Big Bad Wolf Surabaya 2017: Experience, Tips, and Book Haul

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image source: here. edited by me.

[ 28 September - 9 October, 2017: at JX International ]

After missing out on last year's Big Bad Wolf because I was away on a trip with my friends to the U.S., this year I finally made it to Big Bad Wolf (BBW) Surabaya 2017! It's the biggest book fair for imported books which offered 60-80% discount. Well, to be honest, I wasn't planning on going. Firstly, because the location is really far away from home. Secondly, I know it's going to be fully packed with people. And the last reason, I don't have any plans on adding too many books onto my already huge pile of unread ones. But then my boyfriend offered me to go there, so I just went without having any expectations. This post is going to be about my experience during the event and at the end I will share the books that I (eventually) bought from BBW. Hopefully this will be helpful and give you some insights if you're planning to visit BBW in the future ;)

Book Review: Sophismata by Alanda Kariza

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BOOK review

Started on: 19 September 2017
Finished on: 27 September 2017

Sophismata by Alanda Kariza

Judul Buku : Sophismata

Penulis : Alanda Kariza

Penerbit : Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Tebal : 272 Halaman
Tahun Terbit: 2017

Harga: Rp 65,000 (http://www.gramedia.com)

Rating: 3/5

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"Kejadian ini seolah menjadi bukti bahwa apa yang gue percayai selama ini memang benar: politik itu kotor! Gue nggak mau jadi bagian itu."

Sigi adalah staf administrasi Johar Sancoyo, seorang anggota DPR yang sewaktu muda adalah seorang aktivis reformasi yang cukup diidolakan oleh banyak orang—termasuk Sigi sendiri. Impian Sigi adalah untuk bisa terlibat lebih jauh dalam aktivitas yang bersangkutan dengan kebijakan publik. Dan satu-satunya cara untuk mencapai hal tersebut adalah dengan dipromosikan menjadi seorang Tenaga Ahli. Sayangnya, setelah 3 tahun bekerja dengan tekun, yang diharapkan oleh Sigi tidak kunjung terjadi. Seolah statusnya sebagai seorang perempuan yang tidak memiliki pendidikan S2 membuatnya diremehkan dan dianggap tidak mampu menjadi seorang Tenaga Ahli.

Book Review: A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

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BOOK review
Started on: 27 June 2017
Finished on: 18 September 2017

A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara

Title : A Little Life
Author : Hanya Yanagihara
Publisher : Doubleday
Pages : 720 pages / 736 pages (e-book)
Year of Publication : 2015
Price : Rp168,000 (https://www.periplus.com/)

Rating: 4.5/5
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"But what was happiness but an extravagance, an impossible state to maintain, partly because it was so difficult to articulate? He couldn't remember being a child and being able to define happiness: there was only misery, or fear, and the absence of misery or fear, and the latter state was all he needed or wanted."

This book starts with four friends: Jude, Willem, JB, and Malcolm, who each has their own ambitions in life. Willem is the handsome one whose dream is to be an actor; JB is a painter who's waiting for the world to acknowledge his works; Malcolm is an unsatisfied architect at a popular form; while Jude is the brilliant one with a limp, yet no one knows the real reason behind his injured leg. No one dares to ask Jude about his past and they seem to be treading on thin ice around him. But as the years go by, Willem and other people who remained close to Jude finally discovered the true story behind Jude's life.

Book Review: Then & Now: Dulu & Sekarang by Arleen A.

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BOOK review

Started on: 15.July.2017
Finished on: 1.August.2017

Then & Now: Dulu & Sekarang by Arleen A.

Judul Buku : Then & Now: Dulu & Sekarang

Penulis : Arleen A.

Penerbit : Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Tebal : 344 Halaman
Tahun Terbit: 2017

Harga: Rp 78,000 (http://www.gramedia.com)

Rating: 4/5

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"Dan aku tahu jika punya kuasa memutar waktu, aku tetap akan melakukan apa yang sudah kulakukan. Aku akan tetap memilihnya."

Di masa yang lampau, di pulau yang disebut Rana Pui, tinggal seorang gadis bernama Ruita—suku Momoki yang bertubuh kecil dan tidak begitu menyukai suku Eepe yang derajatnya lebih tinggi dan selalu menjadi atasan. Suatu kali, Ruita terpaksa bekerja di rumah seorang suku Eepe. Dengan sengaja ia membuat berbagai macam kesalahan supaya ia tidak perlu berlama-lama bekerja di sana. Hingga suatu hari ia mendapati sepasang mata yang ia dapati sedang memandanginya. Sepasang mata itu adalah milik Atamu, anak dari keluarga suku Eepe tempat Ruita bekerja. Dan pertemuan mereka selanjutnya membuat jalan hidup Ruita yang selama ini lurus jadi bercabang.

Wonder | Official Trailer

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image source: here. edited by me.

"But I really believe, and Daddy really believes, that there are more good people on this earth than bad people, and the good people watch out for each other and take care of each other."

This is quite a long overdue post, but I still feel the need to share my excitement about this movie adaptation!! If you didn't know already, Wonder by R.J. Palacio is one of my favorite books ever. It's the one book that I always mention whenever someone asked me for a book recommendation; because I truly feel like everyone should read this book. So I'm super excited when I saw the movie trailer on my Youtube subscription list. And it's definitely not disappointing! If you haven't seen the trailer yet, go watch it below! ;)

Book Review: Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

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BOOK review

Started on: 17 May 2017
Finished on: 4 June 2017

Always and Forever, Lara Jean by Jenny Han

Title : Always and Forever, Lara Jean
Author : Jenny Han

Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books

Pages :  336 pages / 320 pages (e-book)

Year of Publication : 2017

Price : Rp 155,000 (www.periplus.com)

Rating: 4/5
*for those who haven't read the first and / or the second book, this review may contain spoiler.
Review for To All the Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han here.
Review for P.S. I Still Love You by Jenny Han here.
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"Is it how it goes? You fall in love, and nothing seems truly scary anymore, and life is one big possibility?"

Lara Jean is having the best days of her life as a senior and everything seems to be perfect. She's happily in a relationship with her boyfriend, Peter Kavinsky; and her father is getting remarried with their neighbor, Ms. Rothschild. Lara Jean is excited about a lot of things: planning her father's wedding and Margot coming home for the summer with her new boyfriend. However, as her high school days is coming to an end very soon, Lara Jean realized that she has big decisions to make—especially when things doesn't go as she originally planned.