CSUI05

I went to Ak.sa.’ra bookstore today. After traversing shelves by shelves and failed to find most books on my wish list, here are the books that made me take a second look:


Stories: All New Tales Edited by Neil Gaiman, Al Sarrantonio was in the New Arrival section. I was interested with the name of Neil Gaiman of course, but then I realized I never really liked collection of short stories. So I decided this one was not worth buying.



Despite my boredom of fantasy and dragonese series, Here, There Be Dragons  (Chronicles of the Imaginarium Geographica #1) looked somewhat fascinating. I almost took this one to the cashier, but I changed my mind at the sight of some other book. Oh, no problem actually. I plan to buy this on my next visit.



First of all, Midnight for Charlie Bone  (The Children of the Red King #1) has a nice cover. From the back cover, the story is about a boy who can hear thoughts of people in photographs. But when I took a second look, I thought the boy in the cover looked too much like Harry Potter. Also, the series seemed quite long, I saw book #8. I put this one back in its shelf too.



I’ve read Percy Jackson and the Lightning Thief before, so I knew Rick Riordan’s books are quite fun to read. This one looked promising, but let’s just say when I picked it I was not really into Egypt.

So, I did not buy any of the books mentioned above, so if anyone cares to give me a farewell gift, feel free to look for those in nearest bookstores . Well, I bought these instead:



The Hunger Games is a popular series. I have seen the review on Goodreads and impressed with such high rating. Lucky for me to hear about it first, because when I saw the book, I did not recognize it. The cover is so dull and unattractive. And such boring color! But until I write this review, I have read 6 chapters and it’s not boring at all. Feels like a mixture of bitterness and adventures. if I like it, I can buy the second book to read at the long journey to Malta. Unfortunately, this costs quite a lot.

Johannes Cabal the Necromancer was the one that made me put Here, There Be Dragons back to its shelf. The cover was awesome! I looked it up on Goodreads and it seemed ok, so I trusted my instinct and bought this.

Well, I will write the reviews when I finish. When it comes to choosing books to buy, I’ve stopped fully trusting my own judgments. I also look at the rating and reviews on Goodreads. Imported books nowadays come with too high prices. I’ve always been fine looking for books with only me and Goodreads, but sometimes I wish I had someone who would stand by me through those shelves and give comments like “you’re going to love this” or “that looks boring”, even if it’s wrong.

Title: Double Fudge
Author: Judy Blume
Publisher: Macmillan
Year: 2002
Rating: 4/5

Look what I  found at Times Bookstore: another book of Fudge series!

Fudge Hatcher is now 5 and obsessed with money. This is driving Peter nuts and his parents worried. So Grandma suggests to take him to the Bureau of Printing and Engraving to see how money is made. But the trip does not go as they expected. Not only Fudge become more obsessed with money, they also coincidentally meet Mr. Hatcher’s long lost (and really annoying) Cousin Howie and his family.

Like every other Fudge books, this is hilarious. I’m so lucky to ever find another book from this series!

Judul: Buku Pengetahuan Paling Jorok Sedunia
Penulis/Ilustrator: Yim Sook Young/Kim I Rang
Penerbit: BIP
Harga: Rp 75.000,00
Rating: 4.5/5

Sebelumnya saya sudah pernah membaca review buku yang penuh hal-hal jorok ini. Jadi ketika melihatnya di toko buku, saya cukup tertarik untuk membelinya. Harganya lumayan mahal: Rp 75.000,00. Huhu, lagi ga punya duit begini (tapi kok tetep beli?). Tapiii, begitu plastiknya dibuka, rasanya harga segitu cukup pantas kok untuk buku ini.

Bahas dari isinya dulu yah. Sesuai judulnya, buku ini berisi pengetahuan umum mengenai hal-hal yang kita anggap jorok: kecoa, plak, upil, muntahan, air seni, dan lain-lain. Di sini dibahas mulai dari fakta-fakta umum, juga sejarah dan tips apa yang harus atau tidak boleh dilakukan dengan hal-hal jorok tersebut. Dan ternyataaaa… sepatu hak tinggi dibuat karena kota penuh tinja. Di China, otak monyet adalah masakan andalan (monyetnya direbus hidup-hidup! Dih). Selain itu, dibahas juga cara cebok di berbagai belahan dunia. Menarik bukan? Hehe

Dan kalau semua itu terasa masih kurang, coba lihat ilustrasinya. Ilustrasi buku ini sangat bagus. Setiap halaman full color. Kalau pembahasannya sudah jorok, ilustrasinya lebih jorok lagi. Seriusan deh, jangan pernah membaca buku ini sambil makan! Coba lihat gambar berikut.

