Wednesday, May 28, 2014

Wishful Wednesday [8]


masih seperti minggu lalu, tema Wishful Wednesday minggu ini pun masih dalam era WW II… setting-nya sebelum, selama perang dan sesudahnya… mungkin sudah ada yang baca buku atau nonton filmnya?

entah kenapa aku pengen banget baca buku ini… moreover, acording to Wikipedia: It is widely regarded as one of McEwan's best works. It was shortlisted for the 2001 Booker Prize for fiction. TIME magazine named Atonement in its list All-TIME 100 Greatest Novels.


Atonement by Ian McEwan

We meet 13-year-old Briony Tallis in the summer of 1935, as she attempts to stage a production of her new drama "The Trials of Arabella" to welcome home her older, idolized brother Leon. But she soon discovers that her cousins, the glamorous Lola and the twin boys Jackson and Pierrot, aren't up to the task, and directorial ambitions are abandoned as more interesting prospects of preoccupation come onto the scene. The charlady's son, Robbie Turner, appears to be forcing Briony's sister Cecilia to strip in the fountain and sends her obscene letters; Leon has brought home a dim chocolate magnate keen for a war to promote his new "Army Ammo" chocolate bar; and upstairs, Briony's migraine-stricken mother Emily keeps tabs on the house from her bed. Soon, secrets emerge that change the lives of everyone present....

from amazon.com


About Wishful Wednesday:
  • Silakan follow blog Books To Share – atau tambahkan di blogroll/link blogmu =)
  • Buat posting mengenai buku-buku (boleh lebih dari 1) atau segala hal yang berhubungan dengan kebutuhan bookish kalian, yang jadi inceran kalian minggu ini, mulai dari yang bakal segera dibeli, sampai yang paling mustahil dan hanya sebatas mimpi. Oya, sertakan juga alasan kenapa buku/benda itu masuk dalam wishlist kalian ya!
  • Tinggalkan link postingan Wishful Wednesday kalian di Mr. Linky (klik saja tombol Mr. Linky di bagian bawah post). Kalau mau, silakan tambahkan button Wishful Wednesday di posting kalian.
  • Mari saling berkunjung ke sesama blogger yang sudah ikut share wishlistnya di hari Rabu =)

ps. one of my WW soon will come true, can you guess which one? ;-) i'm very excited... yay! keep on wishing!! :D

Tuesday, May 27, 2014

[COVER REVEAL] The Raven by Sylvain Reynard


The Raven 
by Sylvain Reynard

Blurb: 

From the New York Times bestselling author of the Gabriel Series comes a dark, sensual tale of romance in a city shrouded in mystery…

Raven Wood spends her days at Florence’s Uffizi Gallery restoring fine works of Renaissance art. But an innocent walk home after an evening with friends changes her life forever. When she intervenes in the senseless beating of a homeless man, his attackers turn on her, dragging her into an alley. Raven is only semi-conscious when their assault is interrupted by a cacophony of growls followed by her attacker’s screams. Mercifully, she blacks out, but not before catching a glimpse of a shadowy figure who whispers to her…

Cassita vulneratus.

When Raven awakes, she is inexplicably changed. She returns to the Uffizi, but no one recognizes her and more disturbingly, she discovers that she’s been absent an entire week. With no recollection of the events leading up to her disappearance, Raven also learns that her absence coincides with one of the largest robberies in Uffizi history – the theft of a set of priceless Botticelli illustrations. When the baffled police force identifies her as its prime suspect, Raven is desperate to clear her name. She seeks out one of Florence’s wealthiest and elusive men in an attempt to uncover the truth about her disappearance. Their encounter leads Raven to a dark underworld whose inhabitants kill to keep their secrets…




Release Date:
Early 2015


About the Author

I'm interested in the way literature can help us explore aspects of the human condition - particularly suffering, sex, love, faith, and redemption. My favourite stories are those in which a character takes a journey, either a physical journey to a new and exciting place, or a personal journey in which he or she learns something about himself/herself. 


I'm also interested in how aesthetic elements such as art, architecture, and music can be used to tell a story or to illuminate the traits of a particular character. In my writing, I combine all of these elements with the themes of redemption, forgiveness, and the transformative power of goodness.


I try to use my platform as an author to raise awareness about the following charities: Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep Foundation, WorldVision, Alex's Lemonade Stand, and Covenant House. For more information, see my Twitter account.

