[Book Review] How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite - Chris Balakrishnan & Matt Wasowski

Title: How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi: Collected Quirks of Science, Tech, Engineering, and Math from Nerd Nite

Writer: Chris Balakrishnan, Matt Wasowski

Publisher: St. Martin's Press

Format: eBook, 320 pages

Publishing date: February 20, 2024

Language: English

Genre: Nonfiction, Science, Humor, Essays
Source: Libby 

Read on May, 25th 2024

My rating: 4 of 5
Buy a digital copy at Amazon (INT)

The co-founders of the global science organization Nerd Nite bring readers a collection of wacky, yet fascinating STEM topics.

For twenty years Nerd Nite has delivered to live audiences around the world the most interesting, fun, and informative presentations about science, history, the arts, pop culture, you name it. There hasn’t been a rabbit hole that their army of presenters hasn’t been afraid to explore. Finally, after countless requests to bring Nerd Nite to more fans across the globe, co-founders and college pals Matt Wasowski and Chris Balakrishnan offer readers the quirky and accessible science content they crave in book form. Focused on STEM and paired with detailed illustrations that make the content pop, the topics are quirky and vast, from kinky, spring-loaded spiders to the Webb telescope’s influence on movie special effects.

How to Win Friends and Influence Fungi features narratives, bursts, and infographics on all things STEM from scientists around the world. Chapters are sure to make you laugh-out-loud, with titles such as "The Science of the Hangover," "What Birds Can Teach Us About the Impending Zombie Apocalypse," and "Lessons from the Oregon Trail."

Even with a towering TBR pile, one day, I suddenly felt like finding some new non-fiction books about science. So, I started reading Goodreads articles about book recommendations, and this one popped up on the list. A strange title trying to mimic Dale Carnegie's book, an unfamiliar author, and a blurb I didn’t really understand. What even is this Nerd Nite? Let’s be honest, at first glance, what a weird title! And who on earth is Nerd Nite?! But I decided to give it a shot anyway, hahaha.

[Book Review] Night of January 16th - Ayn Rand

Title: Night of January 16th

Writer: Ayn Rand

Publisher: Signet

Format: Mass Market Paperback, 121 pages

Publishing date: 2nd, January 1971

Language: English

Genre: Plays, Fiction, Philosophy, Drama, Classics
Source: Gift from a dear friend

Read on June, 19th 2022

My rating: 5 of 5

Buy a hard copy at Periplus (ID) or a digital copy at Amazon (INT)

On one level, Night of January 16th is a totally gripping drama about the rise and destruction of a brilliant and ruthless man. On a deeper level, it is a superb dramatic objectification of Ayn Rand's vision of human strength and weakness. Since its original Broadway success, it has achieved vast worldwide popularity and acclaim.

"Who is on trial in this case? Karen Andre? No! It's you, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, who are here on trial. It is your own souls that will be brought to light when your decision is rendered.”

Last year I got Atlas Shrugged by Ayn Rand as a gift, I always know that this friend is a big fan of Ayn Rand, and on one fine day while this dear friend tried to rearrange collection of books, I saw the book and was surprised with the title and the author. The author is Ayn Rand, a philosopher who was famous for Objectivism, hence the title of her book is very dramatic, what makes me surprised that the night of

[Book Review] Dear Evan Hansen - Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Title : Dear Evan Hansen

Writer : Val Emmich, Steven Levenson, Benj Pasek, Justin Paul

Publisher : Poppy

Format : eReader, 368 pages

Publishing date : 9th, Oct 2018

Language : English

Genre : YA, Contemporary, 

Source : kobo store

Read on August, 10th 2020

My rating :  3.5 of 5

From the show's creators comes the groundbreaking novel inspired by the Broadway smash hit Dear Evan Hansen.

Dear Evan Hansen,

Today's going to be an amazing day and here's why...

When a letter that was never meant to be seen by anyone draws high school senior Evan Hansen into a family's grief over the loss of their son, he is given the chance of a lifetime: to belong. He just has to stick to a lie he never meant to tell, that the notoriously troubled Connor Murphy was his secret best friend.