Nah, saya benar-benar ga bisa membayangkan pacar saya baca buku ini (sejujurnya, saya ga bisa membayangkan dia baca buku apapun, tapi yang ini beneran deh pasti ga sanggup). Saya sendiri, meskipun rada geli, cukup menyukai buku ini. Pembahasannya menarik banget dan memberikan banyak info. Dengan mengetahui hal-hal jorok itu, kita bisa jadi lebih menjaga kebersihan (atau memang saya suka yang jorok-jorok, huhu).

Di buku cerita, biasanya ada tokoh yang senantiasa memberi nasihat bijak pada si tokoh utama. Ya, bayangkan saja Albus Dumbledore. Berikut ini adalah daftar saya untuk lima tokoh bijaksana terbaik di buku cerita.

1. Atticus Finch (To Kill A Mockingbird)
   Seperti yang sudah diketahui seluruh dunia, Atticus Finch adalah pengacara yang berani membela seorang Negro melawan kulit putih di persidangan. Tapi bukan hanya itu saja. Sebagai ayah Jem dan Scout, Atticus Finch adalah panutan saya. Misalnya saat Mrs Dubose tua meninggal, Atticus berkata pada Jem:
   

   I wanted you to see something about her – I wanted you to see what real courage is, instead of getting the idea that courage is a man with a gun in his hand. It’s when you know you’re licked before you begin but you begin anyway and you see it through no matter what. You rarely win, but sometimes you do.

2. Menaures (Surat Untuk Raja)
   Menaures adalah gambaran tokoh bijak yang biasa muncul dalam benak kita: pertapa tua di pegunungan dengan rambut dan janggut putih panjang. Kalau benar-benar meghayati Surat Untuk Raja, begitu Tiuri sampai ke gubuk Menaures dalam perjalannya yang penuh bahaya, rasanya benar-benar adem dan damai.
   
   
3. Martin Penderwick (The Penderwicks)
   Sama seperti Atticus Finch, Mr. Penderwick adalah single parent. Namun anaknya ada empat, perempuan semua. Mr. Penderwick adalah profesor botani yang sedikit linglung. Quidquid agas prudenter agas et respice finem, begitu nasihatnya pada Skye. Tentu saja, menurut saya The Penderwicks adalah buku yang sempurna, jadi saya suka segala hal tentang buku ini. Tapi bagian favorit saya yang melibatkan Mr Penderwick adalah saat dia menghibur Jane yang kecewa karena bukunya dihina Mr. Dupree.
   
   
4. Dr Dorian (Charlotte’s Web)
   Dr Dorian cuma muncul sekali (kalau ga salah) di buku ini, tapi kemunculannya benar-benar istimewa. Beginilah percakapan ibunya Fern dan Dr Dorian.
   
   Mrs. Arable: Fern says that animals talk to each other. Dr Dorian, do you believe that animals talk?
   Dr Dorian: I never heard one says anything. But that proves nothing. It is quite possible that an animal has spoken civilly to me and that I didn’t catch the remark because I wasn’t paying attention. Children pay better attention than grown-ups. If Fern says that the animals in Zuckerman’s barn talk, I’m quite ready to believe her. Perhaps if people talked less, animals would talk more. People are incessant talkers – I can give you my word on that.
   
   
5. Mrs March (Little Women)
   Satu-satunya wanita di daftar ini, hehe. Mrs March adalah ibu dari Meg, Jo, Beth, dan Amy.  Mrs March benar-benar wanita kedua yang menjadi panutan saya (yang pertama tentu saja ibu saya).
   

   Your father, Jo. He never loses patience – never doubts or complains – but always hopes and works and waits so cheerfully that one is ashamed to do otherwise before him. He helped and comforted me, and showed me that I must try to practise all the virtues I would have my little girls possess, for I was their example. It was easier to try for your sakes than for my own, a startled or surprised look from one of you, when I spoke sharply, rebuked me more than any words could have done; and the love, respect, and confidence of my own children was the sweetest reward I could receive for my efforts to be the woman I would have them copy.

