Tampilkan postingan dengan label Books in English. Tampilkan semua postingan
Tampilkan postingan dengan label Books in English. Tampilkan semua postingan

Jumat, 22 November 2013

Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5) by Colleen Hoover

Judul: Finding Cinderella (Hopeless #2.5)
Penulis: Colleen Hoover
Genre: New Adult, Romance, Contemporary Romance
Sinopsis:

This novella is a companion novel to the Hopeless series, but can be read as a standalone.

A chance encounter in the dark leads eighteen-year-old Daniel and the girl who stumbles across him to profess their love for each other. But this love comes with conditions: they agree it will only last one hour and it will only be make-believe.

When their hour is up and the girl rushes off like Cinderella, Daniel tries to convince himself that what happened between them only seemed perfect because they were pretending it was perfect. Moments like that with girls like her don’t happen outside of fairytales.

One year and one bad relationship later, his disbelief in insta-love is stripped away the day he meets Six: a girl with a strange name and an even stranger personality. Daniel soon realizes the way he pretended to feel about Cinderella and the way he really feels about Six may not be so different after all. Especially when the two loves of his life end up being one in the same.

Unfortunately for Daniel, finding Cinderella doesn’t guarantee their happily ever after…it only further threatens it.
Bintang:

Selasa, 27 Agustus 2013

A Rose for Melinda by Lurlene McDaniel

4 stars
Judul: A Rose for Melinda
Penulis: Lurlene McDaniel
Genre: romance, YA, inspirational, drama
Format: ebook
Sinopsis:

Told in letters, journal entries, e-mails, doctors’ reports, and instant messages, the heartbreaking story of an aspiring ballet dancer battling leukemia. 

From: Melinda Skye
To: Readers
Subject: Jesse

Hi! I can’t believe it. What a surprise from Jesse. When he got my e-mail about being accepted by the Washington School of Classical Dance’s summer program, he called to congratulate me! I loved hearing his voice. We’ve been friends forever–could it turn into something more?

Melinda

---


From: Jesse Rose
To: Readers 
Subject: Melinda

I couldn’t believe the news. Melinda is so young! How could she be sick? How did she get leukemia? She’s got to get better. She’s got to. 

Jesse

Senin, 27 Mei 2013

Destiny Gift by Juliana Haygert

4 stars
Judul: Destiny Gift (Everlast #1)
Penulis: Juliana Haygert
Genre: fantasi, romance, dystopia
Sinopsis:

Thirty years in the future, a sinister New York City exists in permanent darkness. 

A student at the secured NYU, nineteen-year-old Nadine has visions of Victor Gianni, an imaginary guy she has real feelings for. Afraid of being truly insane, she explains the visions away as simple daydreams, but she can no longer deny them when she bumps into Victor in real life. But this Victor doesn’t know her, and turns her away. After the encounter, Nadine’s visions change to those of eerie fates, gods she’s never heard of, demons with sharp claws they are not too timid to use … and instructions.


To discover if she’s losing her mind, Nadine follows the vague directions—with the real, rude and reluctant Victor—leading to a man who knows it all: Nadine can restore an ancient creed by unveiling the clues on her visions, and bring sunlight and peace to the world again. But that’s only if the demons and the other evil forces behind the darkness don’t stop her first.

Jumat, 01 Februari 2013

Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell

5 Stars
Title: Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops
Author: Jen Campbell
Genre: comedy, non fiction
Synopsis:

From the hugely popular blog, a miscellany of hilarious and peculiar bookshop moments:
'Can books conduct electricity?'
'My children are just climbing your bookshelves: that's ok... isn't it?'

A John Cleese Twitter question ['What is your pet peeve?'], first sparked the 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' blog, which grew over three years into one bookseller's collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor. 

From 'Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?' to the hunt for a paperback which could forecast the next year's weather; and from 'I've forgotten my glasses, please read me the first chapter' to'Excuse me... is this book edible?'

This full-length collection illustrated by the Brothers McLeod also includes top 'Weird Things' from bookshops around the world.

My Review:

This book is recommended to everyone who needs something to laugh at... LOL.

Thanks to this book so I can spend some time in my busy schedule to giggle... everytime I feel bad or mad, I read one or two stories... and voila, I feel better... That's why I take quite long time to finish this book hehehe...

Some stories are really funny, some are quite confusing but as a total, this book is great. I really laugh when reading about a customer that refused to read the first book of Harry Potter but then complaining because he didn't know who Voldemort is. LOL... And also the one that only want to read a book if Robert Pattinson is in it. Crazy...

