10 Novel Fiksi Kontemporer Rekomendasi Novelis Winna Efendi

Buku adalah jendela dunia, begitu ucap pepatah. Lewatnya, kita bisa memasuki dunia yang berbeda dan mempelajari begitu banyak hal baru. Buku juga bisa dijadikan salah satu pilihan menarik untuk mengisi waktu luang kalian. Selain aktif sebagai seorang penulis, saya juga merupakan pembaca yang menyukai berbagai genre buku. 

Banyaknya pilihan sering kali membuat kita kesulitan menentukan bahan bacaan. Oleh karena itu, kali ini saya ingin berbagi beberapa pilihan favorit yang menurut saya sayang untuk dilewatkan. Tentunya dengan aneka jenis genre, dari fiksi remaja, romance, thriller, maupun kumpulan cerita. Saya harap kalian akan menemukan bacaan menarik, yang membuat kalian tak ingin berhenti hingga kisahnya selesai.

Ingin tahu novel rekomendasi saya? Baca di: 10 Novel Fiksi Kontemporer Rekomendasi Novelis Winna Efendi

(book) Eleanor & Park by Rainbow Rowell

Synopsis

Two misfits.

One extraordinary love.

Eleanor... Red hair, wrong clothes. Standing behind him until he turns his head. Lying beside him until he wakes up. Making everyone else seem drabber and flatter and never good enough...Eleanor.

Park... He knows she'll love a song before he plays it for her. He laughs at her jokes before she ever gets to the punch line. There's a place on his chest, just below his throat, that makes her want to keep promises...Park.

Set over the course of one school year, this is the story of two star-crossed sixteen-year-olds—smart enough to know that first love almost never lasts, but brave and desperate enough to try.

Review

I was delaying reading this book for two reasons:

1. I would love to like it as much as the reviews, and I'm afraid I won't. I like Fangirl and I have high expectations for this one.

2. The setting and time frame of 1986 daunts me a little. I love the eighties but am not sure about reading a book about the 80s.

I was proven wrong for both counts.

First off, this reads like a fresh contemporary YA romance. True, it's got the cliches of star-crossed lovers who might not even be in each other's radar if not for this so-called thing called fate, and it's got the classic set-up of youthful love. It even gets as far as mentioning Romeo and Juliet. But then, it's about first loves, and the theme never gets old as long as the execution is new. And what can I say, the execution is splendid.

I like the first chapters, they create a setting for both characters to meet perfectly. I find the middle parts floundering, but the last couple of chapters feel so heartbreaking and raw I just can't read fast enough.

Both characters are not your typical jock/cheerleader/popular people/total outcasts/spunky teen either. Eleanor might look like a spunky outcast on the outside but I love that she's got insecurities. Park is not your next door hunk either - he's Asian and in a town when he's the only one who looks it, apart from his Mom, he's got his own problems and perspective for popularity.

Their romance feels right. I don't need to be told it is, because I feel it. I feel like feeling that fluttery butterflies in my stomach again because I'm reading about their romance. It feels authentic, and I think that's what Rainbow Rowell excels in most - that, and dialogue. She can create amazing chemistry whenever she writes.

The ending feels a bit sad, but I guess bittersweet in some ways. I like it as much as I do Fangirl, but then if I'm asked to compare between the two, I can't because they're two different things, and they're both charming books.

So while I won't rave about Eleanor and Park that much, I do feel I'll read it again from time to time, and fall in love with them all over again, quietly. Because it's that kind of book - a slice of life, nothing much might be going on with the plot until the last parts, but these are the parts of life that mean the most.

Note: the synopsis and cover win my heart big time.

(manga) Youth Strategy Guide by Sorata Akizuki

Sebenarnya nggak terlalu tertarik dengan sinopsisnya, namun karena suka gambarnya dan judulnya sepertinya menarik, akhirnya jadi memasukkan komik ini ke daftar belanjaan. Dan ternyata, setelah membacanya, ceritanya sangat menarik. Slice of life, my favorite genre, tapi isinya benar-benar mencerminkan kehidupan sekolah dan remaja laki-laki, terutama settingnya yang di sekolah khusus pria juga sangat mendukung cerita.

Dari keempat karakter, awalnya berpikir ini akan jadi cerita Ise dan Kurata saja, tapi dengan perkenalan Nogami dan Ueyama, ternyata keempat karakter sentral ini punya side stories masing-masing.

Dari awal persahabatan di permulaan kelas dua SMA sampai kelulusan, cerita mereka mampu memotret kekhawatiran remaja pada masa depan, kisah cinta, sampai persahabatan. Very recommended. Gambarnya juga bagus!

