(book) Prophecy of the Sisters

Synopsis taken from Goodreads.com

An ancient prophecy divides two sisters-

One good...

One evil...

Who will prevail?

Twin sisters Lia and Alice Milthorpe have just become orphans. They have also become enemies. As they discover their roles in a prophecy that has turned generations of sisters against each other, the girls find themselves entangled in a mystery that involves a tattoo-like mark, their parents' deaths, a boy, a book, and a lifetime of secrets. 

Lia and Alice don't know whom they can trust.

They just know they can't trust each other.

My review:

Finally finished the book in two sittings. I love the mystery that surrounds it all, and the way the story is constructed. How epic, two twin sisters from every generation, one good and one evil, one the Guardian, another the Gate.

It's not much about romance, though I'm sure it will come at some point in the sequel. it's also not just about sisterhood or familial bond, it's also about adventures and mystery based on the Bible, about God and His angel seeking to bring the seven plagues into earth upon his release.

The way it's written and the gothic, victorian New York setting in the 18th century adds the aura of mystery to the story. The characters are fascinating, although some feel Lia, the main character, is too weak and worrisome. I feel differently. I think she's strong but at times fragile, as expected for a girl of sixteen who barely knows of the prophecy and has just become an orphan.

I bought the rest of the books in the trilogy as soon as I finished this one. Can't wait.

(book) The Perks of Being a Wallflower

The movie's all everyone talks about lately, and for some reasons I want to read the book before watching the movie. Last night I was looking for something to read and I couldn't start with Graceling for some unknown reasons, and I just picked this up and couldn't stop.

What a ride. Charlie is a fascinating, sensitive character that just makes readers feel empathy for him. He's intensely likable, and I often need to remind myself that he's a teenager, because often he just sounds like an extremely intelligent boy. I love all the quirky characters, I love the title, I love my book's cover (it has the movie poster on it with a lime wallpaper, which looks really cool and doesn't shy away much from the original book cover). I love Charlie's family, his new friends, his newfound wisdom, his mentor Bill. I love that he's passive but the characters just speak their minds, letting him know what he does wrong. I like the angst of growing up, and the way he handles it all. I especially love the sad twist in the ending, making everything make so much more sense than if it's done without.

I also appreciate the way it's written, one letter form after another. The anonymity actually makes it smoother to follow, we're not getting any last names or anything specific but it's fine. I also love Charlie's narrative voice. The prose is clear and simple, without any big words that might get out of context on a story such as this.

It's also a book of wisdom and great soundtrack. I might look for Asleep by the Smiths because Charlie likes it so much. I like the fact that a book with a soundtrack makes us actually feel like there is one instead of being annoyed because we cannot hear it. I heard that the movie will adapt some songs from the book into it too, which is wonderful. 

I seriously cannot wait for the movie. It looks like it's gonna be great.

(K-drama) Personal Taste

I don't often marathon K-dramas, as I mostly read recaps or watch one or two episodes and forget about them. The last drama I watched was White Christmas, and only because it was so short. I followed a couple of episodes of Vampire Prosecutor and Gaksital, which I loved, and Moon that Embraces the Sun. The rest is series I'm crazy about, such as Sherlock and Castle, and nothing else but a string of movies.

On some occasions though, I do follow a drama and watch it from start to finish, without knowing where it's going and not reading spoilers for the ending. Personal Taste is that drama for me this year. I'm a big fan of both leads - namely Son Ye Jin (whose movies and dramas I follow like a cult, and have a big girl-crush on for years), and Lee Min Ho (who caught my attention since Boys Before Flowers, and I do like his other dramas like City Hunter and Faith). Both of them are so adorable here. That's why I steer clear of the spoilers and one day on a whim just decided to watch the whole thing, taking an adventure.

I love the series. Despite its flaws, I feel happy to watch their journey and laugh and cry along with them. I don't like most of the angst because it's the fun and cute that make me really root for the main couple, but the angst is so wonderfully acted that they bring me close to tears. I like the performances, the writing and the directing. Everything looks so colorful, the posters are well made, the soundtrack is fun to listen to, and the jokes are funny. I especially like the dialogue, because often drama dialogue is made to be corny and romantic, but this one's just oozing hilarity and enhance the chemistry of the leads. Oh, and the fashion. Jin Ho always looks great, and Kae In's transformation is breathless but smooth.

Suffice to say, this is not a perfect drama. It's full of fluff, backstabbing, friendship, broken hearts, lies and relationships. But I love it for it. The best thing about Personal Taste is seeing how broken the characters are and go along with them on a journey, and be happy to see where it takes them and how they end up after. Most of all, it's a story about life and faith that everything is going to be alright.