Selesai! Tokoh kacangan macam Morrie di Tuesdays with Morrie tentu saja ga masuk hitungan. Kenapa Albus Dumbledore yang saya sebut-sebut di awal malah ga masuk hitungan? Sebenarnya saya suka Dumbledore, sampai di buku kelima doi mulai jadi orang tua lebay yang menyalahkan diri sendiri. Males deh.

Secara fisik loh ya.
Beberapa hari yang lalu saya mengatur ulang buku-buku saya. Nah, keremu lagi deh sama buku-buku jaman dulu banget. Kloter awal pembelian buku deh pokoknya, hehe.

Salah satu yang kondisinya menyedihkan adalah Goosebumps #27: Semalam di Menara Teror. Covernya udah copot, baik yang depan maupun belakang. Beginilah penampakannya.



Hihi, di lembar belakang ada kupon buat dapetin poster menyala dalam gelap. Kalau saya kirim sekarang masih ada di GPU ga ya posternya? Hehe.


Kalau yang ini salah satu buku kesayangan saya: Semester Pertama di Malory Towers. Bahkan, buku inilah yang pertama kali bikin saya hobi banget baca.


Penampakannya jadi lebih baik setelah diberi sampul plastik, tapi bekas-bekas perjuangannya masih ada. Ada lembar-lembar yang nyaris terlepas dari jilidnya. Ada halaman-halaman yang diisolasi juga kaena udah robek. Saya bahkan ga inget kapan diisolasinya.



Yang satu ini juga termasuk buku kesayangan: Superfudge.


Ini buku lanjutan Kisah Anak Kelas Empat. Buat yang ga tau, kedua buku itu highly recommended. Ceritanya tentang Peter dan adiknya yang gila, Fudge. Lucu banget, seriusan. Kalo masih bisa nemu di toko buku, mending langsung beli deh. Nah buku Superfudge ini bukan hanya kehilangan cover belakang, tapi juga bab terakhirnya


Yah, maklum, dulu masih anak kecil, hehe.

Title: The Higher Power of Lucky
Author: Susan Patron
Publisher: Aladdin Paperbacks

Lucky is a 10 years old girl in Hard Pan, California. She has lived with her guardian, Brigitte (Lucky's father's first wife) for 2 years since her mother (Lucky's father's second wife) died. When one day she found Brigitte's passport and other convincing proofs that Brigitte is planning to return to France, Lucky runs away from home with her dog HMS beagle and a backpack of survival kit.

At first this book seems rather dark and gloomy. It has alcoholics, smokers, gamblers, a mother in jail for selling drugs, scrotum, which lead to controversy of whether this is a suitable read for kids. I even gave up this book on first try, as it was rather boring and I wondered how this book won a Newbery. But when I tried again, I could not put this down. So, apart from the question if this is suitable for kids, I think The Higher Power of Lucky is a nice read.

Rating: 4/5.

Judul: Wizards: Kumpulan Kisah Magis dari Pakar-Pakar Fantasi Modern
Penulis: banyak
Penerbit: Matahati

Yup, kumpulan kisah fantasi. Biasanya saya ga suka baca buku kumpulan kisah pendek begini. Fragile Things-nya Neil Gaiman aja ga berhasil saya tamatin. Nah di buku ini doi ikut berkontribusi juga, beserta beberapa nama lain yang terdengar familiar buat saya: Patricia McKillip, Eoin Colfer, dan Garth Nix. Sisanya orang asing semua (bagi saya).

Ada 18 cerita di buku ini, beberapa bagus, beberapa busuk. Untuk lebih jelasnya, mari dibahas satu per satu sebelum saya lupa ceritanya.

1. Neil Gaiman - Batu Nisan Sang Penyihir (The Witch's Headstone)
   Awalnya saya agak kecewa begitu baca cerita ini. Kenapa? Karena cerita ini diambil dari salah satu bab The Graveyard Book, yang artinya saya udah pernah baca. Tapi baca lagi deh. Meskipun dicopot dari bab-bab The Graveyard Book, kisah ini masih sangat asik dibaca loh.
   
2. Mary Rosenblum - Penglihatan Berwarna
   Ceritanya tentang Melanie yang bisa mendengar warna, misalnya dia dapat mendengar kata-kata keluar yang dari mulut seseorang dalam suatu warna tertentu. Ga jelas, masuk kategori busuk.
   