(book) Strange Weather in Tokyo by Hiromi Kawakami

Synopsis:

Tsukiko is in her late 30s and living alone when one night she happens to meet one of her former high school teachers, 'Sensei', in a bar. He is at least thirty years her senior, retired and, she presumes, a widower. After this initial encounter, the pair continue to meet occasionally to share food and drink sake, and as the seasons pass - from spring cherry blossom to autumnal mushrooms - Tsukiko and Sensei come to develop a hesitant intimacy which tilts awkwardly and poignantly into love. Perfectly constructed, funny, and moving, Strange Weather in Tokyo is a tale of modern Japan and old-fashioned romance.

Review:

I never expected to find a book that closely resembles Banana Yoshimoto's writing style, which I'm so fond of. I was at first attracted by the quirky cover and premise, and it turned out to be such a wonderful, bittersweet read.

Both characters are people you root for, and what I appreciate is that I feel like a bystander, a reader wanting to keep my distance as I watch their relationship blossom. I do not become the kind of reader that falls in love with either character, instead content to just be with them in their journey.

The story has no real plot and moves quite slowly, one random slice of life after another, but it indeed does have a beginning and ending, and a middle that I just love exploring. I know there are readers who might feel unable to follow a story without a real plot, and I might be such a reader myself but then now that I think about it, I'm fine with just tagging along for the ride, and such a melancholy book speaks to me more than reading about 'something' that always needs to be defined.

I am going to read Manazuru next, and I'll just say the ending stays with me for a long time. It's a beautiful read, well worth my time and makes me so sentimental I want to weep after I'm done with it.

5 out of 5 stars

(book) We Were Liars by E. Lockhart

Synopsis:

A beautiful and distinguished family.

A private island.

A brilliant, damaged girl; a passionate, political boy.

A group of four friends—the Liars—whose friendship turns destructive.

A revolution. An accident. A secret.

Lies upon lies.

True love.

The truth.

We Were Liars is a modern, sophisticated suspense novel from National Book Award finalist and Printz Award honoree E. Lockhart. 

Read it.

And if anyone asks you how it ends, just LIE.

Review:

This book receives so much love, and deservedly so.

Easily the best YA I've read in 2014, this tells the story of four teenagers from the wealthy family Sinclair in Massachucets. From the very start I am surprised by the tone of the book and the prose, which are so different from the Ruby Oliver books I used to read, and from the style that I associated with E. Lockhart. However, I welcome the change, as I prefer this so much more than the usual goofy witty charm that is the voice of Ruby.

Cady, the main character and the narrator, is weird. In a good way - that she loves books, that she does not always fit in. I love all the characters, flawed and all, and especially the Liars. I grow to learn and love them through Cady's eyes, and each is alive in my mind - their personalities deviate so much from the usual cliches in a way that makes me admire the author even more.

The suspense is there from the very beginning. Although we can sense that something is very wrong, we don't really know what that is. I can guess the ending from the middle of the book, but even that doesn't mean I'm a hundred percent right. When we get to the truth, I hardly feel justified, only that my worse nightmare is coming true. I can't take my eyes off the pages and just keep reading in a fetal position, feeling extremely sad once it's over. It makes readers feel so much, from the tragedy, a mixture of sadness, longing and everything else.

I'm not going to say the book's perfect, but it draws me in and I love most things about it. I love the mystery, the character, the plot. I even love the big twist although it makes me ache.

Suggestions for reading this book: don't read the reviews, avoid spoilers because they're the essence of the book, and prepare to weep.

E Lockhart rocks. It makes me want to read Frankie Landau - is it any good?

(book) The One by Kiera Cass

Synopsis

The Selection changed America Singer's life in ways she never could have imagined. Since she entered the competition to become the next princess of Illéa, America has struggled with her feelings for her first love, Aspen--and her growing attraction to Prince Maxon. Now she's made her choice . . . and she's prepared to fight for the future she wants.

Find out who America will choose in The One, the enchanting, beautifully romantic third book in the Selection series!

Review

What did I say about the previous two books? Addicting, that's what.

The book explores teenage angst, a never-ending triangle love, and lots of princess-y activities to win the heart of a prince. But what I appreciate about the finale is that it not only deals with that, it also has a rebellion plot and lots of other things.

Just when I feel that the book's moving too slowly (which it actually isn't, for one thing this book has in spades is pacing), the story picks up with a new sub-plot. We have task after task, challenge after challenge, that we watch America deals with. Just when I roll my eyes with the indecisiveness, we get scenes that are completely different they take me by surprise.

