Book Review: The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

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BOOK review

Started on: 23.January.2013

Finished on: 26.January.2013

The Ocean at the End of the Lane by Neil Gaiman

Title : The Ocean at the End of the Lane

Author : Neil Gaiman

Publisher : Harper Collins

Pages : 181 Pages

Year of Publication : 2013

Price : Rp 200,000  (http://periplus.com)

Rating: 3/5
Baca & Posting Bareng BBI 2014:
January: Fable

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I said, "What makes the ocean different to the sea?"
"Bigger," said my father. "An ocean is much bigger than the sea. Why?"
"Just thinking," I said. "Could you have an ocean that was as small as a pond?"
"No," said my father. "Ponds are pond-sized, lakes are lake-sized. Seas are seas and oceans are oceans. Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Arctic. I think that's all of the oceans there are."

A middle-aged man return to his childhood home for a funeral; and he revisited the farm that was at the end of the road. When he met a family member in that house, all the memories he had forgotten started to return to his mind. It all started when he was just a seven year-old boy. There was an opal miner who was a boarder at his house, and soon after, the opal miner died in the back of a car after he gambled his friends' money. After witnessing the miner's death, the boy went to the farmhouse where he met an eleven year-old girl named Lettie Hempstock, who lived with her mother and grandmother. Lettie claimed that the small duck pond at the back of her house is an ocean. And it is all the beginning of the boy's horrifying story.

Book Review: Dance for Two by Tyas Effendi

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BOOK review

Started on: 20.January.2014
Finished on: 22.January.2014

Dance for Two by Tyas Effendi

Judul Buku : Dance for Two

Penulis : Tyas Effendi

Penerbit : GagasMedia

Tebal : 244 Halaman
Tahun Terbit: 2013

Harga: Rp34,850 (http://www.pengenbuku.net/)

Rating: 4/5
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"Saya adalah bagian dari orang-orang yang percaya kalau hal yang terjadi di kehidupan ini bukan kebetulan. Saya yakin kalau ada satu pengatur yang sudah merencanakannya, seperti cerita fiksi yang ada penulisnya. Tidak ada kebetulan, termasuk pertemuan saya kembali dengan Albizia yang memang sudah menjadi bagian dari rencana penulis kehidupan ini."

Kisah ini berawal dari Sortedams Sø di Kopenhagen, saat seorang gadis bernama Caja Satyasa menyaksikan seorang lelaki tercebur ke dalam danau es akibat terlalu fokus pada kameranya. Caja tahu lelaki itu, sangat baik bahkan. Namun ia juga tahu bahwa lelaki itu tidak tahu apa-apa tentang dirinya. Setelah membantu menyelamatkan lelaki itu dari dinginnya danau es, Caja memperkenalkan dirinya untuk pertama kali. Akan tetapi, sebuah kecelakaan yang kemudian menimpa lelaki itu membuatnya melupakan banyak hal - termasuk janjinya pada Caja. Caja kemudian menuliskan kisahnya untuk merelakan segalanya; perjalanannya sebagai seorang pengagum bagi Albizia - lelaki yang hanya bisa dilihatnya dari kejauhan.

Book Review: The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

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BOOK review

Started on: 15.January.2013

Finished on: 19.January.2013

The First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom

Title : The First Phone Call from Heaven

Author : Mitch Albom

Publisher : Sphere

Pages : 312 Pages

Year of Publication : 2013

Price : $ 12.57 (http://www.bookdepository.com)

Rating: 4/5

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"Miracles happen quietly every day - in an operating room, on a stormy see, in the sudden appearance of a roadside stranger. They are rarely tallied. No one keeps score.
But now and then, a miracle is declared to the world.
And when that happens, things change."

It was an ordinary day in Coldwater when the phones in several places ring; but in fact, a phone call would made the certain lives of people become extraordinary. Tess Rafferty, Jack Sellers, and Katherine Yellin are some of those people. They almost couldn't believe the fact that a call came from the people they love - who had already passed away. Tess Rafferty received a call from her mother, Jack Sellers got a call from his deceased son, and Katherine Yellin was called by her dead sister. And this story will also change the fate of small town like Coldwater.