3. Patricia A. McKillip - Hari Penamaan
   Di Hari Penamaan, Averil harus memilih nama rahasia yang akan digunakan untuk melanjutkan pendidikan sihirnya. Namun ternyata nama itu datang padanya dalam suatu rangkaian peristiwa tak terduga. Kisah yang sederhana tapi manis. Meskipun tipikal teenlit, saya suka cerita ini.
   
4. Nancy Kress - Penguasa Batu
   Kisah yang biasa-biasa saja dan mudah dilupakan, hoho. Sebentar saya ingat-ingat dulu ceritanya. Oh, tentang Jared yang suatu hari menemukan bahwa dirinya adalah penyihir yang mampu mengendalikan batu. Jadi ada semacam perkumpulan gitu, setiap orang bisa menguasai hal yang berbeda. Standar.
   
5. Jeffrey Ford - Mantra Manticore
   Err, ada manticore mati, ada yang mempelajari manticore yang mati itu, dan ada yang kebingungan membaca cerita tentang pelajaran mengenai manticore tersebut (yaitu saya, kalau-kalau ada yang ga nyambung). Hehe, seriusan deh, saya ga ngerti maksud cerita ini.
   
6. Terry Bisson - Billy dan Sang Penyihir
   Cerita ini juga cukup asik, meskipun saya ga begitu ngerti apa yang sebenarnya mau disampaikan si penulis, hehe.
   
7. Terry Dowling - Magikker
   Hihi, mudah terlupakan juga. Kayanya sih standar-standar aja.
   
8. Gene Wolfe - Binatang Ajaib
   Oh kalau cerita yang ini saya ingat betul. Karena busuk, sodara-sodara. Aduh seriusan deh, namatinnya mati-matian (meskipun ga sampe 40 halaman), tapi sampai akhir pun ceritanya ga membaik.
   
9. Orson Scott Card - Stonefather
   Baguuuuuuuus! Salah satu cerita terbagus di buku ini.
   
10. Garth Nix - Holly dan Besi
    Ini juga lumayan bagus, meskipun membuat saya agak bertanya-tanya, "begitu doang akhirnya?"
    
11. Kage Barker - Permata Tak Terbandingkan
    Ah, ini juga bagus! Suka deh.
    
12. Eoin Colfer - Kisah Unggas
    Hanya 7 halaman, tapi hanya sebanyak itu yang dibutuhkan Eoin Colfer untuk menulis cerita yang lucu dan menghibur. Masuk kategori bagus.
    
13. Jane Yolen - Meluncur Menembus Keabadian
    Bah! Busuk.
    
14. Tad Williams - Tangan-tangan Asing
    Penyihir paling jahat yang berubah menjadi pembawa mukjizat. Mantap!
    
15. Elizabeth Hand - Istri Winter
    Awalnya asik. Belakangan jadi standar.
    
16. Andy Duncan - Diorama Neraka, atau Pertanyaan Iblis yang Kesembilan
    Ini apa siiiiih. Aneh deh.
    
17. Peter S. Beagle - Tarian Tanah Tandus
    Hanya narasi tanpa percakapan. Hoahm. Ga berhasil namatin, keburu bosen.
    
18. Tanith Lee - Zinder
    Ada anak buruk rupa yang berubah jadi malaikat tampan penebar kebaikan saat malam tiba. Ga nangkep inti ceritanya.

Itu dia ulasan singkat seluruh cerita yang ada di buku ini. Secara keseluruhan, saya kasih nilai 3/5 deh.

Have you heard that Listiana Srisanti, the translator of Harry Potter to Bahasa Indonesia, passed away yesterday? I read the translated edition of Harry Potter until the 5th book and right after I collected all the 7 imported edition, I gave the translated ones to my neighbor. But even though I don't have them anymore, I still remember some Indonesian phrase from the books very well.

Do you know what it feels when you love something so much that some parts about it leave trace in your heart? That's how I feel about Harry Potter. I cried reading Rowling's dedication on the 7th book, I have some dissatisfaction of how the story ends (like when Molly Weasley killed Bellatrix), but they're my friends when I grew up.

And somehow this part of my heart was touched when I heard that Listiana Srisanti passed away. I remember when I met Harry Potter for the first time, it was the third book, Harry Potter dan Tawanan Azkaban (yes, I read the third book first). And it's still one of my favorite books until now.