I personally like the rebellion plot. I wish it's been explored thoroughly, because the ending feels rushed. It almost feels like the author couldn't wait fast enough to finish and did not make necessary revisions to maximize the story. I am also sad that as readers, we don't get to see the rebellion in full volume, gory details and all, through America's eyes, because (spoiler) she was locked up in a room and did not get to see the action.

However, I did enjoy all three books, despite the cheesy dialogue and prim plot. I like America, and her fiery temper is enough to make me want to root for her, win or no win.

3.5 / 5 stars

(graphic novel) Anya's Ghost by Vera Brosgol

Synopsis:

Anya could really use a friend. But her new BFF isn't kidding about the "Forever" part.

Of all the things Anya expected to find at the bottom of an old well, a new friend was not one of them. Especially not a new friend who’s been dead for a century.

Falling down a well is bad enough, but Anya's normal life might actually be worse. She's embarrassed by her family, self-conscious about her body, and she's pretty much given up on fitting in at school. A new friend—even a ghost—is just what she needs.

Or so she thinks. Spooky, sardonic, and secretly sincere, Anya's Ghost is a wonderfully entertaining debut from author/artist Vera Brosgol.

Review:

To be fair, I did have a ghostly nightmare the night I read this book. But story-wise, it was quite creepy without being over the top. I almost expected it to be a story for children, that Anya in the book is a middle school grader instead of a high schooler, but it deals more with adolescence.

My problem with the book mostly lies in the fact that I don't like all the characters. Anya's not that likable herself, and her so-called friendships are never really resolved. Perhaps it signifies acceptance, but it leaves me wanting more.

The ghost story is OK, and the drawing's quite beautiful, but I wish it's in full color for the full effect.

It has nearly the same cover and design and paper as Smile by Raina Telgemeier, but it's a lot darker and I feel that the story, character development, could've been explored to a more satisfying ending. 

2/5 stars.

(book) Angelology by Danielle Trussoni

Synopsis

A thrilling epic about an ancient clash reignited in our time--between a hidden society and heaven's darkest creatures

There were giants in the earth in those days; and also after that, when the sons of God came in unto the daughters of men, and they bore children to them. --Genesis 6:5

Sister Evangeline was just a girl when her father entrusted her to the Franciscan Sisters of Perpetual Adoration in upstate New York. Now, at twenty-three, her discovery of a 1943 letter from the famous philanthropist Abigail Rockefeller to the late mother superior of Saint Rose Convent plunges Evangeline into a secret history that stretches back a thousand years: an ancient conflict between the Society of Angelologists and the monstrously beautiful descendants of angels and humans, the Nephilim.

For the secrets these letters guard are desperately coveted by the once-powerful Nephilim, who aim to perpetuate war, subvert the good in humanity, and dominate mankind. Generations of angelologists have devoted their lives to stopping them, and their shared mission, which Evangeline has long been destined to join, reaches from her bucolic abbey on the Hudson to the apex of insular wealth in New York, to the Montparnasse cemetery in Paris and the mountains of Bulgaria.

Rich in history, full of mesmerizing characters, and wondrously conceived, Angelology blends biblical lore, the myth of Orpheus and the Miltonic visions of Paradise Lost into a riveting tale of ordinary people engaged in a battle that will determine the fate of the world.

Review

I never expected that this would read like a new Dan Brown novel, nor did I expect reading about angels to be so much fun. What a ride.

The story starts with a wonderful premise, rather simple but actually quite complicated. I agree with other reviews that state the book's too simple for such a complicated topic, but I also think most of the things that cover the ground are discussed quite thoroughly. I do believe there are some edges to be smoothed, but overall the author manages to capture a believable setting and world through altered history.

There are two things I don't like from the book: the excessive details (that can be both beneficial and detrimental to the book), and the main character. Details are lush and rich, I especially love the setting descriptions. It reads like poetry, and often I feel lulled to a sense of looking at beautiful paintings as I read. But they also get lengthy and detailed sometimes, even in dialogue, and it makes me want to skip to the action. Then the main character, Evangeline, is so bland I wish Celestine, Gabriella and Verlaine are the leads. I wish I could understand Evangeline's motivations better. I love it when the narration shifts to Celestine, who's a much, albeit more naive, interesting personality. And Gabriella is superb.

That being said, I enjoy Angelology, would love to see the movie, and also read Angelopolis.

(book) Tell the Wolves I'm Home by Carol Rifka Brunt

Synopsis:

In this striking literary debut, Carol Rifka Brunt unfolds a moving story of love, grief, and renewal as two lonely people become the unlikeliest of friends and find that sometimes you don't know you've lost someone until you've found them.

