WRAP UP!!!!: My own Book-A-Thon Challenge!

HI!!!!

SO I am really excited to share you results of my own Book-A-Thon Challenge!

It was actually pretty productive, out of 7 challenges I have managed successfully executed 6 of them!

Here are the books that I read (or still am currently reading):

Details as below:

* The Adventures of Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain - Read a Claasic (221 pages)

* The Girl who Kicked The Hornet's Nest (Millenium #3) - Read a 500+ Page Book, Read a Book That Has Been On Your Shelf the Longest Time, AND Finish a Series! (820 pages)

* Catching Fire (The Hunger Games #2) - Re-read a Book AND Listen to an Audiobook (equal to 391 pages)

* The Gargoyles by Andrew Davidson - just finishing this book, I was already on page 366 of 499 so I finished this book off, so basically I read 133 pages)

* Stay With Me by Elyssa Patrick - an eARC provided by NetGalley and the author (216 pages)

* Scarlet by Marissa Meyer - still currently reading it, but during the book-a-thon week, I read the first 108 pages.

the only challenge that I didn't successfully execute was read more than 300 pages a day. There were days where I didn't read 300 pages, but there were days where I read more than 300 pages, so it didn't really matter I guess.

In conclusion, during the book-a-thon week, grand total of pages I read is..

(221+820+391+216+133+108) = 1,889 pages!

Well, I am happy with the result, it has been pretty productive! :D

July Multiple Books Review: Prodigy (Legend #2) by Marie Lu

9. Prodigy (Legend #2)

Author: Marie Lu

Published: January 29th 2013

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 356 pages

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Synopsis:

June and Day arrive in Vegas just as the unthinkable happens: the Elector Primo dies, and his son Anden takes his place. With the Republic edging closer to chaos, the two join a group of Patriot rebels eager to help Day rescue his brother and offer passage to the Colonies. They have only one request—June and Day must assassinate the new Elector.

It’s their chance to change the nation, to give voice to a people silenced for too long.

But as June realizes this Elector is nothing like his father, she’s haunted by the choice ahead. What if Anden is a new beginning? What if revolution must be more than loss and vengeance, anger and blood—what if the Patriots are wrong?

In this highly-anticipated sequel, Lu delivers a breathtaking thriller with high stakes and cinematic action.

Deskynowsky's Review:

*Sobbing in the middle of the night*

What have you done to me, Marie Lu...

I can't take this.... that ending is toooooo mucccch to bear.......

Overall, this sequel is amazing! I LOVE THE TWISTS! The unexpected turn out of events that actually changed everything about The Republic...

Day and June are just the most amazing characters ever! I love them emotionally and how they grow so much in this sequel.. Their relationship is just so believable, I just can feel that they are made for each other... I don't know what will happen in Champion, it literally gives me a nausea.. I even took a long break while reading this book coz I was just scared to know what will happen to them.. and *BAM!*, there's the surprise, *SOBBING harder here* (I don't even have the energy to put a gif to express my feeling - I don't even think a gif can express what I feel after that ending...*

July Multiple Books Review: 6. Paper Towns by John Green

6. Paper Towns

Author: John Green

Published: September 22nd 2009

Publisher: Speak

Pages: 305 pages

Rating: 4 of 5 Stars

Synopsis:

Quentin Jacobsen has spent a lifetime loving the magnificently adventurous Margo Roth Spiegelman from afar. So when she cracks open a window and climbs back into his life—dressed like a ninja and summoning him for an ingenious campaign of revenge—he follows.

After their all-nighter ends and a new day breaks, Q arrives at school to discover that Margo, always an enigma, has now become a mystery. But Q soon learns that there are clues—and they’re for him. Urged down a disconnected path, the closer he gets, the less Q sees of the girl he thought he knew.

Deskynowsky's Review:

okay, I like this book obviously..

It is an amazing story filled with mysteries, puzzles/riddles, and adventures..

hmm, I am not so sure if this book gives me feels like other two John Green's books (looking for Alaska and TFIOS) do.. but this book does bring out my curiosity.. I think it is a very good read and very interesting one.. I like it in a way that it's an awesome YA adventure and mystery book.. I really love parts where John Green put some poetry references in it.. really nice touch..