I'm gonna miss the whole 16 episodes now that it's over.

Photo courtesy of pelangidrama.net, squidoo.com

Refrain the movie: it's official!

Hai teman-teman semua!

Good news, Refrain akan dijadikan film layar lebar! Production House yang akan mewujudkan Refrain menjadi versi film adalah Maxima Pictures, PH di balik film-film seperti Pocong Juga Pocong dan Pupus. Estimasi rilis tentatif adalah 14 Februari 2013 :) Aku akan memposting kabar lebih lanjut mengenai progress filmnya ya, sekarang masih dalam proses :D mudah-mudahan, di hari Valentine tahun depan, kita berbondong-bondong nonton Refrain di bioskop (Amin!). Terima kasih banyak untuk teman-teman yang mendukung Refrain dan menjadikan impian ini menjadi nyata.

Maxima juga membuka open audition untuk casting para pemerannya :D untuk info lebih lanjut bisa contact Twitter @MaximaPictures :D

Fingers crossed for a succesful and wonderful Refrain movie adaptation :)

Much love,

Winna Efendi

Draf 1 Giveaway on Goodreads: enter here

I've made a free giveaway for Draf 1 at www.goodreads.com
The winner will be picked at random and announced on 1 October 2012.

Click here to enter :)
Good luck!

Gisele Alain

I'm loading the sixth chapter while writing this review.

Gisele Alain caught my eye when I first browsed the comic book sections at the bookstore. The cover reminds me immediately of Emma, much so the synopsis. It's really interesting, a young girl and the owner of a Victorian era apartment, opening a jack of all trades business. At first I wasn't so sure about the drawing, after all a lush cover does not always guarantee the illustrations nor the story. But this one is definitely a rare gem.

I much prefer a quiet story with interesting characters and exploration rather than a romantic and conflict-filled story with high dramatic tensions and lots of tears. This one belongs in the first category, right with some of my favorite mangas such as Bokura Ga Ita, Kimi Ni Todoke, and Emma. In fact, Gisele Alain reminds me so much of Emma in terms of drawing style (filled with beautiful intricate details) and fascinating characters. The plot is episodic and not that fast paced, filled with lots of interesting setting details and character quirks that work wonders for the characters involved... but might not necessarily be everyone's cup of tea. Like Emma, it's subtle but has many wonderful moments that make the story emotional and alive, but not in a dramatic sort of way. I love it.

Gisele is also not a stereotypical character. She's naturally curious, quirky and decisive. She's also quick-witted and a kind person at heart, so it's interesting to tag along in her journeys and watch her grow around the new people she meets along the way. Definitely a keeper and will buy more volumes as soon as they come out.

Pre-order dan Giveaway buku Draf 1!

Pengen sharing tentang Draf 1 lagi nih.. akan kubuat dalam bentuk FAQ ya.

Draf 1 itu buku apaan sih?

Draf 1 adalah buku non-fiksi yang diperuntukkan bagi teman-teman yang ingin memulai menulis novel, atau mereka yang mandek di tengah-tengah proses penulisan atau sekadar ingin tahu lebih banyak mengenai penulisan dan penerbitan buku. Dalam buku ini, aku berbagi pengalaman dan teknik-teknik menulis yang kupelajari secara otodidak selama menulis novel-novelku.

Isinya apa aja?

Draf 1 membahas seluruh elemen novel, seperti ide, plot dan alur, karakter, setting, dialog, konflik, prosa, deskripsi dalam novel, cara menemukan ciri khas menulis, proses menulis, writer's block, self-editing, dan masih banyak lagi. Juga cara memilih penerbit, proses mengirimkan naskah, dan apa yang harus dilakukan jika kita menerima surat penolakan naskah atau justru naskah kita diterima dan akan diterbitkan. Selanjutnya, apa yang harus kita lakukan setelah naskah terbit? Bagaimana prosedur self-publishing dan penerbitan lewat penerbit? Bagaimana pembayaran royaltinya? Bagaimana mempromosikan novel kita? Draf 1 membahas itu semua.

Kapan terbit?

Sejauh ini aku belum mendapatkan tanggal rilis resmi :) sekarang Draf 1 sedang dalam proses cetak dan mudah-mudahan akan terbit sebentar lagi di toko-toko buku terdekat.

Harganya berapa?

Aku juga belum mendapatkan harganya. Nanti akan kuinformasikan lebih lanjut ya.