1987. There's only one person who has ever truly understood fourteen-year-old June Elbus, and that's her uncle, the renowned painter Finn Weiss. Shy at school and distant from her older sister, June can only be herself in Finn's company; he is her godfather, confidant, and best friend. So when he dies, far too young, of a mysterious illness her mother can barely speak about, June's world is turned upside down. But Finn's death brings a surprise acquaintance into June's life--someone who will help her to heal, and to question what she thinks she knows about Finn, her family, and even her own heart.

At Finn's funeral, June notices a strange man lingering just beyond the crowd. A few days later, she receives a package in the mail. Inside is a beautiful teapot she recognizes from Finn's apartment, and a note from Toby, the stranger, asking for an opportunity to meet. As the two begin to spend time together, June realizes she's not the only one who misses Finn, and if she can bring herself to trust this unexpected friend, he just might be the one she needs the most. 

An emotionally charged coming-of-age novel, "Tell the Wolves I'm Home" is a tender story of love lost and found, an unforgettable portrait of the way compassion can make us whole again.

Review:

I haven't had the pleasure of reading a book that's this emotional and raw for such a long time. After the pages closed, all I wanted to do was bask in silence and let the tears flow. It was expected that I'd encounter a sad story about death, what I did not expect was how much I'd love the story, and how heartbreaking it all was.

I love all the characters. I like being in June's shoes, seeing everything through her eyes, feel the raw emotions she does, and loves as much as she does. I get to know Finn through her understanding, grow fond of Toby just as she does, and never feels like I know more than she does, just flowing in her pace. I like that the feelings are all honestly told - the good, the bad, even those demons within our hearts that we often hide away just so people won't know how horrible we can be.

Even though some characters - Greta, Danni, are at first exasperating, I'm glad I get to know their stories, and that they react in a humane way, and that makes me understand.

There are pages that make me teary-eyed or smile, because they're that kind of stories; the wonderful, the bittersweet, a story about love in the purest sense of wanting the other to be happy, a story about family, getting lost, getting found, and the discoveries along the way. It's about secrets, but it's also about setting them free. It's about acceptance and friendship and memories and art and finding ourselves.

I love everything about this book. It can get slow and choppy at times but I accept that as how the author wanted to construct this book, and possibly how her style really is. It's definitely a beautiful debut, and I look forward to more of Carol Rifka Brunt's books.

Five stars out of five.

(book) The Ghost Bride by Yangsze Choo

Synopsis

"One evening, my father asked me if I would like to become a ghost bride..."

Though ruled by British overlords, the Chinese of colonial Malaya still cling to ancient customs. And in the sleepy port town of Malacca, ghosts and superstitions abound.

Li Lan, the daughter of a genteel but bankrupt family, has few prospects. But fate intervenes when she receives an unusual proposal from the wealthy and powerful Lim family. They want her to become a ghost bride for the family's only son, who recently died under mysterious circumstances. Rarely practiced, a traditional ghost marriage is used to placate a restless spirit. Such a union would guarantee Li Lan a home for the rest of her days, but at a terrible price.

After an ominous visit to the opulent Lim mansion, Li Lan finds herself haunted not only by her ghostly would-be suitor, but also by her desire for the Lim's handsome new heir, Tian Bai. Night after night, she is drawn into the shadowy parallel world of the Chinese afterlife, with its ghost cities, paper funeral offerings, vengeful spirits and monstrous bureaucracy—including the mysterious Er Lang, a charming but unpredictable guardian spirit. Li Lan must uncover the Lim family's darkest secrets—and the truth about her own family—before she is trapped in this ghostly world forever.

Review

I was intrigued by the interesting premise. Having spent part of my childhood in Malaysia, and visited Malacca a few times, I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of familiarity I felt as I read the book.

The myth and the air of mystery were also a surprise to me. I wasn't expecting such an elaborate journey on the main character's part, thinking it would just be a mysterious story about a wedding with a ghost. But then Li Lan, the main character, got swept away in the afterworld, met a few wonderful and repulsive characters, and in essence, it was an adventure I loved to tag along on.

Story wise, it was full of elements of surprise. The pacing was not that fast, exacerbated by the fact that it was full of historical facts and descriptions. Long passages and narration after narration got boring sometimes, but I soldiered on and it was worth it.