Suddenly, Evan isn't invisible anymore--even to the girl of his dreams. And Connor Murphy's parents, with their beautiful home on the other side of town, have taken him in like he was their own, desperate to know more about their enigmatic son from his closest friend. As Evan gets pulled deeper into their swirl of anger, regret, and confusion, he knows that what he's doing can't be right, but if he's helping people, how wrong can it be?

No longer tangled in his once-incapacitating anxiety, this new Evan has a purpose. And a website. He's confident. He's a viral phenomenon. Every day is amazing. Until everything is in danger of unraveling and he comes face to face with his greatest obstacle: himself.

A simple lie leads to complicated truths in this big-hearted coming-of-age story of grief, authenticity and the struggle to belong in an age of instant connectivity and profound isolation.

“I wish that everything was different. I wish that I was a part of something. I wish that anything I said mattered, to anyone. I mean, let's face it: would anybody even notice if I disappeared tomorrow?”

Evan Hansen hanya seorang murid SMA biasa, tanpa teman, tanpa gebetan, tanpa afiliasi dengan klub manapun, jika tidak terlalu jauh, dia pun tidak terlalu memahami dirinya sendiri, dan malangnya dia punya kewajiban untuk bertemu terapis untuk mengatasi masalahnya ini.

[Book Review] Little Basket 2016 : New Malaysian Writing - Various Writers

Title : Little Basket 2016 : New Malaysian Writing

Editors : Catalia Rembuyan, Lee Ee Leen, Ted Mahsu, Tshiung Han Sew

Publisher : Fixi Novo

Format : Paperback, 183 pages

Publishing date : March 2016

Language : English w/ some Malaysian term

Genre : Literary journal, Fiction
Source : Free excerpt from Inter. Indonesia Bookfair 2016 

Read on Oct, 18th 2016

My rating : 3.5 of 5

Buy a hard copy at Amazon (INT) or Malaysia Bookstore

Little Basket 2016 is the first of a planned annual literary journal of new Malaysian writing. Unlike similar journals in other countries, it is produced with zero government or corporate funding. Each issue will have a print run of 3,000 and won’t be reprinted. Aside from sales at selected bookshops in Malaysia, it will also be distributed at international bookfairs such as London and Frankfurt.
This volume features work by:Foo Sek Han, Eileen Lian, Marc de Faoite, William Tham Wai Liang, Murugasu SHANmughalingam, Choong Jay Vee, Tunku Halim, Edwin Kho, Julya Oui, Kris Williamson, Chua Kok Yee, Zedeck Siew & Sharon Chin, Angeline Woon, Ling Low, Lean Ka-Min, Tilon Sagulu, Terence Toh, Zhou Sivan, Cassandra Khaw, Jin Hien Lau, Timothy Nakayama.

"Over there we found ourselves imagining Malaysia, a homeland full of nostalgia." from Diaspora - William Tham Wai Liang, pg.41.

Look that beautiful cover!!its blue, its shinny, and its feel like Summer! So, I got this book in Inter. Indonesia Book Fair which held in JCC, Jakarta last month. Malaysia was chosen as Guest of Honor this year, so they have a big booth at the center of fair. I walking down on the booth, talking in malay with one of the staff says that Im looking for a good malaysian book, and maybe she have a recommendation, voila! she give me this book for free. Yay!!

There  is twenty two story inside, written by malaysian author. Theres short stories, essay, poetry, and comic strips. the themes are very diverse, theres horror, fantasy, sci-fi, and contemporary. Nah, I

[At a Glance Review] The Grownup by Gillian Flynn

Title : The Grownup

Writer : Gillian Flynn

Publisher : Weidenfeld & Nicolson

Format : Ebook, 64 pages

Publishing date : 5th, November 2015

Language : English

Genre : Fiction, Mystery, Thriller, Contemporary

Read on November, 9th 2015

My rating : 4 of 5

Buy a hard copy at Periplus (ID) or digital copy at Amazon (INT)

