My little book world

Chick lits I want:

- Remember Me? – the latest novel by Sophie Kinsella

- Something Borrowed – Emily Giffin – heard rave reviews and mooched it immediately.

- Something Blue – sequel to the above, but currently unavailable for mooch.

- Divine Secrets of Ya Ya Sisterhood – mmm still in doubt

- Cocktails for Three

Real books I want:

- One True Thing

- A certain slant of light – I so want this book!

- How the Garcia girls lose their accent

Somehow I feel that I read more ‘real’ books than chick lits these days. Don’t get me wrong, I adore and enjoy the latter profusely. It’s just that I let these good literatures and real stories get to me. It’s a nice thing to read classics instead of only reading feel good novels.

It makes me understand a lot of other things too.

The only drawback to reading is, I don’t have time to write my new novel.

Currently reading: Perfect Strangers by Robyn Sisman. I collect all her books.

Change of Plans

Hmmm. I spent ages reading Sweet Valley books, and lately they are slowly rubbing on me too much.

I try writing London Blues again, and although it is going fine, slowly but fine, I think I want to take a little break. I don't feel like writing my old characters now, and I want to write something new. So in about ten minutes of napping around today, I get this new idea, and it's so strong as usual that I want to jump in as soon as possible.

It's about two best friends living in a small city by the sea.. and..

I don't want to spoil anything. After all, I might not finish it anytime soon. I want to take my time and not feel pressured, since all pressure does is rub off on me and make me hurry and make my stories turn bad.

OK. Deep breath, slow steps, one by one.

I figure it's much better writing for myself than writing for other people. Not for my publisher, not for fame, not for aiming to get it published (although it's a nice perk and I hope it will be published), not for anyone else. Writing earns me inner pleasure, and it always turns out better and more natural than forced stories. So I hope this one will be better too :)

By the way, it is also in English. I haven't written in English for a long time, and I miss it.

What am I?

I have written reviews

knick knacks

insignificant facts about me

raves and cravings

a little about life

but what about myself?


I guess so far I just have not written much about myself. I'm an introvert by nature - physically, mentally, socially. But then, when it comes to writing, I realize I'm also not very open.

I guess it is only when writing books and novels that you do not see the real me. And even if you do, you would not know which one of my experiences is real, and which part is actually me.

(movie) Closer

If you believe in love at first sight, take a closer look.

Itu adalah tagline film Closer yang saya tonton semalam *akhirnya... karena DVD sebelumnya rusak*

Closer adalah film sederhana yang ternyata 'rumit', tentang empat orang yang sebelumnya tidak mengenal satu sama lain, lalu menjadi terhubung oleh suatu benang merah yang bernama cinta.

Daniel (Jude Law) adalah seorang penulis obituary yang jatuh cinta pada gadis stripper bernama Alice (Natalie Portman), yang ditemuinya di jalan. Tapi Daniel kembali jatuh cinta pada Anna (Julia Roberts), fotografer yang memotret foto diri untuk buku pertamanya.

Daniel secara tidak sengaja mempertemukan Anna dengan Larry (Clive Owen), dan keduanya menikah walau Anna masih mencintai Daniel. Dan mereka pun terlibat dalam affair-affair yang melukai pasangan mereka, dibalut dengan dendam, kesedihan, dan sakit hati yang akhirnya melukai diri mereka sendiri.

Beautiful movie. We cannot understand it without really paying attention and getting in the flow. I like the acting, everyone is very brilliant and engaging. Every scene makes me so touched, and every fight scene makes me.. want to cry because it is so believable.

Eight little facts about me

I was tagged by Vilia to write about my eight habits or facts.

Here comes the set of rules:
(1) Each Blogger starts with eight random facts/habits about themselves
(2) Blogger that are tagged need to write on their own blog about their eight things and post these rules. At the end of your blog,
(3) You need to choose 8 people to get tag and list their names
(4) Don't forget to leave them a comment telling them they've been tagged to read your blog.

I will start with the most random eight facts about me first.. I'll pick those that come first in mind.

1. I was born on 6 January 1986, at 7:30 in the morning, under the star sign of Capricorn and Chinese sign of Ox.

Which simply means I am a hard worker (ox working in the morning), responsible, uptight and a born leader (all traits that belong to Capricorn). The above is true, although not a hundred percent correct. I am not very flexible, I am complicated to understand, and I am not a social butterfly. I have the Capricorn traits rooted deeply in my flesh, that's why I'm a little upset when they say there is gonna be a change in the star signs and I'm going to be something else than Capricorn. LOL.

2. I am insane about good books and movies.

Whenever I see a book or a movie that I like, I simply grab it and buy it. As simple as that. My mind seems to go blank whenever I go gaga over books. Well, it's just a habit I'm accustomed to, since someone pointed it out for me I might as well realize it. I've been a bookworm since I was little, there was nothing that pleased me more than go shopping for books and unwrapping the plastic, then actually smelling the new paperback scent, and flipping the pages one by one. Pure pleasure.

3. I am not allowed to drink coffee.

My poor gastric condition does not allow me to drink as many cups as I would like. Not that I like coffee though. I only like the scent, but I don't like its bitter taste in my mouth. I do not like cappuccino, espresso, whatever. The ones I like are strictly blended frappuccino, or Starbucks hot chocolate (which, has nothing to do with coffee). I prefer tea.

4. I toured around Europe when I was eleven.

I wish I can repeat the experience. Crossing the territory of Germany, visiting the Bridge of Sighs in Venice, and zooming in Eiffel Tower with my camera. Plus, I'd like to step foot on London, it's such a mysterious city to me.

5. I used to hate sushi.

Yep, I was against eating everything raw and slimy, I even refused to eat nori because of the smell. But then my first sushi experience was not bad, and now I am a sushi addict. Even sashimi!