Book Review: Koma by Rachmania Arunita

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BOOK review

Started on: 9.January.2014
Finished on: 14.January.2014

Koma by Rachmania Arunita

Judul Buku : Koma

Penulis : Rachmania Arunita

Penerbit : Bentang Pustaka

Tebal : 304 Halaman
Tahun Terbit: 2013

Harga: Rp 42,075 (http://www.pengenbuku.net/)

Rating: 3/5
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"Aku seperti mengenal sosok orang yang terbaring itu. Ia menggunakan alat bantu pernapasan. Sebuah selang putih transparan terjulur ke dalam mulutnya dan wajahnya penuh dengan luka. Bahkan separuh wajahnya masih bengkak dan lebam. Saat aku berada dua meter dari tempat tidur itu, langkahku terhenti. Mataku membelalak. Aku mengenali orang itu!

Itu adalah aku."

Saat pertama kali membuka matanya, Jani mendapati seorang laki-laki bernama Leo duduk di sebelah tempat tidurnya. Laki-laki itu menjelaskan bahwa saat ini Jani sedang berada di rumah sakit. Ingatan Jani kemudian perlahan kembali; saat ia menabrakkan mobil ke sebuah tembok beton yang besar. Lewat Leo pula Jani tahu bahwa dirinya sudah berada di rumah sakit selama dua hari; dan orang perta yang ia cari adalah Ibu-nya. Akan tetapi saat Jani bangkit berdiri dan berjalan menuju pintu kamar, ia mendapati dirinya melihat sesuatu yang hampir mustahil. Tangannya menembus gagang pintu tersebut.

Book Review: Allegiant (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

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BOOK review

Started on: 31.December.2013

Finished on: 5.January.2013

Allegiant (Divergent, #3) by Veronica Roth

Title : Allegiant (Divergent, #3)

Author : Veronica Roth

Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books

Pages : 526 Pages

Year of Publication : 2013

Price : $ 12.57 (http://www.bookdepository.com)

Rating: 5/5
*for those who haven't read the second book, this review may contain spoiler.
Review for Insurgent (Divergent, #2) here.

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"My ancestor, and this is the inheritance she passed to me: freedom from the factions, and the knowledge that my Divergent identity is more important than I could have known. My existence is a signal that we need to leave this city and offer our help to whoever is outside it."

After the great truth is revealed in front of the people by a video message of a woman named Edith Prior, everyone is shocked by the fact that the Divergent are supposedly needed in the world outside the city. The city they live in is now being lead by Evelyn Eaton and the factionless - who have the biggest number of people and weapons. Soon after, Tris was taken secretly by a group of people who called themselves Allegiant; the rebels who are determined to escape the city and go outside the borders. They wanted to know the truth behind the world they have been living in all their lives. The success of their mission was at the expense of lives, and they don't know what's waiting ahead.

Emeral Green Label Book Cover Review

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Emerald Green Label memproduksi sampul buku yang terbuat dari bahan kanvas, katun, batik, dan lain-lainnya; produk ini dibentuk bagi para pecinta buku dan dapat digunakan sebagai sampul novel. Sampul ini bisa dimanfaatkan untuk melindungi buku; bahkan membungkus cover buku yang kurang menarik / membuat kita malu saat membaca di tempat umum. Misalnya untuk buku yang cover-nya  terlalu 'hot', atau lelaki yang malu saat membaca buku dengan cover yang feminim, dan lain sebagainya. Saat mendapatkan tawaran untuk me-review salah satu produknya, aku sangat tertarik untuk mencoba sampul buku model baru ini :))

Book Review: Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

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BOOK review

Started on: 24.December.2013

Finished on: 30.December.2013

Insurgent (Divergent, #2) by Veronica Roth

Title : Insurgent (Divergent, #2)

Author : Veronica Roth

Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books

Pages : 525 Pages

Year of Publication : 2012

Price : $ 10.00 (http://www.bookdepository.com)

Rating: 5/5
*for those who haven't read the first book, this review may contain spoiler.
Review for Divergent (Divergent, #1) here.