You can find Sylvain at 

         

Wednesday, May 21, 2014

Wishful Wednesday [7]


sudah lama gak posting Wishful Wednesday… jadi pengen pamer buku yang dipengenin banget nih…

buku ini salah satu dari Best Books Ever versi Book Depository… dan entah kenapa I always feel fascinated by World War 2, especially about the life's or love's story on the era… though most of them were heart-breaking stories, but they just so deep… so emotional… ihiks! jadi terharu lagi inget The Boy is the Striped Pajamas… :'(

Sophie's Choice by William Styron

In this extraordinary novel, Stingo, an inexperienced twenty-two year old Southerner, takes us back to the summer of 1947 and a boarding house in a leafy Brooklyn suburb. There, he meets Nathan, a fiery Jewish intellectual; and Sophie, a beautiful and fragile Polish Catholic. Stingo is drawn into the heart of their passionate and destructive relationship as witness, confidant and supplicant. Ultimately, he arrives at the dark core of Sophie's past: her memories of pre-war Poland, the concentration camp and - the essence of her terrible secret - her choice.


About Wishful Wednesday:

  • Silakan follow blog Books To Share – atau tambahkan di blogroll/link blogmu =)
  • Buat posting mengenai buku-buku (boleh lebih dari 1) atau segala hal yang berhubungan dengan kebutuhan bookish kalian, yang jadi inceran kalian minggu ini, mulai dari yang bakal segera dibeli, sampai yang paling mustahil dan hanya sebatas mimpi. Oya, sertakan juga alasan kenapa buku/benda itu masuk dalam wishlist kalian ya!
  • Tinggalkan link postingan Wishful Wednesday kalian di Mr. Linky (klik saja tombol Mr. Linky di bagian bawah post). Kalau mau, silakan tambahkan button Wishful Wednesday di posting kalian.
  • Mari saling berkunjung ke sesama blogger yang sudah ikut share wishlistnya di hari Rabu =)

Thursday, May 15, 2014

[BOOK TOUR] Sweet Filthy Boy (Wild Seasons #1) by Christina Lauren

Sweet Filthy Boy (Wild Seasons #1)
by Christina Lauren


ARC, ebook, 416 pages
Published May 13th 2014 by Gallery Books  

Summary

One-night stands are supposed to be with someone convenient, or wickedly persuasive, or regrettable. They aren’t supposed to be with someone like him.

But after a crazy Vegas weekend celebrating her college graduation—and terrified of the future path she knows is a cop-out—Mia Holland makes the wildest decision of her life: follow Ansel Guillaume—her sweet, filthy fling—to France for the summer and just…play.

When feelings begin to develop behind the provocative roles they take on, and their temporary masquerade adventures begin to feel real, Mia will have to decide if she belongs in the life she left because it was all wrong, or in the strange new one that seems worlds away

My Review

this is not just another romance story for me... this is where i'm lost in the character, Mia especially...

one question about books that i found hard to answer, if you are a character in a book, who would you be?

i've never attached to a character before this, but i really thought that Mia is really close to me, therefore i can really feel her...

not that my life's story the same as Mia's, just that i can't stop thinking.. ALL... THE TIME... i think i also can hear my brain gear's clicking...

but i guess no body would turn off the chance to meet a handsome Frenchman and get to visit Paris for the summer... that would be the dream of my life... eerrr... without the handsome Frenchman is OK... just visiting Paris would be nice... hihi... or my husband would kicked me on the ass for that matter...

i love Mia's adventure to explore Paris by herself, i hope someday, i can walk where she walked... especially to visit Jardin des Plantes and see Poppies by my own eyes :D

this is a little bit of Jardin des Plantes, is it lovely?

these things about French and Paris were all really amused me, i think i can imagine the wonder, though i don't think my imagination would be the same as if i'd be there my self, i used to learn French, and i missed it so much while i read this book, i think French is very difficult for me, but i think even though i won't catch a thing when a Frenchman talking to me, i would love to hear one talk love to me... i think it's super romantic...

i really love the book, i understand we tend to be spontaneous when we're emotional.. i just wish Mia would open up more to Ansel, or vice-versa, and have discussion first before deciding anything... they're married after all... and they should have known of their feeling to each other better...

although i'm glad with everything happened in the end...

this is my first book of Christina Lauren, and i just happen to know that actually they're 2 persons... i hope i'd find someone who can share my thought for writing too... ;-)

i think i might want to read their other books... they're awesome :D

thanks for the beautiful story xoxo


Bio / Social Media

Site

Lauren Billings (but everyone calls her Lo) has a Ph.D. in neuroscience and before she made writing her full-time job, would spend her days doing nerdy research-type things wearing a lab coat and goggles. She is silly Mommy to two littles, wife to one mountain biking homebrewing scientist, bestie to a shoe-stealer, and an unabashed lover of YA and romance.