The romance took a back seat, but I was so glad to see it resurface near the ending, unexpectedly at that. The characters were flawed and vivid to the point that they portrayed what humanity was, and even the antagonists did make me shiver. When Lim Tian Ching first haunted Li Lan's dreams, I was afraid for her as well for myself - for it was in essence, a ghost story, and I was bracing for scary stories.

Li Lan was a heroine I loved to root for. At the beginning she was spoiled and selfish, but as the story progressed, I found out how resourceful she was, witty and stubborn. She was also pretty - something I was not expecting because she was not described as so, but then it coincided with the fact that she did not consider herself beautiful. This was a nice example of showing rather than telling; the author showed us how smart she was, and how attractive, instead of describing it in irrelevant details. The rest of the descriptions were vivid, and helped set the setting nicely.

In the end, I did not want this story to end. I reread some parts I loved, and would like a sequel although that does not seem possible at the moment

(book) Garden of Stones by Sophie Littlefield

Synopis:

In the dark days of war, a mother makes the ultimate sacrifice.

Lucy Takeda is just fourteen years old, living in Los Angeles, when the bombs rain down on Pearl Harbor. Within weeks, she and her mother, Miyako, are ripped from their home, rounded up-along with thousands of other innocent Japanese-Americans-and taken to the Manzanar prison camp. 

Buffeted by blistering heat and choking dust, Lucy and Miyako must endure the harsh living conditions of the camp. Corruption and abuse creep into every corner of Manzanar, eventually ensnaring beautiful, vulnerable Miyako. Ruined and unwilling to surrender her daughter to the same fate, Miyako soon breaks. Her final act of desperation will stay with Lucy forever...and spur her to sins of her own. 

Bestselling author Sophie Littlefield weaves a powerful tale of stolen innocence and survival that echoes through generations, reverberating between mothers and daughters. It is a moving chronicle of injustice, triumph and the unspeakable acts we commit in the name of love. 

Review:

I've never read anything written by Sophie Littlefield, but was intrigued by the story and rave reviews it's getting, so I decided to buy the book. I've always been drawn to war stories, especially victims of enslavement and concentration camps. It is also my first time knowing and reading about the Japanese eviction from their homes post-Pearl Harbour bombing, and there is something very tragic about leaving the only home you've ever known.

The story starts with Reg, who's bland and uninteresting, until the next chapter proves otherwise. I'm not a fan of flashbacks interwoven with the current present because I usually find the flashbacks more satisfying. This reminds me of Jodi Picoult's the Storyteller. But then I keep going, and am enthralled by Miyako and Lucy's world, how it begins and how it falls apart.

Sophie Littlefield's description is so vivid I can imagine what she's writing. Even though some descriptions are overdone that I want to skip them, they do help in building the setting and momentum. I can feel myself walking beside Lucy, or be in her shoes. The best and worst part is the explanation of the latrine in their new shelter - it makes me cringe and want to turn away just by reading the passages. She's that good, and that's one pleasure I take from reading this book.

The characters are flawed, often excessively so, and the author makes no excuses for what they do or why. I especially find Lucy's change a little jarring, if not excusable, but so far she's my favorite character in the book. The rest can be horrifying, but they're also facing their own demons, scarred in their own ways. I don't need to accept them, I just have to understand them.

The book makes me feel so many different emotions at once. The first two thirds of the book is amazing, and pages just flow by despite early hesitation. The last part is a little slow, and I almost lose interest after the climax, but I barrel through. There are twists at the end that I appreciate and do not see coming, but overall, although it tells a harrowing journey splendidly, I wish it's packed more punch. I'm not sure what's missing, but I lose my ability to connect with Lucy or any of the other characters as the story progresses.

However, I'll still recommend this book - it's quite amazing.

(book) Wonder by R.J. Palacio

Synopsis:

I won't describe what I look like. Whatever you're thinking, it's probably worse.

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances?

R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Review:

Everyone's been raving about this book, and deservedly so. I love it.

The story is gut-wrenching and bittersweet, although I didn't exactly find myself weeping because this is not a tragedy. Rather, I think it is a story of forgiveness, of acceptance, self respect, family, and friendship. Whatever Auggie is going through, he gets through it with quiet strength, supported by everyone in his family. I love his little family so much, and feels everything along with them as the story progresses. The author clearly has a knack in making readers relate to each character.

Narration wise, I'd love it better if the book is narrated by Auggie alone, and was surprised when we switched view from Via, to Justin, to Jack, to Summer, et cetera. Despite that minor disappointment that the lovely Auggie was no longer narrating, it helped me understand the other characters better - their motivation, their reasoning, and I think to a certain extent, is what the author hoped to achieve.