What I like the best from this book is the conversation between Margo and Quentin, Quentin and his bestfriends, Quentin and his parents, Quentin and other students.. It's just obvious that I like Quentin as a character.. Tho I also have to say that Margo is definitely very unique and the way she's thinking no matter how odd that is, I somehow can understand and relate to it xp

I think that'd be all for now.. :)

July Multiple Books Review: 3. The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman

3. The Ocean at The End of The Lane

Author: Neil Gaiman

Published: June 18th 2013

Publisher: Harper Collins

Pages: 181 pages

Rating: 5 of 5 Stars

Synopsis:

THE OCEAN AT THE END OF THE LANE is a fable that reshapes modern fantasy: moving, terrifying and elegiac - as pure as a dream, as delicate as a butterfly's wing, as dangerous as a knife in the dark, from storytelling genius Neil Gaiman. 

It began for our narrator forty years ago when the family lodger stole their car and committed suicide in it, stirring up ancient powers best left undisturbed. Dark creatures from beyond the world are on the loose, and it will take everything our narrator has just to stay alive: there is primal horror here, and menace unleashed - within his family and from the forces that have gathered to destroy it.

His only defense is three women, on a farm at the end of the lane. The youngest of them claims that her duckpond is ocean. The oldest can remember the Big Bang.

Deskynowsky's Review:

Supposed to be bright solid 10 stars!

AMAZING!

MAGICAL!

DIFFERENT!

I just literally lost words on how to describe this masterpiece! This book is on the top of my most fave book of all time!

The writing is über-beautiful, the storyline made my heart pounding faster and faster everytime I turned the page, the characters are so alive and so magically-written.. Everything about this book is so elegant and for me hard to define, it is just what it is.. A Masterpiece by a genius writer, Mr. Neil Gaiman..

It got me to think about life in general (as an adult).. Haha..

If you want to read smth quick and magical, just buy and read this freakin superb masterpiece.. It is definitely a must have on your shelf! ;D

What's New #8: Kinokuniya's temptation!

It was like last week since I posted a book haul post.. Well this time, it's a different story.. I've been avoiding to come to this bookstore, but there was just this pull that calling me to go there and I have been so stressed-out lately at the office, therefore I think I need to reward myself a bit.

So I went to Kinokuniya Bookstore at Grand Indonesia after the office.. I basically got myself (or bought myself) SIX books! hahaha..

Here they are!

Fragments and Unravel Me are sequels to Partials and Shatter Me which I have not yet reading xp well, I just can't let them hanging there, and I will read them eventually, so I decided to get them anw..

Pushing The Limits, I only hear good things about this book, it sounds like a good romantic story with a twist. I had put this book down two times at Kino, I was not so sure I want to read it, but then I was just "what the heck" and decided to buy it.. Because I am just too curious about it, what is the buzz about this book.

Code Name Verity by Elizabeth Wein, Everybody Sees The Ants by A.S. King, and Life After Life by Kate Atkinson are probably books that I am really most excited about.. XD I've been wanting to get them for so long, and I saw them at Kino then I was like "put them in the basket!!!", so happy..

Okay, so that'd be all for today, I will probably back with reviews after this.. I am expecting The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey to be posted within this week.. and The Gargoyle by Andrew Davidson also The Ocean at The End of The Lane by Neil Gaiman..

Alright then, see ya!

My Absence and What's New #7 (kinda incomplete edition)

Hi!!!

It's been quite some time since I posted my last post here.. Well, life happens which I mean by it is work which literally has taken over my life.. BUT I had 4 days of holiday to Thailand so it's okay I guess for now.. Okay, I won't talk about my work in this blog (no way!).. Let's jump to the What's new! :D

To be honest, I have purchased many books during my absence, but somehow I don't think I can remember which all those books I have bought, so I will just show you my very recent haul which I got by redeeming my IDR 250K (around $25) member voucher at Periplus Store here in Jakarta. And I am just sooooo happy to get these babies ;)

I am sure that many of you have heard about these two recent published books.. Alright then, that's it from me for now. Hopefully I can come back and post more here.. 

Wish you all a happy and great weekend.. Do what you want to do! and be yourself ;*

Book Review: The Passage (The Passage #1) by Justin Cronin

Buy The Passage by Justin Cronin? click here :)

SPOILERS FREE!

Year Published: 2011
Publisher: Ballantine Books
Pages: 784
Rating: 

In case, you don't know.. I read this book because of Joseph Morgan.. If you guys don't know him, google him.. It's been a long time since I really like an actor and considering myself as a fan. haha.. I like many actors and actresses, but never really thought myself as a fan.. but this time, I make an exception ;)

4.5 stars! - SPOILER FREE!

This is one of those books that could catch me off my guard.. I just can't seem to formulate coherent thoughts of what I felt after finishing this book. It was just a mix of anxieties.