Christina Hobbs (but you’ll always hear Lo call her PQ) used to spend her days in a junior high counseling office surrounded by teenagers. Married to the cutest boy in school, she has a thirteen year old daughter, is an unapologetic lover of boy bands and glitter, and also likes to steal Lo’s shoes.

You can follow their shenanigans at:

@lolashoes (Lauren) & @seeCwrite (Christina) on Twitter. On Tumblr! where we post kissing gifs and writerly stuff and Wattpad for short stories and sneak peeks!

For official information about their books, events, interviews, movie news and more, follow @beautifulbastrd.



Buy Links

Thursday, May 8, 2014

Who Are You? by Lin Eun Hee

Who Are You?
by Lin Eun Hee




Paperback, 320 pages
Published April 2014 by Penerbit Haru

"Selanjutnya, hiduplah sebagai bayangan Yoon Ian, karena hanya akulan yang memiliki hatinya. Hiduplah dengan orang yang mencintai wanita lain. Dengan begitu, kau akan bisa merakan apa yang dirakan orang yang bunuh diri dengan sia-sia itu. Setiap harinya akan seperti berada di neraka, seperti apa yang dulu dirasakan oleh pria itu. Itu akan jadi keseharianmu."

akhir minggu lalu berasa seneng banget setelah terima kiriman buku pertama dari project sebagai reviewer Penerbit Haru, tapi setelah baca bukunya... ihiks! koq aku jadi ketar-ketir sendiri... koq gini sih bukunya... >.< #mewek

duh! kenapa kemaren gak milih Dandelion Wish aja yaa...
yeah, i know... karena Dandelion Wish buku terjemahan Taiwan, sedangkan Who are You? ini buku terjemahan Korea, setelah agak lama vakum gak beli & baca buku dari Penerbit Haru, kangen juga baca2 buku Korea...

dan karena covernya cantik... hihi... heeh! aku sering milih buku karena covernya ;-)

tapi entahlah... buku ini jauh dari harapanku...

yuuukkk mari aku kenalin sama tokoh2 buku ini...

kenalin Song Ah Ri, perempuan 20an, yang super cengeng tapi tegar... Ah Ri, ini agak alay, selalu membahasakan dirinya sebagai Ah Ri, dan sangat mudah terharu... inget mimpinya sendiri, dia nangis, ketemu orang yang dia kenal dari mimpinya, dia nangis, denger cerita sedih, dia nangis, apalagi kalo diputusin sama pacarnya... waaahhh dia nangis membahana...

lalu ini ada Yoon Ian, laki-laki 20an, yang sok cool, anak orang kaya yang agak sombong tapi pengangguran, iiiyyyaaa... dia pengangguran, karena baru pulang dari London dan belum ngelamar kerjaan dimana2, secara ngapain juga kerja?
anak orang kaya gitu lhoh! punya mobil, punya apartemen mewah yang disediain Bapaknya tapi teutep boleh lah kurang ajar dikit ke Bapaknya... sok2 rebel gitu... abis... Bapaknya punya istri baru yang lebih muda sih... :d

dan ini dia... Kim Gana, perempuan 20an juga, teman lama Yoon Ian, anak orang kaya juga, iya katanya sih Bapaknya Kim Gana dan Yoon Ian ini teman dekat... sama2 baru pulang dari sekolah di London, tapi dia cukup rajin dengan kerja sebagai penanggung jawab di Bar Tero milik Bapaknya... ;-)

jadi apa hubungan antara mereka bertiga? yah gak lain gak bukan ya pastinya cinta segi empat dong... :D

lho koq bisa segi empat? kan baru ada 3 orang… yup! Anda benar… karena ada satu lagi tokoh bayangan yang berperan penting dalam cerita di buku ini…

mari kita berkenalan dengan Gyu Wan… Gyu Wan, laki-laki, usianya lebih tua sekitar 5-6 tahun daripada Yoon Ian, berkenalan dengan Yoon Ian karena adu jotos… sebenernya gak jelas juga sih masalahnya apa… mungkin karena Yoon Ian nyebelin... tau2 mereka berantem dan setelahnya mereka jadi sahabatan…