The cover and synopsis are catchy, and the story filled with a lot of heart. It's definitely one of the books I'll keep and reread in the future.

(book) Shattered by Teri Terry

It was amazing how I rated the first two with three stars, and loved this one so completely I gave it five.

But in short, this book deserves every glowing star.

I was weary about continuing, because despite knowing how Kyla's adventure ends, there's also a little fleck of worry that it might not end with a bang. As soon as I started reading, all that worry diminished away and I was left satisfied, crazily turning page after page until I reached the end.

Kyla has grown so much, that I can see. I like that she's not mopey or clingy or teary all the time in spite of the heartache and difficulties she's facing. The synopsis promises dark secrets, and as I, along with our heroine, discover them, each proves to be darker than the other. It is good payoff, definitely.

The pace is quick but not rushed, the plot eventful, tight, beautifully crafted and planned. Dialogue as well as setting also shine, but most of all the character development is built so nicely that I want to hug and root for Kyla all the time.

That being said, I love it. Slated - Fractured - Shattered might be flawed, but they're addictive and nicely add to my shelves of much loved dystopian YA.

(book) How to Fall by Jane Casey

My first time reading a Jane Casey book, and the first time I actually read YA murder mystery :)

It's a pleasant experience, I have to say. The main character's hotheaded, stubborn streak can be a turn-off, but she compensates by being kind and logical and smart, I can't help liking her off the bat. Sure she can be insensitive and gets into trouble despite that cool logic of hers, but it's fun to watch her stir troubles and pokes her nose when she's unwanted.

The main conflict is complicated, but interesting. Did cousin Freya kill herself, or was she murdered? Sometimes I feel like I'm fonder of Freya than her doppelganger Jess, but as the story progresses it's clear that both are as different as night and day, and that having them both in the story makes me wish Freya's still alive to tell her story.

My favorite character is Petra, and Will. The romance and thriller go side by side, it is as mysterious as it is subtle, and that shows how brilliant the author is without putting obvious clues everywhere. I have a bit of trouble processing the ending and how the mystery is solved, as it does not make much sense that the sensible Jess is acting blindly on her own, though it helps to know that she can be so determined to her own detriments. I wish the climax could have been neater, that's all.

I'm looking forward to Bet Your Life, and can't wait to watch the next mystery unfold in Port Sentinel.

(book) Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi

Minor spoilers alert!

I've had reservations about the first book, which I did not enjoy. As the second book was released, I realized that it was the main character that turned me off. She was so mopey, even though too much was at stake and she needed to toughen it up because two books full of mopey scenes were just unbearable.

Luckily, it all changed course within the third book. There was still repetitive phrasing as what seemed to be the author's style, a little too much angst in narration, cringe-worthy dialogue and a simple, simple plot. But it was saved by the swoon-worthy romance and a quick pace. A bit too quick, in my opinion, because we went from chapter one: being saved, to rebellion plans and getting the boy and so much loose ends being tied up. It could be good, but also had its downsides. I felt like we were speeding in a freeway lane, not being able to really discover the gem in every scene, just breezing by skimming at things. And the plot was its biggest hole - how did one make the rebellion so damn easy, and so quickly done at that? We only got a few chapters for that, and I was hoping for more.

The author hoped it was a worthy finale. Well, it was. I loved the romance though at first I was confused - Adam seemed to have a lobotomy, so did Warner and Juliet. I went like, "About time!!!" and welcomed it anyway.

This ended up being my favorite out of the three books in the series. It was strangely addicting and amazing, despite all that I'd complained about, so in the end I gave that heady addiction a 3.5 out of 5.

(book) Fangirl by Rainbow Rowell

I miss reading good YA.

They make me sink into the story, in a much lighter environment than say, serious fiction about post-war, but also carries much depth and development for the characters. That's why I love YAs so much, they carry us along in their journeys.

This one is my first Rainbow Rowell book, and I can safely say I'm now a fan. Well, it's not without great difficulty staying awake that I finish the first third of the book. Getting to know antisocial Cath takes some coaxing, waiting patiently for her to come out of her shell, and get to understand what the book is all about. I read without spoiling myself with the ending, not even knowing what the story is about except for fanfics. But then I stick around, and it's worth it.

Cath is a little like me - quiet, timid, doesn't like crowds, and would prefer staying in cramped space rather than socialize with strangers. But I'm more eager to please, and happy that Cath isn't. She'd rather let Levi out in the hall than let him in, and she's honest. I like her conversations with Levi, how they hardly beat around the bush and just say what's on their minds. Granted, I am not a fanfic fan (anymore), though I did write lots of them back in junior high school. That helps me understand her fixation with Simon and Baz, and the interweaving chapters are lovely to read.