Gillian Flynn’s Edgar Award-winning homage to the classic ghost story, published for the first time as a standalone

A young woman is making a living, faking it as a cut-price psychic working at Spiritual Palms (with some illegal soft-core sex work on the side). She makes a decent wage - mostly by telling people what they want to hear. But then she meets Susan Burke. Susan moved to the city one year ago with her husband and 15-year old stepson Miles. They live in a Victorian house called Carterhook Manor, built in 1893. Susan has become convinced that some malevolent spirit is inhabiting their home, and taking possession of the stepson. She has even found trickles of blood on the wall. The young woman doesn't believe in exorcism or the supernatural, but she does see an opportunity to make a lot of money. However when she enters the house for the first time, and meets Miles, she begins to feel it too, as if the very house is watching her, waiting, biding its time....

“Books may be temporary; dicks are forever.”

This is very very short short story written by Gillian Flynn, and it formerly belong to Anthology

[Book Review] Big Magic by Elizabeth Gilbert

Title : Big Magic Creative Living Beyond Fear

Writer : Elizabeth Gilbert

Publisher : Riverhead Books

Format : Ebook, 288 pages

Publishing date : 22nd, September 2015

Language : English

Genre : Non Fiction, Self Help, Memoir

Read on October, 14th 2015

My rating :  5 of 5

Buy a hard copy at Peri+ (ID) / BookDepository (INT)
or digital copy at KoboStore (INT)

Readers of all ages and walks of life have drawn inspiration and empowerment from Elizabeth Gilbert’s books for years. Now this beloved author digs deep into her own generative process to share her wisdom and unique perspective about creativity. With profound empathy and radiant generosity, she offers potent insights into the mysterious nature of inspiration. She asks us to embrace our curiosity and let go of needless suffering. She shows us how to tackle what we most love, and how to face down what we most fear. She discusses the attitudes, approaches, and habits we need in order to live our most creative lives. Balancing between soulful spirituality and cheerful pragmatism, Gilbert encourages us to uncover the “strange jewels” that are hidden within each of us. Whether we are looking to write a book, make art, find new ways to address challenges in our work,  embark on a dream long deferred, or simply infuse our everyday lives with more mindfulness and passion, Big Magic cracks open a world of wonder and joy.

"I am this, and I am that, and I am also this other thing, too! I don't yet know exactly what I am, but I'm curious enough to go find out!" p.58

Just like the sparkle in the cover so is the story inside, full of sparkle of awesomeness, all I could say about this book was both fascinating and inspiring, such a powerful book for everyone. 

"Do you want study under the great teacher? Is that it? Well, you can find them anywhere. They live on the shelves of your library; they live on the wall of museums; they live in recordings made decades ago." p.66

Big Magic is perfect combination between memoir and motivational book, with 6 magic words (Courage, Enchantment, Permission, Persistence, Trust, and Divinity), Gilbert tried to guide us toward creative living.

[Book Review] Meet Your Baker by Ellie Alexander

Title : Meet Your Baker

Writer : Ellie Alexander

Publisher : St. Martin's Press

Format : eARC, 320 pages
Source : NetGalley, sent on behalf of publisher

Publishing date : 30th, December 2014

Language : English

Genre : Cozy Mystery, Adult Fiction
Series : A Bakeshop Mystery #1

Read on November, 25th 2014

My rating : 3.5 of 5

Welcome to Torte—a friendly, small-town family bake shop where the treats are so good that, sometimes, it’s criminal…
After graduating from culinary school, Juliet Capshaw returns to her quaint hometown of Ashland, Oregon, to heal a broken heart and help her mom at the family bakery. The Oregon Shakespeare Festival is bringing in lots of tourists looking for some crumpets to go with their heroic couplets. But when one of Torte’s customers turns up dead, there’s much ado about murder…
The victim is Nancy Hudson, the festival’s newest board member. A modern-day Lady Macbeth, Nancy has given more than a few actors and artists enough reasons to kill her…but still. The silver lining? Jules’s high school sweetheart, Thomas, is the investigator on the case. His flirtations are as delicious as ever, and Jules can’t help but want to have her cake and eat it too. But will she have her just desserts? Murder might be bad for business, but love is the sweetest treat of all…

"It's pretty stunning what people can or will do when they feel threatened. It's such a shame." p.235

When your marriage is suck and the best thing to do was back to your home town, and what you've got is murderer at your bake shop. This is what happened to Juliet, when she back to her sweet, small, and lovely hometown - Ashland, Oregon.