Listina Srisanti died from cancer. She translated Harry Potter #6 and #7 during her chemotherapy, which I think was very hard to do. So, farewell Listiana, thank you for your amazing translations.

Hmm, it seems like I can't finish any book lately (woot).
Ever since I work as the so-called Senior IT Officer (yes, that's written in my card), buying books is never really a problem anymore. I have the money, I just don't have the time to read. Now, I don't know whether I bought the wrong books or it's just me being too lazy to do anything but sleeping in my spare time, but I can't finish some of those books.
Here are some of them (I don't even remember the rest):

1. Garth Stein - The Art of Racing in the Rain. This book has good reviews and easy to read. I read the first few chapters but can't find anything to keep me read on. I'll continue sometime later. 
2. Susan Patron - The Higher Power of Lucky. This book is a Newbery winner and has a little girl in its front cover, that kind of book I would definitely like. But as the first one, I put this down and haven't opened it again. 
3. Neil Gaiman and Terry Pratchett - Pertanda-pertanda Baik (Good Omens). Ok, this is Neil Gaiman, my all-time favourite author. Is it just me or the translation makes it hard to read? I didn't feel the fun of reading it. I should try again sometime, or bought the imported edition. 
4. Yann Martel - Beatrice and Virgil. I bought this book with a very high expectation, considering the fact it's the same author who wrote Life of Pi. I didn't read any reviews before buying. I just saw it on Aksara and didn't really care about the price and bought it. Well... I know Life of Pi is a bit boring in the first few chapters, but turns out it's one of the best book I've read in my entire life. So when I found Beatrice and Virgil boring, I just kept on reading. Until Monday came and I was busy with my crappy job and and forgot this book.

So, there they are. I spent quite a lot of money on them so I made a promise to myself to finish them and write the reviews here. But I don't know when, I have other books to buy :-P

Judul: Thirteen Reasons Why
Penulis: Jay Asher

Sebelum saya menulis terlalu panjang dan Anda membaca terlalu jauh, ada baiknya saya katakan langsung bahwa buku ini busuk banget (review kaya gini nih yang bikin orang males baca kelanjutannya, hehe).

Jadi, perkenalkan Clay Jensen, anak SMA yang pada suatu hari menerima sebuah paket. Ternyata isi paket itu adalah kaset-kaset rekaman suara Hannah Baker, temannya di sekolah yang belum lama ini tewas bunuh diri. Paket itu dikirimkan secara bergilir kepada tiga belas orang yang dianggap Hannah berperan dalam kematiannya.

Jadi singkatnya, dari tiga belas alasan itu, kita bisa tahu Hannah digosipkan, dilecehkan secara seksual, dikuntit dan difoto, dimanfaatkan, melihat temannya diperkosa, melihat temannya menyebabkan kecelakaan, dan lain-lain.

Alasan-alasan kenapa cerita ini ga masuk akal (tujuh aja, tiga belas berlebihan):

1. Hubungan Hannah dengan tiga belas orang itu terasa renggang. Contoh: waktu Hannah sadar bahwa ada yang menguntit dan mengambil fotonya diam-diam, dia malah menceritakan hal itu pada orang yang hampir ga dikenalnya sama sekali. Dan setelah itu, keduanya terlalu cepat akrab, ga jelas prosesnya gimana.
2. Satu kisah terlalu cepat dilupakan. Oke, jadi di satu kisah si Hannah dijahatin sama orang. Lalu di kisah selanjutnya doi seakan lupa, langsung aja dijahatin sama tokoh lain.
3. Hubungan antarkisah renggang. Lompat-lompat ga jelas.
4. Sulit rasanya membayangkan semua itu terjadi pada seorang anak SMA dalam waktu yang relatif singkat.
5. Hmm, orangtuanya Hannah ke mana ya? Si Hannah mengalami semua kejahatan itu dan ngerasa sendirian padahal orangtuanya ada. Satu-satunya cerita tentang orangtuanya hanyalah mereka terlalu sibuk dengan urusan mereka sendiri.
6. Hmm, akhir ceritanya ga jelas banget. jadi si Clay ini punya teman bernama Skye, yang sikapnya agak aneh dan tertutup. Si Skye ini cuma diceritain secuil di tengah. Tapi buku ini malah diakhiri dengan Clay manggil Skye (manggil doang, terus abis, ga jelas itu manggil buat ngapain). Yah, saya ngerti sih maksudnya. Sikap Skye ini mirip dengan sikap Hannah dulu. Dan karena merasa bersalah ga bisa menyelamatkan Hannah, jadinya Clay berusaha untuk menyelamatkan Skye. Still, it does not make any sense.
7. Most importantly, kalaupun semua itu memang terjadi, tetep ajah harusnya ga dijadikan alasan buat bunuh diri. Iya ga? Apalagi pake mengirim kaset berisi rekaman suara mengerikan.