It took me a while to finish this book, other than the monstrosity of how thick this book is, there is also a busy life to live.. work and everything, mostly the limited time.. but what a journey and experience reading this book.

I don't think people who can not bear a really slow and long development of a story-line can enjoy this book. But if you are patient enough and up for the long, intricate, and complexed details of a story, this book probably is for you. Because there were so much of it. I think it was from the start till well most of the stories anw.. xp There were actions here and there, but mostly the story was about a journey.. a very long one and a-very-not-smooth one. There were just so many things happened, and most of them were unexpected. Surprises and puzzles of why things happened the way it was happening were kinda overwhelming.

Okay so let's talk about the book.

This book is a sci-fi/post-apocalyptic/dystopian/adult fiction.

So basically, this was a story about a journey of the-descended-survivors in the post-apocalyptic world.. The world in the state of apocalypse because of things human-made during the Time Before. Humans created through experiment monsters (or twelve of them) that were becoming disaster when all of them broke free from their containment-facility. And their escape has created pandemic that crossing all over the states (in the USA) and created more monsters or virals. And for sure, it put down the history of human. These monsters were like vampires. So it was really interesting to read. Instead of as supernatural/paranormal creatures, vampires in this book were human-worst-made-creation. and speaking about the Twelve, there were more about them than what it seemed. They were like the originals (hah, I can't think straight when I said that.. ) and the kings of the virals (Volturi to the Twilight world) xp

The story line. I can divide the book into two parts. First, the pre-apocalyptic story. It was the intro story of how these things happened. In this book, they called it "The Time Before". and the second part, the post-apocalyptic one, where the journey and everything began. When people were starting to find answers and actually do something about it. At this point, it was like I was watching "The Walking Dead" tv series. and I love TWD, so I really enjoyed the process of the reading and the development of the story. The story was detailed and complexed. But it was amazing to see how the story developed and gave so many surprises. I like how the world setting and everything were able to shape the story itself. It was like the story was alive and forced everyone to live in such a state. Although, in the Time Before, we learned that everything happened because of humans.

It told the story from the 3rd person perspective of multi-characters in the book.. It was confusing at first, especially at the middle of the book or at the time when the story was set in the colony. There were quite many characters in the book, so sometime it was difficult to keep track on who was who.. haha.. but I got the hang of it after some pages (thou sometimes I had to get back to previous chapter to read about which characters was who). Other than the main casts (whether it was in pre- or post- apocalyptic world) were really amazing characters. I could actually feel their personal and emotional growth. So that was one of the great things about the book.

As many good story went on, it has a crazy ending. And it was told in the way that made me stunned. Okay, crazy! CRAZY!

oh and one more thing, it was like the sense of time in this book stopped. and somehow it also influenced the story (well, that was how I felt ;) )

And am actually pretty excited to read the sequel (thou I don't know when will I read it.. ) xp

Alright then... up to the next read.. :)

Book-Reviews December 2012: Classics and Modern Classic

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen

Publisher: Modern Library
Year Published: 2001 (Book), 1811 (first published)
Pages: 282
Rating: 

Published in 1811, Sense and Sensibility has delighted generations of readers with its masterfully crafted portrait of two sisters, Elinor and Marianne Dashwood. Forced to leave their home after their father's death, Elinor and Marianne must rely on making good marriages as their means of support. But unscrupulous cads, meddlesome matriarchs, and various guileless and artful women impinge on their chances for love and happiness. The novelist Elizabeth Bowen wrote, "The technique of [Jane Austen's novels] is beyond praise....Her mastery of the art she chose, or that chose her, is complete."

This Modern Library Paperback Classics edition contains a new Introduction by Pulitzer Prize finalist David Gates, in addition to new explanatory notes.

I am not so sure how to review a classic work.. I didn't even consider to put classic books reviews on my blog, because I think classic works need more comprehensive and deeper analysis >.< and I think I was not confidence/qualified enough to do it.. But it doesn't mean that I do not enjoy classic or modern classic books. They are so good! some of them are even my all time favorites! So now I am giving myself a shot to do reviews of them. Well, I need to start at some point.. So..... here it goes..


Reading JA's (Jane Austen) works always amused me.. Now the only JA's books that I haven't read are Persuasion and Emma. Persuasion is definitely in my TBR for January 2013 :)

I really like this book, but it is not my most fave JA's books. So far my fave JA book is still Mansfield Park which I read about two years ago.. Sense and Sensibility was a thin book of classic romance drama of the Dashwood sisters, Marrianne and Elinor. The drama was a very common typical classic romance, family, and customary drama (well all of JA's books are). 