[Book Review] The Good Sister by Jamie Kain

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Title : The Good Sister

Writer : Jamie Kain

Publisher : St. Martin's Griffin

Format : eARC, 304 pages
Source : NetGalley

Publishing date : 7th, October 2014

Language : English

Genre : YA, Contemporary, Family Drama 

Read on August, 26th 2014

My rating :  4.5 of 5

The Kinsey sisters live in an unconventional world. Their parents are former flower-children who still don’t believe in rules. Their small, Northern California town is filled with free spirits and damaged souls seeking refuge from the real world. Without the anchor of authority, the three girls are adrift and have only each other to rely on.

Rachel is wild. Asha is lost. Sarah, the good sister, is the glue that holds them together. But the forces of a mysterious fate have taken Sarah’s life in a sudden and puzzling accident, sending her already fractured family into a tailspin of grief and confusion. Asha has questions. Rachel has secrets. And Sarah, waking up in the afterlife, must piece together how she got there.

"Little sister,

Flesh of my flesh,

Bones of my bones,

Hearth of my hearth." p.156

When the world goes wrong, its sister you can rely on. Thats what i thought after read this unbearable beauty book. This book contain full of life, love, family, and death. Its about family with three

[Book Review] The Last Song - Eva Wiseman

Title : The Last Song

Writer : Eva Wiseman

Publisher : Tundra Books

Format : eARC, 240 pages
Source : NetGalley

Publishing date : 14th, October 2014

Language : English

Genre : Historical Fiction, Young Adult

Read on August, 26th 2014

My rating : 3.5 of 5

Spain had been one of the world’s most tolerant societies for eight hundred years, but that way of life was wiped out by the Inquisition. Isabel’s family feels safe from the terrors, torture, and burnings. After all, her father is a respected physician in the court of Ferdinand and Isabella. Isabel was raised as a Catholic and doesn’t know that her family’s Jewish roots may be a death sentence. When her father is arrested by Torquemada, the Grand Inquisitor, she makes a desperate plan to save his life – and her own.

Once again, master storyteller Eva Wiseman brings history to life in this riveting and tragic novel.

"Don't judge her harshly," Papa said. "Fear does strange things to people." p.185

Mengambil latar belakang Toledo, Spanyol antara September 1491 - Juli 1492, buku ini dengan ringkas menceritakan kisah yang terjadi di era itu. Yap, di Spanyol di tahun 1400an adalah masa Inkuisisi Spanyol, dimana gereja Katolik Roma mulai berkuasa, toleransi antar umat beragama tidak

[Book Review] Being Audrey Hepburn by Mitchell Kriegman

Title : Being Audrey Hepurn

Writer : Mitchell Kriegman

Publisher : St. Martin's Press

Format : eARC, 344 pages
Source : NetGalley

Publishing date : 16th, September 2014

Language : English

Genre : YA, contemporary, woman fiction

Read on August, 8th 2014

My rating : 4 of 5

In Being Audrey Hepburn, Clarissa Explains It All-creator, Mitchell Kriegman, tells the story of a 19-year-old girl from Jersey who finds herself thrust into the world of socialites after being seen in Audrey Hepburn’s dress from the film Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Lisbeth comes from a broken home in the land of tube tops, heavy eyeliner, frosted lip-gloss, juiceheads, hoop earrings and “the shore.” She has a circle of friends who have dedicated their teenage lives to relieve the world of all its alcohol one drink at a time.
Obsessed with everything Audrey Hepburn, Lisbeth is transformed when she secretly tries on Audrey’s iconic Givenchy. She becomes who she wants to be by pretending to be somebody she’s not and living among the young and privileged Manhattan elite. Soon she’s faced with choices that she would never imagine making – between who she’s become and who she once was.
In the tradition of The Nanny Diaries and The Devil Wears Prada, this is a coming of age story that all begins with that little black dress…