I also love the setting, which is unfamiliar to me. It reminds me back of my university days, my first day though not at a dorm room but close.. I was doing homestays. And it was that familar scary feeling, stepping into unknown buildings, being in class and not knowing anybody.

The ending is quite satisfying, meaning we don't get happily ever afters but be present for the developing relationship between the characters - the main couple, the parents, the twins, the friendships.. we get the sense that we evolve with them instead of getting cookie cutter ending with long awaited anticipation building.

So.. 3.5 stars leaning to 4, and I'll keep my eye for the paperback version of Eleanor & Park.

(book) Margot by Jillian Cantor

On a Sunday afternoon, all I wanted was to sit down on the couch and curl up with a good book. Preferably one that is sentimental, with a touch of heartbreak, something I've always loved reading.

This book is those things - sentimental, heartbreaking, and bittersweet. I loved it.

I have always been fond of Holocaust stories. If you browse through my bookshelves, you will probably know that. I don't read them frequently though, but whenever I have the chance, I will encounter a book written about it, and read it from cover to cover, and love it. This is one such book in so many years.

If you ask me, I think I won't remember much of Margot Frank. I do recall her name being mentioned a few times in the Diary of a Young Girl by her sister, but nothing remarkable comes to mind. But here I am, reading her story, and being enchanted by it, by the what-ifs.

In this book, Margot Frank is alive, under the American name of Margie Franklin. As I read her story, I can't help but feel that under all the trauma she's been through, all she needs is a good counseling and the will to start over. I'm no psychologist, but I think she suffers through PTSD, and really needs a psychiatrist to help her. It is hard to watch her unravel, hide behind her sweaters, piece by piece dissolving in nightmares, not eating, not sleeping, not even capable of loving herself and others in the process. It is difficult to see her cling to her last remaining hope, that Peter van Pels, her first love, might still be alive. It is also sad, because she remains in that childlike state of believing what she wants to believe, and be crushed when things don't go the way she's planned or wanted them to be.

I also love stories set in the 50's-80's. I might not know if the way the book portrays how people dress, talk and act is correct, but it brings an old-fashioned feel to it. I can almost imagine the scenes in a movie.

That being said, the book is slow. Though the first few chapters are captivating, the pace is snail-like, interwoven with repetitive dreams, nightmares, sequences. I like to think these serve to strengthen the character's problem and show us how broken she is.

(warning: some minor spoilers about the ending)

Despite its flaws, I think the characters are what color the book beautifully and engage us as readers to want to be with her on her journey. Margie, Joshua, Shelby, Ilsa are all compelling characters, even if they are not always so lovable. I especially love the ending, the letter, and the author's note. It is definitely not the cookie cutter ending (in which I'd hoped she'd get some kind of big discovery), but if Margie's growth and the discovery of her self worth is not a huge revelation, what is?

(book) the Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

What would you do, if you saw a dead man in your father's car?

What would you do, if strange things happened soon after that?

What would you do, if your next door neighbors turned out to be not the kind of people you were expecting?

And what would you do, if they said their pond was an ocean?

Neil Gaiman's stories have struck me as whimsical, written in beautiful prose that resembles a fairy tale, or even poetry. But then, I was not too fond of Coraline, one of his books targeted for a younger audience. That being said, I loved Stardust, so when I saw the compelling cover as well as the rave reviews, I decided to give his latest books a try.

The beginning was rather slow, but it did hook my attention, so I kept reading. The tale of a young boy encountering many strange creatures was a bit of a surprise, because it definitely was not something I was expecting (although I should have, after reading the blurbs and synopsis about the ocean in a pond).

I was pretty bored as I read about Ursula Monkton and her antics, but because the book was short, I decided to keep reading till I was done with it. I have to admit, what is so charming about this book are the characters. The Hempstocks are wonderfully written, with an air of mystery as well as something comforting that make us feel we've known them personally for years. I love the descriptions about their farm, the clothes they wore and gave to the boy, the food they served him, their strange conversations. Plus, the idea of the ocean in a pond is so clever. I could not have cared less about the journey of the boy, but the characters kept me reading till I reached the bittersweet ending.

The ending was done beautifully. It felt realistic, tinged with a bit of sadness. I wish the story of Universe and other creatures and magic behind it is expanded more, because they are only mentioned in the end, but I guess it'll be an entirely different story altogether.

Side points: The cover with the girl underwater is so breathtaking, although the one with the boy almost drowning represents the story better.

3.5 stars.