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"By the time the fight dies down, my clothes are more paint-colored than black. I decide to keep the shirt to remind me why I chose Dauntless in the first place: not because they are perfect, but because they are alive. Because they are free."

The brutal attack caused by the sleepwalking-Dauntless soldiers gets worse. They have killed so many Abnegation leaders as well as the people, and left the faction destroyed. Tris and Tobias successfully turned off the simulation, but there are sacrifices and loss which causes a great wound to Tris. They finally decided to go to Amity, the faction of kind and peace, to seek refuge. But then, Tris overheard the leaders talking about the fact that Abnegation leaders - including Tris' parents - died protecting a secret. And so Tris is dying to know what that secret is about.

Book Kaleidoscope 2013: Top Five Most Favorite Books

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image source: here. edited by me.

Here's the last and most important category of Book Kaleidoscope 2013 hosted by Fanda @ Fanda Classiclit! It is the Top Five Most Favorite Books in 2013. Just like last year, I've given a lot of 5 stars rating to the books I read - which means I read quite a lot of good books. Although it might be a tough choice, I will have to list my top 5 favorites. And continuing my last year habit, I will choose 5 favorites for Indonesian books and also 5 favorites for English books. So here's the ultimate list of my 2013 favorite books (in no particular order) ! Read my last year's favorites here.

Book Kaleidoscope 2013: Top Five New Favorite Authors

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image source: here. edited by me.

So today is Day 4 of Book Kaleidoscope 2013 hosted by Fanda @ Fanda Classiclit, and this time we are free to choose our own criteria. I was actually quite confused, and so I blog-walked through some of the bloggers who have joined in this event. I decided to list the Top 5 New Favorite Authors this month. They don't have to be a completely new author who just debuted, but it's the first time for me to read these authors' books. If they released a new book, I'll be sure to quickly grab it :)) So here's my list of new favorite authors from 2013 :))

Book Review: Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

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BOOK review

Started on: 20.December.2013

Finished on: 23.December.2013

Divergent (Divergent, #1) by Veronica Roth

Title : Divergent (Divergent, #1)

Author : Veronica Roth

Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books

Pages : 487 Pages

Year of Publication : 2011

Price : $ 9.99 (http://www.bookdepository.com)

Rating: 5/5

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"I realize that the decision might be simple. It will require a great act of selflessness to choose Abnegation, or a great act of courage to choose Dauntless, and maybe just choosing one over the other will prove that I belong. Tomorrow, those two qualities will struggle within me, and only one can win."

At the age of 16, it's about time for Beatrice Prior to make the decision of her life; choosing the faction she wants to be in. She lives in an Abnegation family, a selfless faction that forbids the people to ever think about themselves. Her brother, Caleb Prior, will also be making his decision. But before the Choosing Ceremony they have to go through an aptitude test to see which faction she belongs. But Beatrice is unlike any other Abnegation; she's curious and sometimes she doesn't want to be selfless. When her aptitude test showed more than one result, Beatrice found out that she's a Divergent. If she made the wrong choice, she might become factionless - a title everyone dreads: becoming poor and does the job that no one else wants to do.

Book Kaleidoscope 2013: Top Five Best Book Covers

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image source: here. edited by me.

It's Day 3 of Book Kaleidoscope 2013 hosted by Fanda @ Fanda Classiclit! This category is probably my favorite, because I cannot deny the charm of beautiful book covers. There are many times when I bought a book just because the cover is so pretty; although I don't know will the story be good or not. And I am always very happy when I bring a book with nice cover to read in public. Fortunately, there are only a few book covers that I love from this year's read. So here's the list of my favorite book covers this year in no particular order! Read my last year's favorite here.

Book Kaleidoscope 2013: Top Five Most Memorable Quotes

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image source: here. edited by me.

We have arrived on the second category of Book Kaleidoscope 2013; which is Top 5 Most Memorable Quotes from the books I've read this year. This one is pretty difficult for me to choose, because I love quotes - and I have more than 5 favorites! It took me quite a long time browsing through 2013's book reviews to see which quotes I love the most. There are many different kinds of quotes; those that taught me something new, quotes that's very emotional, and many more. So here's my list of top 5 most memorable quotes this year - in no particular order.