"Diamonds aren't just a girl's best friend, they're a sparkling tonic for the soul, like summer rain, gazing at Milky Way, or snowflakes that land on your tounge." p.20

Audrey Hepburn adalah segalanya bagi Lisbeth, idola yang selalu ia puja, watak hingga tutur kata Audrey adalah pedoman hidupnya. Lisbeth mungkin hanya gadis usia 19 tahun yang hidup di daerah pinggiran New York, bekerja partime di kedai bobrok,

[Book Review] Landline by Rainbow Rowell

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Title : Landline

Writer : Rainbow Rowell

Publisher : Orion

Format : Ebook, 248 pages

Publishing date : 3rd, July 2014

Language : English

Genre : Adult fiction, contemporary, marriage life

Read on July, 3rd 2014

My rating : 3.5 of 5

Georgie McCool knows her marriage is in trouble. That it’s been in trouble for a long time. She still loves her husband, Neal, and Neal still loves her, deeply — but that almost seems besides the point now.
Maybe that was always besides the point.
Two days before they’re supposed to visit Neal’s family in Omaha for Christmas, Georgie tells Neal that she can’t go. She’s a TV writer, and something’s come up on her show; she has to stay in Los Angeles. She knows that Neal will be upset with her — Neal is always a little upset with Georgie — but she doesn’t expect to him to pack up the kids and go home without her.
When her husband and the kids leave for the airport, Georgie wonders if she’s finally done it. If she’s ruined everything.
That night, Georgie discovers a way to communicate with Neal in the past. It’s not time travel, not exactly, but she feels like she’s been given an opportunity to fix her marriage before it starts . . .
Is that what she’s supposed to do?
Or would Georgie and Neal be better off if their marriage never happened?

“Marry me,” he kept saying.“I will,” she kept answering. “I think I can live without you,” he said, like it was something he’d spent twenty-seven hours thinking about, “but it won’t be any kind of life.” p.202

Finally...saya khatam membaca karya terbaru Rainbow Rowell yang terbit awal Juli lalu. Untuk pembaca yang belum tau, hingga saat ini Rainbow Rowell telah menerbitkan empat buku.

[Book Review] Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls by David Sedaris

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Title : Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, Essays, Etc.

Writer : David Sedaris

Publisher : Little, Brown and Company

Format : Ebook, 205 pages

Publishing date : 23rd, April 2013

Language : English

Genre : Non fiction, memoir, humor

Read on July, 3rd 2014

My rating : 4 of 5

A guy walks into a bar car and...
From here the story could take many turns. When this guy is David Sedaris, the possibilities are endless, but the result is always the same: he will both delight you with twists of humor and intelligence and leave you deeply moved. 
Sedaris remembers his father's dinnertime attire (shirtsleeves and underpants), his first colonoscopy (remarkably pleasant), and the time he considered buying the skeleton of a murdered Pygmy. 
With Let's Explore Diabetes with Owls, David Sedaris shows once again why his work has been called "hilarious, elegant, and surprisingly moving" (Washington Post).

“One person doesn't eat meat, while another is lactose intolerant can't digest wheat. You have vegetarians who eat fish and others who won't touch it. Then there are vegans, macrobiotics, and a new group, flexitarians, who eat meat if not too many people are watching.” from essay titled #2 to Go pg. 145

Ketika membaca judulnya, jangan berharap kalian akan membaca buku yang bertemakan kesehatan, atau cerita tentang pengalaman si pengarang mengalami diabetes. Hha... sama sekali tidak ada hubungannya dengan hal yang saya sebutkan tadi. Tapi jika kalian sudah mengenal David Sedaris, mungkin kalian akan paham kemana buku ini akan mengarah. Well... meskipun di judulnya terselip kata Diabetes, tapi tidak ada satu pun essay yang menyinggung penyakit diabetes, ada sih tentang penyakit-penyakit gitu, tapi cuma sakit gusi sama Tumor dan itu pun hanya bagian dari lelucon Mr. Sedaris.

