Book Review: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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BOOK review

Started on: 4 June 2023
Finished on: 24 June 2023

 

The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, #2) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

Title: The Hawthorne Legacy (The Inheritance Games, #2)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Penguin

Pages: 380 pages / 369 pages (e-book)
Year of Publication: 2021
Price: Rp 188,000 (https://www.periplus.com/)

Rating: 4/5

*for those who haven't read the first book, this review may contain spoiler. 

Review for The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes here.

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"If there was one thing I'd learned about deceased billionaire Tobias Hawthorne, it was that he was capable of orchestrating nearly anything, manipulating nearly anyone. He'd loved puzzles and riddles and games."

After unlocking the final puzzle in the tunnels under the Hawthorne House, Avery has to find the man who might hold the answer to all her questions—including why Tobias Hawthorne left his entire fortune to Avery rather than his daughters or grandsons. After doing a DNA test, Avery confirmed that she's not a Hawthorne by blood, but some clues hint at a deeper connection between her and the Hawthorne family. As the mystery grows, threats are lurking around every corner as adversaries emerge trying to see Avery out of the picture by any means necessary.

"I wanted answers. This wasn't just a mystery that needed solving or another layer to a puzzle. It wasn't a game—not to me. 

Not anymore."

Book Review: Hello by Tere Liye

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BOOK review

Started on: 30 May 2023
Finished on: 3 June 2023

 

Hello by Tere Liye

 

Title: Hello

Author: Tere Liye
Publisher: Sabak Grip

Pages: 320 pages
Year of Publication: 2023
Price: Rp 99,000 (https://www.gramedia.com/)

Rating: 5/5

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"...bagi Ana, rumah tidak pernah semata-mata tentang bangunan fisiknya. Bukan soal ubin, warna cat, genteng, kusen, melainkan emosi, perjalanan spiritual, dan jiwa-jiwa yang terlibat di dalam bangunan itu. Rumah adalah saksi bisu perjalanan manusia. Satu-dua membentuk kisah yang bahagia, satu-dua menyusun cerita yang menyakitkan serta penuh air mata, dan lebih menarik lagi, satu-dua menjadi kisah yang susah didefinisikan masuk kategori mana."

Ana adalah seorang tukang bangunan yang berbakat dan sangat antusias dalam pekerjaannya. Calon proyek barunya adalah merenovasi sebuah rumah tua yang dimiliki oleh keluarga penting di masa lalu. Sebelum memutuskan untuk menerima pekerjaan tersebut, Ana hendak melihat semua bagian rumah tersebut. Sembari menjelajahi ruangan demi ruangan, kliennya menceritakan kenangan masa lalunya saat tinggal di rumah itu. Dari sanalah Ana mulai menelusuri kehidupan orang-orang yang pernah tinggal di sana, dimulai dari kelahiran dua bayi yang lahir nyaris bersamaan dan pasang-surut hubungan mereka yang spesial.

"Jangan terlalu berharap banyak saat membaca kisah ini. Sungguh jangan. Karena ketahuilah, sumber ketidakbahagiaan besar di dunia adalah: berharap—lebih-lebih saat kita berharap terlalu banyak. Ketika hasilnya tidak sesuai, muncullah kecewa. Akan beda jadinya jika kita tidak berharap, apa pun hasilnya, kita tetap baik-baik saja. Apalagi saat akhirnya sangat spesial, kita akan lega sekali."

Book Review: The Underling Purpose by Aranindy

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BOOK review

Started on: 14 May 2023
Finished on: 29 May 2023

 

The Underling Purpose by Aranindy

 

Title: The Underling Purpose

Author: Aranindy
Publisher: Penerbit Clover M&C Kompas Gramedia

Pages: 440 pages
Year of Publication: 2023
Price: Rp 88,000 (www.gramedia.com)

Rating: 3/5

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"Sederhananya, MMT adalah gabungan antara speed dating, working relationship, dan survival show. 6 orang pria dan 6 orang wanita akan dikurung di lantai teratas gedung bertingkat yang dinamakan Mishmash Tower."