Kalau mau pre-order Draf 1 bisa?

Bisa. Silakan email nama/alamat lengkap/telepon dan judul buku yang mau dipesan ke winna.efendi@gmail.com. Harga belum termasuk ongkos kirim JNE dari Jakarta ke kota tujuan. Nanti aku akan mengirimkan email balasan berserta dengan jumlah yang harus ditransfer via rekening BCA. Email balasan akan dikirimkan begitu harga buku sudah ada. Buku akan dikirimkan setelah pemesan melunasi pembayaran buku dan mengirimkan email konfirmasi pembayaran dengan nama pentransfer dan jumlah yang ditransfer :)

Giveaway dooong...

Siap.. Ada dua giveaway yang kubuka hari ini, berakhir tanggal 30 September 2012.

Giveaway pertama:

Caranya mudah. Jadikan kover Draf 1 menjadi avatar Twitter/Facebook-mu dan posting status atau tweet tentang mengapa kamu ingin membaca Draf 1, beserta cerita pendek tentang naskah yang sedang kamu tulis. Misalnya,

Aku ingin membaca #draf1 karena ingin belajar lebih lanjut tentang membuat karakter. Saat ini aku sedang menulis novel remaja tentang persahabatan.

Jangan lupa mention aku di @WinnaEfendi atau FB Winna Efendi dan gunakan hashtag #draft1

Giveaway kedua:

Tuliskan resensi untuk salah satu novelku (bisa Ai, Refrain, Unbelievable, Remember When, Unforgettable, Truth or Dare) dan tweet/posting status dengan link review tersebut beserta hashtag #draf1 dan mention @WinnaEfendi atau FB Winna Efendi

Masing-masing pemenang akan mendapatkan 1 buku Draf 1, dikirim langsung ke alamatmu. Entry paling kreatif dan unik akan terpilih menjadi pemenang :)

Good luck!

A reading survey, which I haven't done in ages

Courtesy of Ndari's blog post about 55 reading questions, I'm inspired to fill out one at random.

Here goes my book escapades!

1. Favorite childhood book?

I have always loved fairy tales. There was this one book with lush handmade illustrations, with dark fairy tales such as the Ice Queen and Edelweiss. I lost it when a friend borrowed and never returned the book. Till now I still think of that book fondly.

Other books that deserve an honorable mention: Roald Dahl's Matilda, Enid Blyton's The Naughtiest Girl series, a Little Princess by Frances H. Burnett.

2. What are you reading right now? 

Nothing at the moment. I just finished reading Ibuk by Iwan Setyawan, which was inspiring, and Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink before that.

3. What books do you have on request at the library?

This question makes me wish I was in Brisbane, requesting Sweet Valley Sr High books for only 50 cents a book. The answer is none. I have not visited a library in years.

4. Bad book habit? 

Buying them and putting the books in a pile but never getting round to reading them. I'm book-obsessive so I never lend them to anyone I don't trust. Leaving the books I can't finish. Prone to love at first sights with some books that turn out to be bad, or just the opposite - a delight.

5. What do you currently have checked out at the library? 

What about the last book I remembered checking out at the library? The Fearless series, Sweet Valley Jr High, and Sarah Dessen's Dreamland.

6. Do you have an e-reader? 

No, although I've been eyeing Kindle for some time. I'm still pro real books at the moment, though.

7. Do you prefer to read one book at a time, or several at once?

One at a time, always. I don't like getting confused with many characters at once.

8. Have your reading habits changed since starting a blog? 

Not really. But it changes as soon as I registered to Goodreads. We have an annual reading target.

9. Least favourite book you read this year (so far)? 

I can't get through Lord of the Rings though I'm sure it's a lovely book - it's just so difficult to get into. Fifty Shades of Grey - erotica is never my thing and it's so dense I can't make myself finish.

10. Favorite book you’ve read this year? 

The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, Prophecy of the Sisters by Michelle Zink, Pandemonium by Lauren Oliver.

11. How often do you read out of your comfort zone? 

Whenever a particular book manages to catch my eye and interest. I'm an eclectic reader at heart though I seem to border on certain types of genres only.

12. What is your reading comfort zone? 

Young adult, children's books, general fiction and fantasy/science fiction, sometimes.

13. Can you read on the bus?

I always do. I mean, did.

14. Favorite place to read? 

Bed. Lounge chair.

15. What is your policy on book lending? 

Always return in perfect pristine condition, no dog-ears, no stains, no marks, no handwriting on the pages. Never smear. Or better, I'd rather not lend out anything at all.

