why I read this in the first place?

This is my first John Green’s. I actually surprised myself because I willingly read this book. It’s against my own reading policy, really. But, here’s the story behind it. I was surfing in Youtube and stumbled upon this video. This girl in the video talks about The Fault in Our Stars. She highly praises it and clearly states that she literally bawled her eyes out while reading the book. And, here’s me, a type of reader who doesn’t find utter attraction into tragic fiction stories, or books that are purposely written to made its readers cry it a river.

A little out of topic, I never really have a solid reason to explain my reading fondness.... I guess, for most part in me, I read as an escape. That’s why I prefer a story with happy-ending. I want to feel happy, so I read books, I want to entertain myself. Well, the world has already given enough tragedy, so why do I want to spare time to read tragic fiction, right? It’s different if it comes to tragic non-fiction. I could easily accept it as a reality or a figment of human history, because I know that reality is not always beautiful but needed to be faced strong-heartedly nonetheless. And that’s why I feel unthrilled to give chance to tragic fiction books.

So, why the heck did I read this insanely famous tearjerker book? Again, the fault is in that Youtube video. The girl says, after reading The Fault in Our Stars, there’s a song came up into his head, it’s Forever and Always by Parachute. Being me, I was more curious to hear that song than to read the book. So I googled the song. (Illegally) downloaded it. Found the lyric too. Listened to it with lyric on screen. Cried my heart out. Listened to it again. Still made me bawled. Listened to it one more time. I STILL EFFING CRIED! Seriously. Until you read this review, I still will cry whenever I hear that song. It’s painfully beautiful and tragic beyond anything. I like that song so much. And somehow it made me felt responsible to also read The Fault in Our Stars, although both (the song and the book) are completely unrelated.

The Fault in Our Stars – John Green

Green, John. 2012. The Fault in Our Stars. New York: Dutton Books.

Rating 3,5 bintang
(review in English, click here)

Kenapa saya baca buku ini?

Buku John Green pertama saya. Saya juga heran kenapa saya mau-mau saja baca buku ini. Ini menyalahi aturan saya sendiri.... Jadi, waktu itu saya lagi nengok-nengok Youtube dan enggak sengaja sampai pada video ini. Dia mengulas The Fault in Our Stars. Komentarnya sangat positif tapi jelas-jelas dia bilang kalau dia menangis sepanjang buku ini. Dan, saya tipe pembaca yang enggak suka baca buku fiksi tragis, atau buku yang memang sengaja dibuat untuk bikin pembaca menangis.

Agak lepas dari topik, dipikir-pikir, sebenarnya saya enggak punya alasan yang solid sih kenapa saya membaca buku.... Sepertinya sebagian besar alasan saya membaca buku adalah sebagai pelarian. Makanya saya lebih suka buku happy-ending. Saya ingin cari senang, makanya saya baca buku. Yah, dunia yang sebenarnya sudah cukup tragis, jadi kenapa juga bahkan dalam dunia buku saya perlu cerita fiksi yang tragis? Kan? Memang beda halnya kalau saya membaca buku non-fiksi yang tragis. Saya bisa dengan mudah menerimanya sebagai kenyataan ataupun potongan sejarah karena memang kenyataan itu enggak selalu indah tapi harus tetap dihadapi dengan tabah. Makanya saya merasa enggak perlu menyediakan waktu untuk menghayati cerita fiksi yang tragis, karena itu toh bukan kenyataan.

Jadi, kenapa juga saya baca buku yang terkenal karena kesuksesannya membikin pembacanya pada menangis ini? Lagi, karena video Youtube yang saya tonton itu. Dia bilang, setelah membaca The Fault in Our Stars, dia terpikir tentang lagu Forever and Always-nya Parachute. Nah, saya malah lebih penasaran sama lagu itu. Jadi saya cari lagu itu. Download. Cari teksnya sekalian. Dengar lagunya sambil lihat teksnya. Nangis sesenggukan. Dengarin ulang. Tetap nangis. Coba dengar ulang lagi. MASIH BIKIN NANGIS! Serius. Sampai tulisan ini diturunkan, saya masih akan menangis kalau dengar lagu itu. Saya suka lagunya walaupun tragisnya enggak ketolongan. Jadi, saya merasa kayak semacam terbeban untuk baca The Fault in Our Stars karena saya begitu mengapresiasi lagu itu, walaupun sebenarnya keduanya (si buku dan si lagu) benar-benar enggak berhubungan.