Anehnya, buku ini mendapat rating cukup tinggi di Goodreads. Yah, masalah selera sih. Covernya juga lumayan oke.

Lagi pengen ngerasa muda lagi, wekeke. Jaman dulu, saya sering baca seri buku tentang cewe-cewe abg gitu, halah. Yah kalo sekarang mungkin istilahnya teenlit kali ye. Menilik rak buku, berikut adalah seri-seri yang saya baca semasa SD dulu. Tiap buku bergiliran cerita tentang tokoh yang beda. Semuanya terjemahan, soalnya dulu belum jago bahasa Inggris (kaya sekarang jago aja).

1. Girl Talk
Girl Talk ini berkisah tentang persahabatan 4 orang anak SMP di Acorn Falls: Sabrina, Katie, Randy, dan Allison. Si Sabrina hobi ngegosip dan hampir di setiap buku selalu naksir cowo, wekeke. Katie adalah anak alim yang kemudian memberontak kabur dari pasukan pembawa bendera dan bergabung di tim hoki cowo. Randy yang suka bergaya aneh adalah pendatang baru dari New York. Terakhir, ada Allison yang paling kalem, keturunan Indian yang menjajaki karir sebagai model juga.



Koleksi saya untuk seri ini kayanya ada 26 buku. Sebenernya ga penting sih ceritanya, berkisar di situ-situ aja, sering ga masuk akal dan sering ga konsisten. Belum lagi terjemahannya busuk luar biasa. Tapi jaman dulu mah asik-asik aja tuh.

2. Sweet Valley Series
Yang ini berkisah tentang anak kembar: Jessica dan Elizabeth. Dari segi penampakan, keduanya sangat mirip satu sama lain, tapi kepribadiannya bertolak belakang. Elizabeth yang lebih tua 4 menit daripada Jessica lebih serius dan bertanggung jawab. Sementara itu, Jessica lebih suka berhura-hura.



Nah seri ini BUANYAK banget subserinya (kosa kata baru). Ada Sweet Valley Kids, saat si kembar masih kecil banget, kelas 1 SD kalo ga salah. Lalu Sweet Valley Twins, saat udah di SMP kalo ga salah. Sweet Valley High saat mereka di SMA. Terakhir Sweet Valley University. Lalu untuk tiap subseri, ada lagi kelompok-kelompoknya. Ada Super Thriller, Super Chiller, banyak deh.



Favorit saya adalah Sweet Valley Twins, tapi saya cuma punya sampe nomor 18 (berdasarkan Wikipedia, ada 118 T_T). Pokoknya 18 buku yang saya baca itu oke berat deh. Sweet Valley High udah mulai malesin, apa lagi covernya, wokwokwok.

3. Baby Sitters Club
Dari judul serinya, sudah bisa ketebak, ceritanya tentang anak SMP yang mendirikan klub baby sitter. Awalnya ada Kristy, sang pencetus ide; Mary-Ann, sahabat Kristy yang pemalu luar biasa; Claudia, seniman keturunan Jepang; dan Stacy, anak cantik dari New York. Menyusul, bergabunglah Dawn. Baby Sitters Club ini lumayan sering juga mengalami perubahan susunan organisasi. Waktu Stacy pindah lagi ke New York, masuklah Mallory dan Jessi. Ada baby sitter cowo juga loh: Logan dan Shannon.



Kalau seri ini saya cuma punya sedikit, cuma 6 atau 7 kalo ga salah. Dulu sempet minjem beberapa dari Bu Mia. Tapi dari semua yang pernah saya baca itu, oke-oke semua deh ceritanya.

4. Ford Supermodels of The World
Kalau yang ini tokoh-tokohnya udah lebih gede sedikit. Umur 15-17an. Dari judulnya juga udah ketebak, semuanya supermodel, wokwokwok. Ada Paige, Cassandra, Naira, Kerri, Katarina, dan Pia. Semuanya punya latar belakang yang beda-beda. Saya ga tau ada berapa buku di seri ini, saya cuma punya 6.