Senin, 21 Januari 2013

Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom


5 stars or more!
Judul: Tuesdays with Morrie
Penulis: Mitch Albom
Genre: Inspirational, Non-Fiction, Memoir, Psychology
Sinopsis:

"Saya suka buku ini... sebuah kisah nyata yang seperti lembayung senja masih meninggalkan terang dan kehangatannya bagi kita." Amy Tan

Bagi Anda mungkin ia sosok orangtua, guru, atau teman sejawat. Seseorang yang lebih berumur, sabar dan arif, yang memahami Anda sebagai orang muda penuh gelora, yang membantu Anda memandang dunia sebagai tempat yang lebih indah, dan memberitahu Anda cara terbaik untuk mengarunginya. Bagi Mitch Albom, orang itu adalah Morrie Schwartz, seorang mahaguru yang pernah menjadi dosennya hampir dua puluh tahun yang lampau.

Barangkali, seperti Mitch, Anda kehilangan kontak dengan sang guru sejalan dengan berlalunya waktu, banyaknya kesibukan, dan semakin dinginnya hubungan antarmanusia. Tidakkah Anda ingin bertemu dengannya lagi, untuk mencari jawab atas pertanyaan-pertanyaan besar yang masih menghantui Anda, dan menimba kearifan guna menghadapi hari-hari sibuk Anda dengan cara seperti ketika Anda masih muda? 

Bagi Mitch Albom kesempatan kedua itu ada karena suatu keajaiban telah mempertemukannya kembali dengan Morrie pada bulan-bulan terakhir hidupnya. Keakraban yang segera hidup kembali di antara guru dan murid itu sekaligus menjadi sebuah ''kuliah'' akhir: kuliah tentang cara menjalani hidup. Selasa Bersama Morrie menghadirkan sebuah laporan rinci luarbiasa seputar kebersamaan mereka.

My Review:

Rasanya tidak salah kalau saya bilang buku ini bukan sekedar bacaan semata tapi sebuah hadiah yang bakal terus saya ingat sampai seumur hidup saya. Tiab bab buku ini mengajarkan banyak sekali hal berharga tentang kehidupan, hal-hal yang membuka mata saya lebih lagi tentang bagaimana menjalani kehidupan dengan lebih baik... juga menyadarkan saya bahwa hal-hal yang sudah berlalu dari hidup saya juga merupakan pelajaran tersendiri yang begitu berharga.

Dan tentunya, buku ini juga memberikan semangat baru buat saya (dan saya yakin juga buat semua orang yang membacanya) untuk menyikapi hidup dengan pandangan yang benar. Bahwa tujuan hidup manusia bukanlah harta, status, popularitas... tapi untuk memberikan hidup kita buat orang-orang yang ada di sekitar kita dengan penuh kasih.

Ada satu kisah yang diceritakan Morrie di buku ini yang membuat saya tersenyum. Dulu, saya selalu merasa sesak bila harus terus-terusan ada di rumah bersama keluarga saya. Ada-ada saja alasan yang saya temukan untuk saya berkeluh-kesah hingga akhirnya membuat saya merasa muak dan ingin pergi jauh-jauh, tinggal sendiri dan berpikir dengan begitu saya bisa menjalani hidup saya dengan lebih baik.

Saya... adalah tipikal orang yang tak bisa dengan mudah mengungkapkan apa yang ada di hati saya pada orang-orang rumah karena trauma masa kecil di mana saya merasa tidak satu pun dari mereka yang mau tahu apa yang saya inginkan dan mereka seringkali menyepelekan apa yang saya cita-citakan.. bahkan menjatuhkan saya dengan berkata saya tak mungkin menggapai apa yang saya impikan. Dan itu menyebabkan saya sampai dewasa merasa saya tak perlu lagi mengatakan apa-apa karena saya takut dengan penolakan yang mungkin akan saya dapatkan. Lalu pada suatu hari saya mengetahui saya sakit. Dan penyakit itu membuat saya melepas mimpi-mimpi saya. Keinginan saya untuk menjadi penyanyi, keinginan saya untuk bekerja di bidang entertainmen... sampai gairah saya untuk menulis cerita. semuanya lenyap begitu saja karena saya begitu mengasihani diri saya sendiri. Kebodohan lain yang kemudian menyusul, saya benar-benar pergi dari rumah. Saya sengaja mencari pekerjaan yang membuat saya harus menyewa kamar kos dan pulang seminggu sekali.

Saat itu... saya merasakan kebebasan. Saya tak perlu mendengar hal-hal yang tak ingin saya dengar. Saya juga tak perlu takut ketahuan ketika penyakit saya kambuh dan membuat saya terpaksa menahan rintihan saya. Juga... saya memang waktu itu berpikir untuk tidak menambah kesulitan keluarga yang sedang bangkrut.

Saya tahu perbuatan saya waktu itu salah. Tapi tetap saja... seperti yang Tuhan katakan lewat firman-Nya, tak ada sesuatu pun yang terjadi tanpa campur tangan-Nya. Semua hal yang terjadi adalah rencana-Nya. Dan semuanya adalah baik.