16. Do you ever dog-ear books?

OMG NEVER.

17. Do you ever write in the margins of your books? 

Only for books that are meant to be personal gifts.

18. Not even with text books? 

I do, all the time.

19. What is your favourite language to read in? 

English.

20. What makes you love a book? 

Reading is traveling through another dimension.

21. What will inspire you to recommend a book? 

When I find that I'm aching to read it and think about it for days even after I've finished the book.

22. Favorite genre? 

Young adult.

23. Genre you rarely read (but wish you did)?

Chicklit. I used to read them but nowadays I find a lot formulaic so I pass.

24. Favourite biography? 

Walt Disney's. I also read a book on multiple personality disorder by Dr. Bauer and find it really interesting.

25. Have you ever read a self-help book? 

Yup, but they only inspire. I find that we need to let them help us, not construct or change us.

26. Favourite cookbook?

Anything simple but original. I usually love the gorgeous covers. So far I only have a few thin volumes on several food types and Eat Tweet. I don't read cookbooks often, I search for recipes online.

27. Most inspirational book you’ve read this year (fiction or non-fiction)?

Ibuk by Iwan Setyawan.

28. Favorite reading snack?

Chocolate-flavored milk and biscuits.

29. Name a case in which hype ruined your reading experience. 

Again, Fifty Shades of Grey.

30. How often do you agree with critics about a book? 

Not often. I prefer to form my own opinions after I read them, but before I buy books, I usually check out reviews and stars just to see how well it's doing or whether other people think they're any good. Goodreads reviews usually make a lot of sense :D and help me in my buying decisions.

31. How do you feel about giving bad/negative reviews? 

As long as it's objective (though this is hard to say). I feel bad sometimes, but can't help the way I feel.

32. If you could read in a foreign language, which language would you chose?

My Dad is persuading me to read Chinese martial art novels and poems. French. I wish I could read E=MC 2, which is the basis for a Little Romance.

33. Most intimidating book you’ve ever read? 

34. Most intimidating book you’re too nervous to begin? 

Umm.. Jane Eyre. Wuthering Heights. War and Peace. Lolita. Most literature. Don't get me wrong - love them, but sometimes find them hard to get through.

35. Favorite Poet? 

Pablo Neruda. I don't read many poems, but I do like some I'm reading.

36. How many books do you usually have checked out of the library at any given time?

One to three books.

37. How often have you returned books to the library unread?

Sometimes, when I cannot get through the book and find it interesting :)

38. Favorite fictional character?

Macy and Wes from The Truth About Forever by Sarah Dessen. Alex from Lauren Oliver's Delirium trilogy. Noah Shaw from Mara Dyer trilogy.

39. Favourite fictional villain? 

Um. Can't think of one at the moment. Alice Milthorpe from Prophecy of the Sisters?

40. Books I’m most likely to bring on vacation?

YA books and fun chicklits, and a journal.

41. The longest I’ve gone without reading. 

A month or two, when I'm writing a novel/book draft.

42. Name a book that you could/would not finish.

Fifty Shades of Grey. Lord of the Rings. Jane Eyre.

43. What distracts you easily when you’re reading?

Movies. Writing projects. Work. Twitter.

44. Favorite film adaptation of a novel?

Harry Potter series. I think they're really fascinating and stay true to both story and characters.

45. Most disappointing film adaptation? 

Twilight and the Hunger Games. Personally I feel they're bland and my reading experiences differ greatly.

46. The most money I’ve ever spent in the bookstore at one time? 

700ish. Can't really remember.

47. How often do you skim a book before reading it? 

Always, when I receive the package or just bought it home, or before reading it. I skim the first few pages, the ending, then the middle parts.

48. What would cause you to stop reading a book half-way through?

Work. Sleep. Work. Writing. Movies. Distractions. Life.

49. Do you like to keep your books organized? 

I used to. But I moved and some books were relocated, and now they were scattered here and there.

50. Do you prefer to keep books or give them away once you’ve read them? 

I sell the ones I don't like and keep the ones I love.

51. Are there any books you’ve been avoiding?

Heavy literature and horror books.

52. Name a book that made you angry. 

Fifty Shades of Grey. Ugh.

53. A book you didn’t expect to like but did?

The Fault in Our Stars, my very first John Green book. Divergent and Insurgent. They're brilliant.

54. A book that you expected to like but didn’t?

How We Met and other stories by David Levithan. I thought it'd be like the Lover's Dictionary, but it's not.

The Incorrigible Children series. Alice in Wonderland. Charlie and the Great Glass Elevator.