Nah dari semua seri yang saya sebutkan di atas, kayanya ga satupun diantaranya yang pernah saya lihat deh di toko-toko buku lokal terdekat. Sayang sekali menurut saya, solanya Sweet Valley Twins dan The Baby Sitters Club itu asik punya, hehe. Jaman sekarang apa ya bacaan sejenis?

Title: Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close
Author: Jonathan Safran Foer
Publisher: Penguin Books


A story of a 9-years-old Oskar Schell, whose father died in 9/11, trying to find the lock of a key he finds at his father's closet. The key is found in an envelope with the word 'Black' written in it. Assuming that it refers to a person, Oskar begins to knocks the doors of one Black to another in New York and asks if they know something about the key. His need to feel close to his father brings Oskar to the lives of strangers and relatives, the story of his grandparents from fifty years ago, gives him bruises and 'heavy boots'...

I like this book, but not as much as I thought I might like it. Oskar's character is a bit impossible for a 9 years old, but I really like him. Somehow Oskar's narration reminds me of that in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Nighttime. Other than Oskar's, this book is also written his grandparents points of view. And that, I think, is the reason why I like this book less than I thought I might. Grandma's and Grandpa's story are rather gloomy and dull. I just don't understand, what's the point of Grandma repeatedly saying 'my eyes are crummy'?

Anyway. This book is full of beautiful lines and touching words, and photos from Oskar's list of Stuff That Happened to Me. They make me laugh and cry. I rate this book 4 of 5 (I could give 5 if only Grandma and Grandpa are not that boring).

I like to see people reunited, I like to see people run to each other, I like the kissing and the crying, I like the impatience, the stories that the mouth can't tell fast enough, the ears that aren't big enough, the eyes that can't take in all of the change, I like the hugging, the bringing together, the end of missing someone.

She wants to know if I love her, that's all anyone wants from anyone else, not love itself but the knowledge that love is there, like new batteries in the flashlight in the emergency kit in the hall closet.

We need enormous pockets, pockets big enough for our families and our friends, and even the people who aren't on our lists, people we've never met but still want to protect. We need pockets for boroughs and for cities, a pocket that could hold the universe.

'Why do beautiful songs make you sad?' 'Because they aren't true.' 'Never?' 'Nothing is beautiful and true.'

In bed that night I invented a special drain that would be underneath every pillow in New York, and would connect to the reservoir. Whenever people cried themselves to sleep, the tears would all go to the same place, and in the morning the weatherman could report if the water level of the Reservoir of Tears had gone up or down, and you could know if New York is in heavy boots.

I thought about birds. Could they fly if there wasn't someone, somewhere, laughing?

Extra time to read, to blog, to go to the malls.
Less time to code, to be stuck in traffic jams, to count down the hours till 5 pm.

Well, I'm currently working for money, not for career, hehe. At least for the following few months. This is not how I want to build my career (I'll figure it out later). But I can spend the money to buy books.

I bought these books last week.

1. The Art of Racing in the Rain - Garth Stein
2. How to Train Your Dragon - Cressida Cowell
3. Still Alice - Lisa Genova
4. Holes - Louis Sachar
5. Thirteen Reasons Why - Jay Asher

Can't find Jonathan Safran Foer's Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close.

I've finished How To Train Your Dragon, like it but I doubt I would want to buy the other books of the series. Currently reading Thirteen Reasons Why, Holes, and The Art of Racing in the Rain (I love parallel-reading!). Getting through half of the book, I don't like Thirteen Reasons Why so far, but we'll see how it ends.

Oh, and I haven't finished two Sherlock Holmes The Complete Novels and Stories I bought last month. Way to go.

A friend left for study last night. I wonder what it feels like. I wonder what I will feel when it's my time to leave, too. I wonder who will be there to say 'goodbye' and 'see you around', and how they will feel about my leaving. I wonder what it's like when I get to the plane that brings me to a land of complete strangers and for the last time, stare into this city I love so much.

TItle: Si Boneka Jerami dan Pelayannya (The Scarecrow and His Servant)

Author: Philip Pullman

I bought this very thin book two weeks ago, finished it last week, and just have the time to write the review today (at working time in my cubicle, while displaying some advanced computer science articles in my monitor, pretending to write very important things in my notebook).