Karena saya sakit, banyak teman-teman yang meninggalkan saya. Satu per satu mulai hilang. Teman yang biasanya menelepon saya setiap minggu untuk mengajak saya jalan-jalan, hilang. Saya tahu mereka malas mengajak saya karena tubuh saya yang lemah waktu itu seringkali menghambat dan membuat acara yang seharusnya menyenangkan jadi tidak enak. Dan saya cukup tahu diri untuk menyadari bahwa keberadaan saya membebani mereka. Membuat kesenangan mereka berkurang. Jadi, saya tidak berusaha mencari mereka. Saya menikmati kesendirian saya.

Banyak yang pergi... tapi ternyata Tuhan memang tidak pernah meninggalkan saya. Dia memberi saya teman-teman baru yang dengan senang hati membantu saya, menolong saya tiap kali saya butuh. Teman-teman yang selalu datang saat saya menelepon mereka, teman-teman yang siap ketika penyakit saya kambuh di tempat yang tidak tepat. Mereka mau menggandeng saya, membawakan barang-barang saya. Saya jadi tahu... siapa yang benar-benar teman sejati dan siapa yang bukan.

Teman-teman baru saya ini selalu memaksa saya untuk pulang ke rumah karena mereka khawatir dengan kondisi saya. Tapi waktu itu saya selalu berkelit. Selalu menolak. Meski begitu pada akhirnya, saya memutuskan untuk pulang lagi ke rumah. Menghadapi semuanya. Memberitahu orangtua tentang kesehatan saya dan menjalani apa pun yang harus saya jalani. Ajaibnya, tak lama setelah itu kesehatan saya berangsur-angsur pulih... saya tak perlu menjalani pengobatan yang seharusnya dijalani oleh orang-orang yang mengalami penyakit seperti saya. Saya sembuh.

Ketika saya membaca kata-kata Morrie tentang keluargalah... saya sadar bahwa di dunia ini... orang-orang yang akan terus ada di samping saya adalah keluarga. Orang-orang yang mati-matian saya hindari selama ini. Saya tak bisa menggantungkan diri pada teman, pada pacar... karena pada akhirnya, yang akan selalu ada di sisi saya dan mendukung saya adalah orangtua saya.

Buku Tuesdays with Morrie ini... kalau harus dijabarkan satu per satu... bisa-bisa review saya akan jadi satu buku sendiri. Daripada begitu... bukankah lebih baik kalau Anda membacanya sendiri dan mendapatkan pengalaman pribadi bersama Morrie?

Dan selalu ingat... bahwa Tuhan selalu bekerja pada waktu-Nya. Di waktu yang tepat, bukan di waktu yang kita inginkan. Saya yang sempat merasa mimpi saya sudah berakhir, ternyata kini diberikan jalan untuk menggapai salah satu mimpi saya... untuk menjadi penulis. Saya... akan mendaki bukit mimpi saya dengan sebaik-baiknya meski perjalanan itu bukanlah perjalanan yang mudah. Saya akan terus maju.

SEMANGAT!!

Rabu, 16 Januari 2013

Hopeless by Colleen Hoover

5 Stars
Title: Hopeless
Author: Colleen Hoover
Genre: Contemporary Romance, Young Adult
Synopsis:


Sometimes discovering the truth can leave you more hopeless than believing the lies…

That’s what seventeen-year-old Sky realizes after she meets Dean Holder. A guy with a reputation that rivals her own and an uncanny ability to invoke feelings in her she’s never had before. He terrifies her and captivates her all in the span of just one encounter, and something about the way he makes her feel sparks buried memories from a past that she wishes could just stay buried.

Sky struggles to keep him at a distance knowing he’s nothing but trouble, but Holder insists on learning everything about her. After finally caving to his unwavering pursuit, Sky soon finds that Holder isn’t at all who he’s been claiming to be. When the secrets he’s been keeping are finally revealed, every single facet of Sky’s life will change forever.

My Review:
This is the first time I read Colleen Hoover's book. And just by looking at how much stars I gave for this book, you will find out that I'm in love with her. And I am planning to read the other books by her. ^^

I am so envy with Sky to have a gorgeous boyfriend like Dean Holder. Omg, I couldn't stop fangirling and screaming in my head everytime Holder said something so sweet yet encouraging. He is really really sweet and understanding. If only I could make a wish, I will wish for someone just like Dean Holder to spend my days until forever. xDDD

Oh, and in my head, I pictured Dean Holder as Benedikt Angerer.


And I even used his picture as my phone's wallpaper LOLOLOL....

I loved how the story going, the plot, everything. Even I already could tell what kind of ending I would have, it is still heart warming in the end. I even shed some tears at some scenes!