Book Kaleidoscope 2013: Top Five Book Boyfriends

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image source: here. edited by me.

YAYY Finally I can do this extremely fun event - Book Kaleidoscope 2013 - like last year, which is hosted by Fanda @ Fanda Classiclit; because it's a way for me to look back at what I've read in 2013. Thankfully the links are still open although I'm very late in joining this event. The first category is to choose the top 5 male characters you love the most, chosen from all the books read in 2013. This year I only read 88 books, which is a downturn compared to last year. So without further delay, here's my list of top 5 book boyfriends this year - in no particular order. Read my last year's post here.

Book Review: Simple Thinking About Blood Type by Park Dong Sun

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BOOK review

Started on: 13.December.2013
Finished on: 13.December.2013

Simple Thinking About Blood Type by Park Dong Sun

Judul Buku : Simple Thinking About Blood Type (혈액형에 관한 간단한 고찰)

Penulis : Park Dong Sun

Penerbit : Penerbit Haru

Tebal : 262 Halaman
Tahun Terbit: 2013

Harga: Rp 49,300 (http://www.pengenbuku.net/)

Rating: 3.5/5

*images are originally scanned by me. -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Simple Thinking About Blood Type adalah sebuah buku ilustrasi yang menggambarkan sebuah pemikiran tentang sifat-sifat golongan darah. Buku ini terdiri atas 4 bagian; Bagian 1: Mengetahui Sifat Seseorang Melalui Golongan Darah, Bagian 2: Hubungan Sosial Antargolongan Darah, Bagian 3: Cerita Seru Golongan Darah, dan Bagian 4: Diary Bergambar Si Cowok Gila. Park Dong Sun meletakkan setiap karakter golongan darah dalam situasi yang sama dan menyimpulkan seperti apa mereka akan bertindak atau perkataan seperti apa yang akan mereka ucapkan. Buku ini dicetak dalam full colour dengan ilustrasi yang sederhana namun menarik; sehingga tidak sulit untuk menghabiskannya dalam waktu singkat :)

Liebster Blog Award

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Sewaktu masih berlibur, aku dapat mention dari dua member BBI - Alvina dari Mari Ngomongin Buku dan Linda dari Reading with Archuleta - untuk ikut dalam Liebster Blog Award ini. Aku sama sekali tidak tahu-menahu dari mana asal 'blog award' ini, dan sepertinya juga bukan award beneran. Aku rasa tujuannya adalah supaya kita semakin mengenal para blogger yang lain dan lewat Liebster Blog Award orang lain, kita bisa menemukan blog-blog yang belum kita ketahui juga. 
Caranya adalah dengan menjawab 10 pertanyaan dari blog yang me-mention kita, kemudian kita menominasikan 10 blogger lain untuk menjawab 10 pertanyaan dari kita. Dan kita juga harus mencantumkan Random Facts tentang diri kita dalam post tersebut. Tanpa berpanjang-lebar lagi, berikut adalah jawabanku dari pertanyaan Alvina & Linda :) Terima kasih sudah menominasikanku untuk 'award' ini yah ;) 

auf Wiedersehen 2013, Hallo 2014 !

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It's a new year! Let's welcome it with a happy heart!
To be honest, December wasn't the best month of 2013 for me, because a lot of things happened - but they are a compilation of both good and bad things, so I won't complain much. Let's face it, life is not a wish-granting factory. I just returned from my 2 week journey to travel around East Europe, including German (which is why I'm using Deutsch for the title), Austria, Prague, and Swiss. And I hope it's not to late to say 'Happy New Year 2014!' to all my friends as well as my blog readers :) It was definitely tiring; especially the long flight, but meeting a lot of new people and seeing so many new things excites me. So in this post, I'll post my highlights of 2013 and also some hopes and goals for 2014 ahead :)) *Below is some of the photos I took during the trip; for my Instragam followers, there's nothing new I think.