Well, this is important.

One night, a lightning struck a scarecrow, made it come to life. On his journey, the scarecrow met a hungry-boy named Jack, who agreed to be his servant. Thus began the journey of the scarecrow and his servant. Jack was smarter than his master, but he also had the imagination to follow his master's lead. Together they went through a lot of things: met brigands, joined the army, faced a battle, and stranded in an island.

This is a simple, colourful, and really funny story. I love Philip Pullman's humour.

Februari sudah hampir berakhir dan satu-stunya buku yang gw beli bulan ini hanyalah Istana Yang Bergerak (Howl's Moving Castle).
Harus berburu hari ini.

Judul: Erec Rex: Mata Naga (The Dragon's Eye)
Penulis: Kaza Knightley
Penerbit: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama







Sudah saya duga ada yang salah sewaktu saya membeli buku ini. Jadi sebenarnya saya berencana membeli sebuah buku yang cover-nya adalah satu lagi hasil karya Windu Tampan. Namun, mungkin karena kurang konsentrasi dan terlalu sering baca review buku ini, yang saya bawa ke kasir adalah buku ini. Ga rugi juga sih.

Erec Rex adalah anak laki-laki berusia dua belas tahun yang hanya memiliki sebelah mata (sebelah lagi terbuat dari kaca). Buku ini berkisah tentang misi yang dilakukan Erec dalam rangka menyelamatkan ibunya. Menurut saya sih di bagian awal ceritanya agak aneh, kaya terlalu diburu-buru, tapi makin ke tengah bagus juga.

Dilihat dari segi sihir-sihiran, kayanya ga ada sesuatu yang baru. Standarlah, ga jauh beda sama buku fantasi lainnya. Beberapa bagian agak mengingatkan saya pada Harry Potter, tapi beda sih. Intinya, lumayan buat bacaan ringan.

Title: Clementine
Author: Sara Pennypacker
Publisher: Hyperion







Unlike a book in my previous post, this one is actually worth reading. Clementine is not an ordinary third grade girl. She is best friends with a perfect fourth grade named Margaret, and one day she’s sent to the principal for cutting Margaret’s hair. Her teachers always tell her to pay attention, when in fact she is always paying attention, only not to the same things as what they want her to.

I love Clementine and every other character of this book. It is a simple but wonderful story, also sweet and funny. This is my favorite part:

Margaret: … I’m nine years old and I should be able to protect my own head.
Clementine: I am nine years old now, too.
Margaret: No, you’re not. You’re eight. I came to your birthday last week.
Clementine: No, I was eight at my party. Nine comes after eight, and it is after my party, so now I am nine. And that means we’re the same age!

Highly recommended.

Title: Diary si Bocah Tengil (Diary of a Wimpy Kid)
Author: Jeff Kinney
Publisher: Atria






This book is about a middle-school boy named Greg who’s trying to survive in school. Worthless book, in my opinion. Greg is a lazy, selfish, dishonest kid. He lies to his parents, betrays his so-called best friend. And one thing that makes this book horrible is that in the end, the character learns NOTHING. If this is supposed to be a children book, I definitely won’t let my child read this stuff.

I wonder why people love this book. The cartoons are good, but still, the story is cruel. Really, what’s Jeff Kinney’s point in writing this book? Maybe it’s supposed to be funny. Well maybe it’s my poor sense of humor, but I really can’t see what’s so funny about this book.

If you wish to have this book with an awful low price, feel free to contact me. I have no place for this kind of stuff in my shelf.

dibeliin lemari baru. tapi sayang ga tembus ke Narnia.
dibeliin rak buku juga.
mulailah beres-beres mindahin buku.


sayangnya tetep ga cukup, jadi yang lama tetep dipake juga.
blah. Goosebumps gw banyak bener. banyak yang sebenernya ga akan gw baca lagi, tapi sayang kalo dikasih ke orang.
buku-buku bagus dipajang di rak yang baru. Kanan atas buat Quran, kamus, dan buku nonfiksi. Baris bawah buat buku kuliah. Lainnya buku cerita semua.

sisanya dipaksain biar bisa masuk ke rak lainnya.
tapi baru 472. pertumbuhannya melambat tahun 2009 ini. kirain udah 500-an.

... NOT!

semoga orangnya ga tersinggung (kalo2 baca)