[Book Review] The Lovely Bones by Alice Sebold

Title : The Lovely Bones
Writer : Alice Sebold
Publisher : Little, Brown and Company
Format : Paperback, 328 pages
Bought : Kuala Lumpur Book Fair '13 (RM 8)
Publishing date : Movie tie-in ed, October, 2009
Language : English
Genre : YA fiction,contemporary, fantasy, mystery, drama
Read on June, 22nd 2014
My rating : 3.5 of 5

The Lovely Bones is the story of a family devastated by a gruesome murder -- a murder recounted by the teenage victim. Upsetting, you say? Remarkably, first-time novelist Alice Sebold takes this difficult material and delivers a compelling and accomplished exploration of a fractured family's need for peace and closure. The details of the crime are laid out in the first few pages: from her vantage point in heaven, Susie Salmon describes how she was confronted by the murderer one December afternoon on her way home from school. Lured into an underground hiding place, she was raped and killed. But what the reader knows, her family does not. Anxiously, we keep vigil with Susie, aching for her grieving family, desperate for the killer to be found and punished. Sebold creates a heaven that's calm and comforting, a place whose residents can have whatever they enjoyed when they were alive -- and then some. But Susie isn't ready to release her hold on life just yet, and she intensely watches her family and friends as they struggle to cope with a reality in which she is no longer a part. To her great credit, Sebold has shaped one of the most loving and sympathetic fathers in contemporary literature.

Susie, begitu ia disapa. Usianya 14 tahun ketika ia tewas dibunuh oleh tetangganya sendiri George Harvey, seorang pria pshyco penyendiri. Meskipun telah membunuh Susie dan membuang anggota tubuhnya di tempat pembuangan, Harvey sangat profesional menutup jejaknya. Kematiannya menjadi misteri bagi keluarga, lingkungan, dan sahabat yang ia tinggalkan. Susie mungkin sudah tewas, tetapi dari surganya dengan senantiasa dia mengikuti setiap orang-orang yang dicintainya bahkan pembunuhnya. Dengan seluruh kenyamanan yang dia dapatkan di Surga-nya bukan berarti Susie menikmati tinggal di Surga itu, dalam hati terdalamnya adalah kehidupan di bumi yang ia impikan.

“Heaven is comfort, but it's still not living.” - p.

[Book Review] Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the New World by Benjamin Alire Sáenz

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Title : Aristotle and Dante Discover the Secrets of the New World

Writer : Benjamin Alire Sáenz
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format : Ebook, 273 pages
Publishing date : February, 21th 2012
Language : English
Series : Stand alone
Genre : YA fiction, LGBD
Read on May, 23rd 2014
My rating : 4 of 5

A lyrical novel about family and friendship from critically acclaimed author Benjamin Alire Sáenz. Aristotle is an angry teen with a brother in prison. Dante is a know-it-all who has an unusual way of looking at the world. When the two meet at the swimming pool, they seem to have nothing in common. But as the loners start spending time together, they discover that they share a special friendship—the kind that changes lives and lasts a lifetime. And it is through this friendship that Ari and Dante will learn the most important truths about themselves and the kind of people they want to be.

Aristotle menginjak usianya yang ke 15. Hidupnya masih sama membosankan seperti tahun-tahun sebelumnya, Ayahnya masih terjebak dalam kemelud perang Vietnam, kakak-kakaknya masih menganggap dirinya anak kecil, dan Ibunya tidak mau membicarakan tentang Kakak laki-lakinya yang dipenjara. Dalam kebosanannya Ari bertemu dengan Dante yang menjadi awal mula persahabatan mereka. Bersama Dante, Ari mulai menyingkap rahasia-rahasia kehidupan.

"Boring game, Dante. Are we interviewing each other?"

"Something like that."

"What position am I applying for?"