Books on my pile February 2014

Just added these to my preorder cart:

- Ignite Me: Tahereh Mafi
- Panic: Lauren Oliver
- Shattered: Teri Terry
- The One: Kiera Cass

Coincidentally, all of the above except for Panic are the last installments in the series. Can. Not. Wait.

Mangas to be devoured:

- Love Search: I love the cover art, haven't read them yet though.
- Kurogane's Love Lesson
- Yona 10
- Kimi ni Todoke: I've read every scanlation available but will be fun to reread from chapter one.
- Love in Fukuoka

Other books I look forward to reading:

- The Ocean at the End of the Lane: Neil Gaiman
- Legend: Marie Lu
- the Husband's Secret
- the Scientist's Daughter
- Inside Out and Back Again
and a few others I can't recall.

Book Survey

It's been a while since I've done surveys, so here we go. Taken from Nicole Rusli Bookclubid's blog www.bookclubid.com :-)

Author you’ve read the most books from:

Sarah Dessen and Banana Yoshimoto (own and read each book written by them), Roald Dahl (I've read most of his books and they're jolly good fun), Francine Pascal (the ones authored by her ghostwriters), Jodi Picoult (have read most of her older books, need to catch up on the new ones).

Best Sequel Ever:

I agree with Nicole on this one. Unravel Me is much better than Shatter Me. So is The Elite is in my opinion superior to The Selection. But I also love the Delirium series, each is as wonderful as the predecessor.

Currently Reading:

None at the moment, but I will catch up :-)

Drink of Choice While Reading:

Plain water, warm tea.

E-reader or Physical Book?

Physical book for the win! I can never get used to ebooks, they hurt my eyes staring at the screen too much.

Fictional Character You Probably Would Have Actually Dated In High School:

Wes from the Truth about Forever, though he's so perfect I would probably not be in his crowd haha. Charlie from the Perks of being a Wallflower is more like me, perhaps.

Glad You Gave This Book A Chance:

Um. Chrysalids by John Wyndham, Of Mice and Men by John Steinbeck, had to read them in school, and loved it.

Hidden Gem Book:

Chrysalids by John Wyndham. Readers tend to favor Days of the Triffids, but I personally have this on my favorite. My Kind of Girl by Buddhadeva Bose is also a lesser known gem, it's so beautiful and short.

Important Moment in your Reading Life:

Reading Matilda from my middle school library. Have been an avid reader ever since.

Just Finished:

A manga series, actually: Yona the Girl Standing in the Blush of Dawn. Before that, a short stories compilation: Last Girlfriend on Earth.

Kinds of Books You Won’t Read:

Romance, Harlequin, horror. Not that I underestimate them or the people who read them. I tried, and they're just not my kind of thing.

Longest Book You’ve Read:

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows.

Major book hangover because of:

Matilda by Roald Dahl, the Delirium Series by Lauren Oliver, and Mara Dyer series by Michelle Hodkins.

Number of Bookcases You Own:

I have two large bookcases in my room back at my parents' home, and another one in our home here now.

One Book You Have Read Multiple Times:

The Sweet Valley series (because they're addicting like that), Sarah Dessen books, and any that I'd love to reread at the moment.

Preferred Place To Read:

Home, preferably quiet, on my bed.

Quote that inspires you/gives you all the feels from a book you’ve read:

Reading was my escape and my comfort, my consolation, my stimulant of choice; reading for the pure pleasure of it, for the beautiful stillness that surrounds you when you hear an author's words reverberating in your head.
Paul Auster.

We live for books.
Umberto Eco

Such beautiful words!

Reading Regret:

Reading The Last Girlfriend on Earth and Seraphina. I want my money and time back.

Series You Started And Need To Finish(all books are out in series):

Shatter Me.

Mara Dyer.

Panic (upcoming book by Lauren Oliver).

The Selection.

Slated.

Three of your All-Time Favorite Books:

Delirium, Matilda, Chrysalids.

Unapologetic Fangirl For:

Wes! Alex from Delirium series. Noah Shaw from Mara Dyer series.

Very Excited For This Release More Than All The Others:

The Retribution of Mara Dyer, hands down. I need to know what happens to Noah next!

Worst Bookish Habit:

Collecting books till they pile up with no more space left, and never getting round to reading them.

X Marks The Spot: Start at the top left of your shelf and pick the 27th book:

I'm sorry my shelves are a mess right now.

Your latest book purchase:

Ignite Me by Tahereh Mafi. All These Broken Stars.

ZZZ-snatcher book (last book that kept you up WAY late):

The Harry Potter series, and most books I started.