6. I am very, very, very moody.

I was born with it, the moodiness I mean. I can be mean one day, then happy and bubbly the next. Every little thing affects my mood, from a single scold from the boss, the breakdown of the computer, the stupid thing I do or someone says, my mood swings higher than ever :) that's just me, and strangely writing or shopping always makes me feel better.

7. I am a perfectionist.

Being a Capricorn also means I am a perfectionist, although I shouldn't blame my star sign for that. I keep a schedule - sometimes blow it, though - on my writing, my tasks, whatever it is. I always keep a book or my schedule on my phone, and feel pressured whenever they are not finished yet.

8. I have never bungee-jumped before.

Not that I would want to. The adrenaline is too much for me. I am a little scared of height. And I have no intention of throwing myself over a bridge to the scary river below me. No. Not a chance. Nil.

OK now I have to pass this to eight people:
1. Ayu
2. Windry
3. Wien
4. Mirna
5. Niska
6. Mitsuko
7. Tania
8. Luke

Whew. I'm done spilling secrets about me :)

Grandfather

My grandfather just died.

I've never had other grandfathers since I was around three, since my grandfather from my dad's side died and I could not remember him.

This was the man who took me to the zoo and gave me birthday gifts.
This was the same man with whom I took pictures with, and in our last photograph together he was smiling.
This was the man I respected.

He's gone.

I wish I could talk to him one last time.

(dorama) Nobuta wo Produce

I first saw an episode of this dorama when I was in Hong Ko ng, and I think it was quite interesting. I finally bought the DVD a month later and spend my holiday watching it in only 2 days (well it's short, only 10 eps).

The story revolves around Shuji (a popular guy who has a pretty girlfriend, liked by everyone and never gets anyone upset), Akira (talks and laughs funny, very weird), and a new girl Nobuko (very shy, dirty looking, the centre of school bullying). These three students strangely become friends and meet regularly at the rooftop, and suddenly there is this plan to 'produce' Nobuko and make her popular.

At first I thought Shuji was just a conceited guy, who pretends everything is alright and masks himself, while Akira and Nobuko are just plain strange. The characters at first do not fall perfectly in place, the scenes are twisted in a way that many stories are irrelevant. It frustrates me to some point, and I cannot see why Kamenashi Kazuya and Horikita Maki are made best actor and supporting actress in this super famous drama.

But soon I guess my disappointment fades. The friendship story flows smoothly, although there are still some impossibly unrealistic scenes. I am still watching the entire last episode, but I will give a 7.5/10 for the dorama :) I have to agree Horikita Maki plays out a good Nobuko after all. My favorite character is Mariko Uehara, the pretty girl who is supposedly Shuji's girlfriend.

My holiday checklist

This holiday season I finally got to catch up with a stack of DVDs i never have time to watch. Checklist:

(dvd) Alone in Love
(dvd) Nobuta wo Produce - done
(dvd) Gokusen 2
(dvd) Green Rose
(dvd) Ima, Ai Ni Yukimasu - done
(book) Forever... - done
(book) New Moon
(book) Eclipse
and a few others more

I got DVDs for Becoming Jane (finally!), Priceless, Family Stone, and a few others I had watched and wanted to collect. :) In the meantime I'll be watching them, and I haven't written anything in a while since I feel that it is best to rest and take my time. Yay!

Ummm

When I'm actually writing here, I have no idea what to write.

Happy Idul Fitri to those who celebrate.

There are a couple of news I might share:

- I've finished (sort of) editing Ai. I edited most of the latter chapters and made a surprising change in the last one. Whoa. All thanks to my super friend Vilia, who has given me more insights and inspirations without complaining about how stressful I have been! :D

- I know who I will dedicate this second novel for. I am not sure if it is what publishers would like to publish though, a semi dark dramatic novel set in Japan, talking about death and the classic love triangle. But I had so much fun writing it, and it was a very very very BIG challenge for me. It made me squirm and get stressed while writing the second part for Ai. Writing for Sei was so much more easier, but writing for Ai was a totally different experience that I was left not knowing what to do. I hope it is not too dramatic.

- I dedicate my book to my grandfather. He is in the hospital right now, and I dont know what else I can do for him. So I write.

- Currently watching: Ima Ai ni Yukimasu. the best dorama I have ever watched, and I am not kidding. Will write reviews once I'm done.

The Gift

Baru saja tadi pagi, saya mendapatkan email dari salah seorang yang membaca karya Kenangan Abu-Abu via K.com. Judul emailnya adalah Secret Admirer - mulai berpikir yang aneh-aneh, bahkan mengira email itu spam, lalu pas membuka ternyata adalah seseorang yang sangat menarik. Namanya Jessica, tinggal di London (kota favorit saya!!). Isi email itu singkat - dia mendapat link Kenangan Abu-Abu dari seorang teman, lalu mulai membaca dan menunggu endingnya (yang memang gak di publish online for many reasons). Jess bilang, dia suka karya saya itu.

Beberapa hari sebelumnya juga, seorang member K.com Atha yang tinggal di Jerman juga mengemail saya dengan isi serupa. Saya jadi merasa bersalah sudah menghapus semua isi Kenangan Abu-Abu di K.com (maaf ya, karena novelnya akan terbit).

Sebelumnya, saya selalu menganggap kenangan abu-abu adalah karya fantasi saya, tempat saya pergi ketika saya sedang merenung, ingin sendirian, dan melepas kepenatan hanya dengan menuliskan kesepian dan fiksi yang hidup di kepala. Tapi ternyata setelah menjadi konsumsi umum, karya ini bukan saja menjadi milik saya sendiri tapi juga teman-teman yang menyukainya.

I'm glad people like my writing - to me it's the best gift anyone can give an author.