The Orange Girl - Jostein Gaarder

Indonesian version in Gold Edition, 2011.

Gaarder, Jostein. 2011. Gadis Jeruk. Jakarta: Penerbit Mizan.

Rating 4 stars
(review in Indonesian, click here)

Why I read it in the first place?

I wanted to read The Orange Girl because I haven't been able to finished Gaarder’s masterpiece YET, the famous Sophie’s World. Yes, I know that’s one of some great books out there (or so I’ve been told), but somehow, for unknown reason, I got stuck in the middle (please, it wasn’t even middle yet). After a long break, I didn’t have it in me to continue my journey in Sophie’s World. Maybe, it just wasn’t my time to read Sophie’s World. So, when I saw The Orange Girl last year, was sitting neatly in bookstore’s shelf, I instantly bought it, I even didn’t bother to read the review in the back cover. One, because I still didn’t want to give up on Gaarder. Like most people, I’m kind of reader that picks book majorly based on its author. Let’s say I’m in love with Inferno (which I totally will! I DON’T HAVE IT YET BUT I DESPERATELY WANT IT!!!), then I automatically will expect the same greatness from other Dan Brown’s works. I guess this is the biggest challenge for a best-selling writer, don’t you think? To keep up or, at least, stay put on standard they’ve made. Two, because The Orange Girl is WAY thinner than Sophie’s World. I expected The Orange Girl to be just like Sophie’s World, talks about philosophy. And I thought this would be a nice get-to-know Gaarder’s works instead of reading the ‘big girl’ right away. The Orange Girl contains less than three hundred pages. I thought, “I can make it through if I push myself enough.” But, little things I knew, I didn’t need a lot of pushing. 

Gadis Jeruk - Jostein Gaarder

Edisi Gold memperbarui terbitan 2005.

Gaarder, Jostein. 2011. Gadis Jeruk. Jakarta: Penerbit Mizan.

Rating 4 bintang
(review in English, click here)

Kenapa saya baca buku ini?

Saya mau baca buku ini karena saya BELUM bisa menyelesaikan satu karya Gaarder yang termasyhur, yaitu Dunia Sophie. Iya saya tahu itu buku bagus, tapi enggak tahu kenapa saya macet di tengah (bahkan belum sampai di tengah) dan menurut saya itu jenis buku yang enggak bisa ditunda-tunda. Harus sebisa mungkin sekali baca selesai. Mungkin waktu itu belum waktu saya untuk membaca Dunia Sophie. Jadi, waktu tahun lalu saya lihat Gadis Jeruk terpampang manis di rak toko buku, tanpa pikir panjang saya langsung beli, bahkan saya enggak baca lagi ulasan di sampul belakangnya. Satu, karena saya masih belum mau menyerah dengan Gaarder. Soalnya sama seperti pembaca umumnya, saya tipe yang sering pilih buku dari penulisnya. Misalnya saya suka Inferno (SAYA BELUM PUNYA TAPI MAU BANGET!!!), maka saya akan otomatis menganggap karya Dan Brown yang lain juga mantap. Kayaknya inilah beban moral penulis yang paling berat yah? Untuk mempertahankan standard kualitas karyanya. Dua, karena bukunya JAUH lebih tipis daripada Dunia Sophie. Saya sudah mengira Gadis Jeruk akan bicara tentang filsafat juga, dan saya pikir kalau cuma dua ratusan halaman sih dipaksakan pasti bisa lah selesai. Ternyata saya enggak perlu terlalu memaksakan diri.