I enjoyed the story a whole lot! It was well-developed and paced. It had some dramatic moments, then it had also some wow factors where we learned quite shocking facts about some of the suitors for the ladies, really scandalous (at the time).

The characters of the main-ladies, Marrianne and Elianor were so different, it was really refreshing to see how these two sisters had different approaches on their romantic drama. Marrianne, who was more spontaneous and passionate, then we also have Elianor who was always pretty sensible and logical. It was definitely intersting to see these two sisters in their own drama.

My fave characters in this book were Colonel Brandon and Elinor Dashwood.. <3 <3 <3

I just wished that there were more details in relationship-stories of Edward Ferrar and Elinor Dashwood, Richard Ferrar and Lucy Steele (this relationship in my opinion needed more explanations), John Willoughby and Marianne Dashwood, and lastly, Colonel Brandon and Marianne <3

I have watched the Movie Adaptation and I really recommend everyone to watch it, because they did a very great movie adaptation of the book. If you do not want to read the book, you can just watch the movie, it was just perfect. Almost all (or all) of the scenes in the book were captured perfectly well in it. I strongly recommend you to watch the movie (1995) where Kate Winslet, Emma Thompson, Alan Rickman, and Hugh Grant in it.

Complete Ghost Stories by Charles Dickens

Publisher: Wordsworth Classics
Year Published: 1997 (Book), 1866 (First Published)
Pages: 329
Rating: 

Interest in supernatural phenomena was high during Charles Dickens' lifetime. He had always loved a good ghost story himself, particularly at Christmas time, and was open-minded, willing to accept, and indeed put to the test, the existence of spirits.
His natural inclinations toward drama and the macabre made him a brilliant teller of ghost tales, and in the twenty stories presented here, which include his celebrated A Christmas Carol, the full range of his gothic talents can be seen.
Chilling as some of these stories are, Dickens has managed to inject characteristically grotesque comedy as he writes of revenge, insanity, pre-cognition and dream visions, he indulges also in some debunking of contemporary credulity.

What a joyful and mildly scary collection of short stories this book was.. ;)

This book contains 20 short ghost stories by Charles Dickens, including "Christmas Carol". I have to say that this book is a really awesome seasonal book to read in December. If the Christmas or December hasn't yet (almost) over, I would recommend people to read this during the month or just buy it as a christmas present. It's really a great book to have.

There are five stories that I really like (a lot). They are "A Madman's Manuscript", "A Christmas Carol", "To be read at Dusk", "Four Ghost Stories", and "The Portrait Painter's Story". These five stories are my absolute favorites! Very rereadable! and great stories to read whether in Halloween or Christmas time.. or just anytime we wish for short and quick bedtime stories..

Fahrenheit 451 by Ray Bradbury

Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Year Published: 2012 (Book), 1953 (First Published)
Rating: 

Ray Bradbury’s internationally acclaimed novel Fahrenheit 451is a masterwork of twentieth-century literature set in a bleak, dystopian future. Guy Montag is a fireman. In his world, where television rules and literature is on the brink of extinction, firemen start fires rather than put them out. His job is to destroy the most illegal of commodities, the printed book, along with the houses in which they are hidden.

Montag never questions the destruction and ruin his actions produce, returning each day to his bland life and wife, Mildred, who spends all day with her television “family.” But then he meets an eccentric young neighbor, Clarisse, who introduces him to a past where people didn’t live in fear and to a present where one sees the world through the ideas in books instead of the mindless chatter of television.

When Mildred attempts suicide and Clarisse suddenly disappears, Montag begins to question everything he has ever known. He starts hiding books in his home, and when his pilfering is discovered, the fireman has to run for his life.

Oh Wow!It's a thin modern classic dystopian story book, probably one of some earlier dystopian works. It got me to think and grateful for a lot of things.. 

I have read quite few of recent-dystopian books, but this book (in my opinion) is the scariest (so far).. I can't imagine to live in the world like that where people couldn't feel.. I think it was like the most terrible-state to be..I enjoyed and loved the story.. The ending is kinda open-ended, but I like it.. Most of modern classics books that I have read so far have this kind of ending..

Everything was well built; the characters, the story, the plot, the setting.. I personally have no problem with the contents. Somehow, this book made me think about a lot of things, like I have mentioned earlier. It's fantastic, I have no words to describe it.

Now, I am really curious with some other dystopian modern classic books such as 1984 by George Orwell or A Clockwork Orange by Anthony Burgess.. Those book are also in my TBR for 2013.. So excited!