Soma TV, stasiun swasta yang terkenal di Indonesia, akan menayangkan sebuah reality show baru bernama Mishmash Tower (MMT). Acara ini mengumpulkan 12 pemain terpilih dan mengurung mereka di lantai teratas sebuah gedung misterius. Mereka kemudian harus bekerja berpasangan dalam menyelesaikan tantangan-tantangan yang ada untuk mencapai lantai dasar. Demi menjadi pemenang dari kompetisi ini, mereka rela mencoba berbagai macam strategi, taktik, dan bahkan mengkhianati pasangan mereka. Siapakah yang akan berhasil menjadi sang juara?

 

TV Series & Korean Dramas Recap Part IV

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I can't believe it's been more than a year since my last recap 🫠. As we've been slowly returning to our usual life routine these days, I didn't have much time to watch as many TV series/Korean dramas this year. It was also quite hard to spare time to write this recap because I was busy catching up on my book reviews 🤣. Now that I'm all caught up with my book reviews, I decided to work on this post as a change of pace—it's been a while since I last wrote a non-review post on this blog. In today's post, I will share my thoughts and opinion on 12 TV shows I've watched from March 2022 until March 2023. Hopefully, it won't end up being too long to read 😆.

Book Review: The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

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BOOK review

Started on: 27 March 2023
Finished on: 12 April 2023

 

The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1) by Jennifer Lynn Barnes

 

Title: The Inheritance Games (The Inheritance Games, #1)

Author: Jennifer Lynn Barnes

Publisher: Little, Brown Books

Pages: 374 pages / 385 pages (e-book)
Year of Publication: 2020
Price: Rp 178,000 (https://www.periplus.com/)

Rating: 3/5

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"I don't think I'm turning anything into a riddle. I don't think I have to. You are a riddle, a puzzle, a game—my grandfather's last."

Avery Grambs plans to survive high school, win a scholarship, and set herself up for a better future. However, Avery's life changes instantly when billionaire Tobias Hawthorne dies and leaves her virtually his entire fortune. The problem is Avery has no idea why—or even who Tobias Hawthorne is. To receive her inheritance, Avery must move into the Hawthorne House filled with secret passages and rooms full of puzzles, riddles, and codes. Unfortunately, the Hawthorne House is occupied by the family members that Tobias Hawthorne dispossessed; including the four Hawthorne grandsons, brilliant boys who grew up with the very expectation that one day they would inherit billions. Grayson, the heir-apparent, is convinced that Avery is a con-woman and he's determined to take her down. While his younger brother, Jameson, views her as their grandfather's twisted riddle and a puzzle to be solved. Caught in a world of wealth and privilege, with danger around every turn, Avery will have to play the game herself to survive.

"Nothing about my life was normal anymore."

Book Review: Mulai Mengerti by Edward Suhadi

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BOOK review

Started on: 21 March 2023
Finished on: 22 March 2023

 

Mulai Mengerti by Edward Suhadi

 

Title: Mulai Mengerti

Author: Edward Suhadi
Publisher: Insight Unlimited

Pages: 244 pages
Year of Publication: 2022
Price: Rp 120,000 (https://insight-unlimited.com/)

Rating: 5/5

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"Yang pasti, saya tidak lebih bijaksana dari kebanyakan orang, dan yang pasti, saya tidak mengerti segala hal dan segala arti."

Mulai Mengerti adalah kumpulan tulisan Edward Suhadi yang lahir dari kegelisahan dan pengamatannya sehari-hari, bagaimana seseorang dipenjara atau dimerdekakan sesuai isi kepalanya. Ide utama buku ini satu, yaitu hidup, walau sepertinya acak, tidak punya aturan, dan tidak bisa dipecahkan, sebetulnya tidak demikian. Edward Suhadi membagikan pemikirannya melalui tulisan-tulisan pendek dengan harapan untuk membuat pembaca menyadari bahwa hidup sebenarnya bisa lebih mudah.

"Harapan saya untuk buku ini, dan kenapa saya akan terus menulis, ya, cuma satu itu.

Yaitu semoga para pembacanya sadar bahwa ternyata insan-insan, perasaan-perasaan, dan kejadian-kejadian yang berderet berbaris membentuk kubus yang namanya kehidupan, bisa dipelajari.

Sehingga di dalam kehidupan, kita bisa bukan hanya tubruk sana tubruk sini, coba putar sana coba putar sini, tapi kita bisa, mulai mengerti."