"Best friend."- ebook, p.80 -

[Book Review] Wonder by R.J. Palacio

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Title : Wonder

Writer : R.J. Palacio
Publisher : Alfred A. Knopf, a division of Random House Inc.
Format : Paperback, 315 pages
Publishing date : February, 14th 2012
Language : English
Read on August, 5th 2013
My rating : 4 of 5

August (Auggie) Pullman was born with a facial deformity that prevented him from going to a mainstream school—until now. He's about to start 5th grade at Beecher Prep, and if you've ever been the new kid then you know how hard that can be. The thing is Auggie's just an ordinary kid, with an extraordinary face. But can he convince his new classmates that he's just like them, despite appearances? R. J. Palacio has written a spare, warm, uplifting story that will have readers laughing one minute and wiping away tears the next. With wonderfully realistic family interactions (flawed, but loving), lively school scenes, and short chapters, Wonder is accessible to readers of all levels.

Saya lagi pengen banget sharing cerita dari buku satu ini. Baca sinopsisnya aja pasti udah bikin penasaran kan? Begitu pun saya. Hati saya pasti terenyuh kalau baca buku-buku dengan tema penyakit-penyakit yang tidak biasa, apalagi tema penyakit yang diangkat disini sangat berhubungan dengan physical appearance yang artinya pastilah sangat mempengaruhi lingkungan sekitarnya. Belum lagi tokoh utama dibuku ini adalah anak kelas 5 SD berusia 10 tahun. Wah...wah...saya ngga bisa bayangkan bagaimana menariknya buku ini!

[Book Review] To All The Boys I've Loved Before by Jenny Han

Photographer : me

Title : To All the Boys I've Loved Before

Writer : Jenny Han
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers
Format : Paperback, 368 pages , Ebook, 277 pages
Publishing date : April, 15th 2014
Language : English
Read on April, 21st 2014
My rating : 4 of 5

Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control in this heartfelt novel from the New York Times bestselling author of The Summer I Turned Pretty series. 

 What if all the crushes you ever had found out how you felt about them... all at once? 

 Lara Jean Song keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her. They aren't love letters that anyone else wrote for her; these are ones she's written. One for every boy she's ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she pours out her heart and soul and says all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly, Lara Jean's love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

Howdy fellas,

Ahhhh...saya ngga sabar mau berbagi cerita tentang buku yang saya baca kali ini... kalau kalian baca sinopsisnya pasti penasaran dong sama ceritanya. Gimana rasanya surat cinta yang kita tulis diam-diam ternyata dibaca sama orangnya langsung apa nggak mati berdiri?mungkin kurang lebih rasanya sama ketika buku diary kita dibaca orang lain.hahaha...

Okeh, ngga usah berlama-lama lagi langsung saya ceritain aja sepenggal kisahnya :

[Poetry Book Review] Love & Misadventure by Lang Leav

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Title : Love & Misadventure

Writer : Lang leav

Publisher : Andrews McMeel Publishing

Publishing date : April 26th, 2013

Language : English

Format : Paperback, 78 pages

Read on Feb 14th, 2014

My rating : 5 of 5

Lang Leav is a poet and internationally exhibiting artist. Awarded a coveted Churchill Fellowship, her work expresses the intricacies of love and loss. Beautifully illustrated and thoughtfully conceived, Love and Misadventure will take you on a rollercoaster ride through an ill-fated love affair- from the initial butterflies to the soaring heights- through to the devastating plunge. Lang Leav has an unnerving ability to see inside the hearts and minds of her readers. Her talent for translating complex emotions with astonishing simplicity has won her a cult following of devoted fans from all over the world.

Dulu sekali...saya adalah penggemar puisi, saya suka menulis puisi, dan sering kali memenangkan perlombaan tingkat sekolah/kota dalam hal membaca puisi. Karena mama saya juga adalah orang yang mencintai puisi. Kalau dulu, pengarang puisi panutan saya adalah Chairil Anwar, Tengsoe Tjahjono dan tentu saja Taufik Ismail. Namun, sekarang saya tidak terlalu sering lagi membaca buku puisi, tapi kalau menulis sih masih sering*nggakadayangnanya*. Untuk puisi berbahasa inggris, buku ini adalah buku puisi pertama yang saya baca.
Jika kalian adalah salah satu penikmat puisi/sajak/syair, maka saya akan merekomendasikan buku ini. Buku ini adalah buku kumpulan puisi yang ditulis oleh Lang leav. 