Gyu Wan ini berasal dari keluarga kurang mampu… suatu hari dikenalkan ke Kim Gana oleh Yoon Ian, eh langsung naksir… padahal Kim Gana itu… entah sejak kapan udah naksir sama Yoon Ian… tapi Yoon Ian-nya dulu masih imut jadi gak ngerti perasaan Kim Gana…

Kim Gana entah kenapa mau nerima Gyu Wan sebagai pacar, Gyu Wan yang tulus mencintai Kim Gana, akhirnya bisa tau perasaan Kim Gana yang sebenarnya…

begitulah kisah masa lalu antara Yoon Ian, Kim Gana & Gyu Wan… lalu gimana ceritanya Song Ah Ri bisa masuk dalam kehidupan mereka?

hhhhmmm… cerita selanjutnya dan kenapa aku bilang Gyu Wan itu tokoh bayangan... silakan baca bukunya sendiri yaaa… karena klo aku nerusin ceritanya bisa2 digetok orang sekampung… :d

lalu gimana kesan2ku sendiri?

hhhhmmm… menurutku… sebenernya ide ceritanya bagus, cuma cara penceritaannya yang kurang oke… ada gap ketika pengarang mencoba memasukkan Song Ah Ri dalam kehidupan Yoon Ian & Kim Gana… dan gap itu diisi dengan sesuatu yang menurutku sama sekali gak real, bahkan agak sedikit… apa ya istilahnya… mistis? aaahhh… bukan juga sih… tapi terselip cerita seolah2 Song Ah Ri ini bisa memiliki kemampuan untuk membaca masa depan melalui mimpinya, tapi koq cerita itu cuma di depan aja… setelahnya gak dibahas sama sekali…

dan endingnya… serius menurutku endingnya gengges banget… hhaalllllooo… koq bisa gitu… aduh pengen ngelempar penulisnya rasanya… hihi… untung dia jauh di Korea… XD

lalu ada gap2 waktu yang seolah hilang begitu saja… sayang banget… -__-'

dan mungkin yaa… aku sama sekali gak tau… mungkin ada kendala bahasa dari penerjemahannya juga… karena ada beberapa bagian, koq kesannya gak nyambung gitu… tapi mungkin itu cuma perasaanku aja… :d

tapi banyak kutipan bagus yang bisa diambil dari buku ini [selain yang sudah ditulis diatas… ;-) ]

"Kalau mau menangis, menangislah. Tuhan pasti mengerti kalau kita sedang sedih. Kalau kita menahan perasaan seperti itu, bagaimana orang bisa tahu saat kita sedih atau sakit?" [hal. 135]

"Mungkin inilah cinta, dimana 99%-nya adalah rasa benci. Namun, sisa 1% itulah yang mampu menghilangkan semua kebencian. Berkat 1% tersebut, rasa kecewa dan benci pun memudar." [hal. 190]

"Bukan begitu. Manusia berubah, tapi cinta tak pernah berubah, mesti ditunjukkan dengan cara yang berbeda. Semua orang yang jatuh cinta akan berubah. Mereka akan sering mengalah. Namun yang paling sering dilakukan adalah mengalah pada diri sendiri. Mereka tak bisa menerima kenyataan dan semakin banyak berharap sehingga suatu ketika merreka tak bisa lagi membedakan antara cinta dan nafsu. Oleh karena itu, semakin merka mencintai, sepertinya meraka akan selalu hidup terpisah," kata Ah Ri. [hal. 225]

"Orang yang hatinya penuh luka akan menjadi kuat dan memiliki kemampuan bertahan hidup lebih tinggi." [hal. 283]

yaaahh… walaupun gak harus sepenuhnya setuju juga sih… tapi menurutku kutipan2 di atas lumayan romantis… :D

aku sih cuma ngasih 2 bintang dari 5 untuk buku ini, mau dibilang kecewa… yaa… lumayan…
tapi kaya'nya banyak juga koq yang suka…
jadi kalau mau beli dan baca buku ini… haaayyyoooo mari… dan tulis juga review-nya jadi bisa kita bandingin gimana pendapat kamu tentang buku ini, okay? ;-)

dan spesial thanks untuk Penerbit Haru yang sudah bersedia ngasih buku ini gratis :3