Unfortunately, I really want to see Six more in the story... she's really a great BFF to Sky, but she's not appearing so much after she went to Italy. But it's fine... as long as Dean Holder always exist hahaha....

Love this book!

Senin, 14 Januari 2013

Gone (Gone #1)


5 stars
Title: Gone
Author: Michael Grant
Genre: Young Adult, Dystopia
Synopsis:
In the blink of an eye. Everyone disappears. GONE.

Except for the young. Teens. Middle schoolers. Toddlers. But not one single adult. No teachers, no cops, no doctors, no parents. Just as suddenly, there are no phones, no internet, no television. No way to get help. And no way to figure out what's happened.

Hunger threatens. Bullies rule. A sinister creature lurks. Animals are mutating. And the teens themselves are changing, developing new talents--unimaginable, dangerous, deadly powers--that grow stronger by the day.

It's a terrifying new world. Sides are being chosen, a fight is shaping up. Townies against rich kids. Bullies against the weak. Powerful against powerless. And time is running out: On your birthday, you disappear just like everyone else...

My Review:

Amazing! The main idea is brilliant... I was really enjoying the story from the start and can't wait to start reading the second book.

But what surprised me the most was that Michael Grant's wife is Katherine Applegate... she's the author of Animorphs, isn't she? xDD She's my favorite author ever!!

Well, let's back to Gone. LOL.

The story started with a teacher that suddenly dissapear with one of Sam's class student. And then Sam and the others realized that all the adults were gone... and everyone who already 15 years old. Can you imagine what kind of chaos would happen in a situation like that? 14 years and under were everywhere... and what happened to Lana when she were in a truck with her grandfather and he was gone in a sudden... Lana got injured really bad and she could die if she didn't get the healing power....
And I believe not everyone was so lucky as Lana... what about babies? No one took care of them at home. What if the parents were cooking when the dissapearing happened?

And then, kids from Coates came to Perdido Beach, causing trouble... And not just that... there were beasts... and kids starting to get new powers... and the Darkness...

Well, if I have to choose my favorite character... I will choose Sam. And the one I really don't like is Quinn. I hope Quinn will be more brave in second book.

Kamis, 10 Januari 2013

The Giving Tree by Shel Silverstein

5 stars
Title: The Giving Tree
Author: Shel Silverstein
Genre: Children literature, classic, inspirational, fantasy
Synopsis:

'Once there was a tree...and she loved a little boy.'
So begins a story of unforgettable perception, beautifully written and illustrated by the gifted and versatile Shel Silverstein.
Every day the boy would come to the tree to eat her apples, swing from her branches, or slide down her trunk...and the tree was happy. But as the boy grew older he began to want more from the tree, and the tree gave and gave and gave.
This is a tender story, touched with sadness, aglow with consolation. Shel Silverstein has created a moving parable for readers of all ages that offers an affecting interpretation of the gift of giving and a serene acceptance of another's capacity to love in return.

My Review:
The story is really simple, short one but yet touching my heart so deep. I couldn't help my self not to cry a bit. The love of the giving tree reminded me to the unconditional love of God, of my parents. How the tree always giving everything she could to the boy who was really selfish and self-centered... even when she already got nothing to give. And somehow this story also made me thinking about my self... how I also did the same thing like the boy to God... to my parents up until now. I really have to do something to payback... :")

Really... this story is so inspirational.

Kamis, 03 Januari 2013

Talisman of El (Talisman of El #1) by Alecia Stone

4 stars

Title: Talisman of El
Author: Alecia Stone
Genre: YA, Fantasy

Synopsis:

WHAT IF YOUR WHOLE LIFE WAS A LIE?

One Planet.


Two Worlds.


Population: Human ... 7 billion.


Others ... unknown.


When 14-year-old Charlie Blake wakes up sweating and gasping for air in the middle of the night, he knows it is happening again. This time he witnesses a brutal murder. He's afraid to tell any one. No one would believe him ... because it was a dream. Just like the one he had four years ago - the day before his dad died.


Charlie doesn't know why this is happening. He would give any thing to have an ordinary life. The problem: he doesn't belong in the world he knows as home. He belongs with the others.




My Review:
First time I saw this cover on netgalley, I fell in love. It made me feel that the story inside is good, so I requested it. And I was so happy when I got the permission to download it and I started read it right away.

The story first began with Derkein and his father, I like Derkein so much! And then the story moved to Charlie, Alex and Richmond. Charlie always got nightmares, and the nightmares are always mean something, not just a simple dream. And then the adventure began when the three met Derkein.

The plot was amazing! I was really excited to know more and more and couldn't stop reading. I don't want to tell the story even a bit because I'm afraid I'll tell spoiler!! I can't wait to read the second and the third books!