[Book Review] Recap of SUMMER Series by Jenny Han

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Hello....

Ah...rasanya udah bertahun-tahun nggak posting di blog, dan kali ini saya kembali untuk menuliskan review singkat mengenai buku YA yang baru-baru ini saya baca. YA???yap...genre YA, kalau temen saya bilang genre ini bukan tipikal saya sekali.hahahaha... Tapi menurut saya pribadi sih, asal ceritanya OK, why not?Dan beberapa bulan terakhir ini saya lagi giat baca buku YA.hehehe

[Book Review] Trouble by Non Pratt

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Title : Trouble

Writer : Non Pratt

Publisher : Walker Books Ltd, UK

Format : Paperback, 384 pages

Publishing date : March 6th, 2014

Language : English

Read on April 9th, 2014

My rating : 4 of 5

In this dazzling debut novel, a pregnant teen learns the meaning of friendship—from the boy who pretends to be her baby’s father. 

When the entire high school finds out that Hannah Shepard is pregnant via her ex-best friend, she has a full-on meltdown in her backyard. The one witness (besides the rest of the world): Aaron Tyler, a transfer student and the only boy who doesn’t seem to want to get into Hannah’s pants. Confused and scared, Hannah needs someone to be on her side. Wishing to make up for his own past mistakes, Aaron does the unthinkable and offers to pretend to be the father of Hannah’s unborn baby. Even more unbelievable, Hannah hears herself saying “yes.” Told in alternating perspectives between Hannah and Aaron.

Trouble is the story of two teenagers helping each other to move forward in the wake of tragedy and devastating choices. As you read about their year of loss, regret, and hope, you’ll remember your first, real best friend—and how they were like a first love.

Pengarang buku ini, Non Pratt terbilang baru di dunia tulis-menulis. Buku ini adalah debutnya. Di buku pertamanya ini si pengarang mengambil tema yang terbilang jarang dan untuk beberapa negara seperti di Indonesia adalah tabu, yaitu mengenai kehamilan usia ini.
Saat mengetahui bahwa buku ini tentang kehamilan remaja, hal pertama yang terlintas dibenak saya adalah film komedi "Juno" yang juga mengangkat tema serupa, atau mungkin kalau di Indonesi sinetron yang pernah booming mengangkat tema ini adalah "Pernikahan Dini", ada yang ingat?hehehehe...

Awal mula saya membaca buku ini adalah karena covernya yang sangat menclining, dan lucu.*lemahliatcoverbagus*dan setelah saya membaca buku ini, ternyata kisahnya jauh berbeda dengan film dan serial yang saya sebutkan di atas. 

Berbelanja online di betterworldbooks

Yaiiiiiiy.............my babybook has arrived!!!!

Oke fellas, sekarang saya bakal cerita soal pengalaman berbelanja buku online saya yang pertama.

Untuk kamu yang suka baca literatur berbahasa asing, khususnya bahasa inggris sebenarnya banyak sekali toko buku yang tersebar di Indonesia, mulai dari Periplus, kinokuniya, aksara, dll. Tapi yaaa untuk harga, toko buku tersebut bisa dibilang mahaaal, dan sangat tidak bersahabat untuk kantong mahasiswa. Jadilah saya browsing di dunia maya dan mencari toko buku online yang menawarkan harga yang miring.

Salah satu toko buku online yang paling populer bagi para penduduk goodreads adalah Book Depository. Dan setelah saya cek, ternyata memang sedikit lebih murah dan ditambah free shipping. Namun, karena buku yang saya cari waktu itu masih dijual lumayan mahal jadilah saya mencari toko buku online yang lain.