55. Favorite guilt-free, pleasure reading?

Shopaholic series and Alexandra Potter books. Sweet Valley.

(coming soon): Draf 1: Taktik Menulis Fiksi Pertamamu

Hai semua! Good news: buku ketujuh yang juga merupakan buku nonfiksi pertamaku akan terbit. Judulnya: Draf 1: Taktik Menulis Fiksi Pertamamu.

Buku ini merupakan kompilasi dari artikel-artikel tentang bagaimana memulai proses menulis naskah novel bagi pemula, dengan teknik-tenik tertentu yang dapat membantu kelancaran penulisan naskahmu. Seluruh babnya dilengkapi dengan latihan praktis dan contoh, baik dari sample bab-bab novel, atau contoh konkrit lainnya.

Buku ini akan diterbitkan oleh Gagas Media. Berhubung jadwal terbitnya belum dapat, belum bisa aku umumkan :) mudah-mudahan dalam satu-dua bulan ke depan.

Berikut sinopsisnya:

Menulis itu susah? Banget.

Terutama kalau kita nggak punya komitmen kuat dan disiplin untuk itu.

Truth to be told, menulis itu gampang-gampang susah. Terkadang terasa mudah dan menyenangkan, apalagi jika ide mengalir selancar air. Namun, menulis juga dapat terasa sulit karena tanpa teknik yang benar dan loyalitas untuk kembali ke halaman-halaman yang belum rampung, tulisan kita akan terus tidak selesai atau menjadi sebaik yang kita inginkan.

Selama ini, banyak sekali teman yang bertanya kepada saya:

- Gimana sih, caranya menulis fiksi yang enak dibaca?

- Bagaimana caranya menciptakan konflik yang nggak klise?

- Gimana caranya menulis cerita dari awal sampai akhir?

- Ceritaku mandek dan nggak kelar-kelar, gimana ya supaya aku bisa menyelesaikannya?

- Bagaimana cara mengirimkan naskah ke penerbit, dan apa yang bisa kita lakukan supaya naskah tersebut 'dilirik'?

- Lalu, prosedur penerbitannya bagaimana?

Bagi kalian yang ingin tahu jawaban atas pertanyaan-pertanyaan di atas, well, this book might be the one for you.

Dan, mari bersama-sama menikmati proses menyenangkan menulis naskah fiksi pertamamu.

(TV series) Sherlock

During my short break, I started watching this series like a madwoman. At first, it was my boyfriend's love for the Robert Downey Jr. version of Sherlock Holmes that led me to this one. But even before he watched it, I devoured it in three days and was so pleasantly surprised with how well made it was. Too bad it's really short, with only 7 episodes.

All the casts are spot on. The writers are geniuses (Mark Gatiss, one of the co-creators, plays Mycroft Holmes, Sherlock's older brother). Directing style is sophisticated. I'm thoroughly enjoying myself during every 1.5 hours episode.

So far, Benedict Cumberbatch's Sherlock is the best version I have ever seen. It's not that I don't like Robert Downey Jr.'s, I do, but I find it hard to imagine him as the genius, antisocial, eccentric private eye. Benedict Cumberbatch nailed every single scene, with his rapid talking, violin playing, crazy antics and nicotine patched consulting detective. I even love Martin Freeman's John Watson more than I love Jude Law's, he's no-nonsense, quiet, and a nicer version of Holmes. I like their chemistry, and I especially love the interactions between characters - with Irene Adler, with Lestrade, with Mycroft Holmes, and with Mrs. Hudson.

Every case is laced with a strong dose of complexity and sophistication. The cinematography is purposefully dark, set in modern day bleak London. Everyone who's been reading this blog might know my love for the city, and now I get to watch a TV series set there instead of high-powered, glamorous New York. Imagine my excitement! That, coupled with my obsession for a good thriller and murder cases, it's not easy to guess whether I'd fall in love with this or not.

It's a bit surprising for me when I found out Benedict Cumberbatch played the villainous Paul Marshall in my favorite movie Atonement. I hardly recognized him with the curls, but in the end I remembered his voice. Sometimes they overlap in my mind - both characters, but I'm happy that the actor embodies so much of his character that I find it so fascinating to watch.

I'm a bit sad it's over, and also anticipating the third season, which will start filming next year. Meanwhile, I have Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy for more of the actor (and the suspense), and at the end of 2012 we'll get to see both Martin Freeman as Bilbo Baggins and Cumberbatch as Smaug the Dragon in Peter Jackson's the Hobbit.

All images are taken from Sherlock IMDB page here.