tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-37443820800515149922024-03-21T20:58:36.220+07:00Flybird's Nestfind another world thru books and moviestheflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.comBlogger204125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-23009737801769278152023-02-12T10:20:00.005+07:002023-02-12T10:25:17.717+07:00Lonely Castle in the Mirror by Mizuki Tsujimura<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CXzXOaDy-VgZLJ_EiqCrg2ivEgcV2p-G5npmfuO3AKQbsnlSaCLO7JVBNCcyo1UyDcqb2c5dO2Op9GptZ4oFBNQKM88_f7P2HLmLMrXJ3jwg4yxK8u-mXr01gIoeyJ3c28AgjP3AEzUqHKiTak4JccaCJUcLnq4V5edaoMdbQTmGFdVsWUP3UlqviQ/s3024/20230208_125433.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8CXzXOaDy-VgZLJ_EiqCrg2ivEgcV2p-G5npmfuO3AKQbsnlSaCLO7JVBNCcyo1UyDcqb2c5dO2Op9GptZ4oFBNQKM88_f7P2HLmLMrXJ3jwg4yxK8u-mXr01gIoeyJ3c28AgjP3AEzUqHKiTak4JccaCJUcLnq4V5edaoMdbQTmGFdVsWUP3UlqviQ/s320/20230208_125433.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Lonely Castle in the Mirror<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span class="a-text-italic"> </span><p></p><p><i><span class="a-text-italic">Would you share your deepest secrets to save a friend?<br /></span><span><br />In a tranquil neighbourhood of Tokyo, seven teenagers wake to find their bedroom mirrors are shining.<br /><br />At
a single touch, they are pulled from their lonely lives to a wondrous
castle filled with winding stairways, watchful portraits and twinkling
chandeliers. In this new sanctuary, they are confronted with a set of
clues leading to a hidden room where one of them will be granted a wish.
But there's a catch: if they don't leave the castle by five o'clock,
they will be punished.<br /><br />As time passes, a devastating truth emerges: only those brave enough to share their stories will be saved.</span></i></p><p><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>***</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Lonely Castle in the Mirror</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Mizuki Tsujimura</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published year : 2017</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 355<span> </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language: English<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre: Fiction, Fantasy, Japan-Lit<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age recommendation : 11+</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p>This book is highly recommended by the literature base, many peoples praised the story and the lovely cover. So, it is natural for me to purchase it once I saw it in the store while hoping this is not another flop popular book.<br /><br />And I do not regret it at all. This book is a combination of fantasy, folklore, and current issue between teenagers. Most of all, the translator is Philip Gabriel, the well-known name that usually translates Murakami's work. <br /><br />There is Kokoro, a First-grade of junior high school student that experienced stomachaches whenever she shall go to school in the morning. Its been months, and she cannot go to school because of the last incident. Her mother attempt to introduce her to go to a special school, an alternative school where many children refused to go to conventional school.<br /><br />At first, Kokoro feels she can manage to go to that school, the teacher also seems caring and understanding, not like at her previous school. But the morning that supposed she go to school, she feels her stomachache. Her mother is frustrated as well.<br /><br />So, Kokoro spend her days at home, watching television until she saw a glow from the mirror in her bedroom. She touched it and was sucked into an unknown world where there is a glam castle and six other kids also a little girl wearing a wolf mask but acting like a queen.<br /><br />The wolf girl starts to introduce herself and her palace, that castle is only open during the day until five o'clock, or else the wolves will hunt them if they are still in the castle. Everyone gets a tailored room that matches their personality. There is no water or food in the castle, but there is electricity. There is also a wishing key that can grant one wish only. <br /><br />When someone finds the key and the wish is granted, the castle will cease to exist and the memory will be wiped from them. The castle is only open until 30 March next year.<br /><br />At first, Kokoro is scared and tries to run away from the castle. Disbelieved what she just experienced. All six other students seem like at the same age, junior high school students, but they are different. Seven of them, three are girls, and the rest are boys. <br /><br />But curiosity gets the best of her. She tried to visit the castle once again, and it still exists, some children enjoy their time by bringing the game console and playing together. Some other girls rather spend their days in their room in the castle. Kokoro's room is also very beautiful with lots of foreign book in it, especially books by Hans Christensen that reminds her of her problem in real life.<br /><br />Slowly as the plot progressed, the reader knows what happened with Kokoro at her previous school. There is a new girl that lives as her neighbor and suddenly wants to be her friend. That's strange since Kokoro is not a popular girl. But since then, it is like Kokoro's life put under the spotlight. The problems came uninvited into her calm life.<br /><br />And in the castle, she gets to know everyone slowly. Though at first, they didn't want to open up, everyone seems to understand that six of them, except Rion, a boy, didn't go to school anymore. Anyone struggles with something.<br /><br />Then, when they finally spend days together almost every day, they discussed whether to find the wishing key. Everyone agrees that when somebody finds it, should use it until the last day of the castle opening so they can still visit the castle. <br /><br />But when they grew closer, they didn't want their memories erased. Even they made a promise to meet in the real life and support each other.</p><p><br />In the last three chapters, the plots are unpredicted and twisted which made up my mind blown. I will say that the best part because aside from the plots, the character development is so real and their relationship is so pure that reminds us of our adolescent years.<br /><br />I think at that age, we always need a friend who accepts us the way we are, even if it is only a single person that makes a reason we want to go to school. The ending is so good, how the author weaves all the single thread and reveals it in the end.<br /><br />Well, no wonder it gets a high rating on Goodreads. The character, the magic realms, the plot, and the diction is top-notch. We can get all the feelings from the book without feeling miserable after reading it. Instead, it touches right at our kokoro (read: heart), and reminds us to always be kind in this world. <br /><br />This year, I started with Heaven and Lonely Castle in the Mirror, which put us in the perspective of school, adolescent years, and always being kind. <br /><br />It is a good year to read!</p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-24640693897049910702023-02-08T13:32:00.005+07:002023-02-08T14:10:08.474+07:00The Hating Game by Sally Thorne <p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd6rR4b_imk9L8voj72KEohBvHcB_4ULG1oDqHG6Zb-71glAVTU9SbqXuQqRhoNGU1N9aD3giBb174KDWhN4dqhjduO7wBmHITLAjIrgE8vYDALcHIy6VawRk7awH970VJOvmcID-r3eFl7w4KWeAF-FXxGxji8606biV0SVXJ9xw9z8aIrvw7WcdLA/s4032/IMG_5307.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhPd6rR4b_imk9L8voj72KEohBvHcB_4ULG1oDqHG6Zb-71glAVTU9SbqXuQqRhoNGU1N9aD3giBb174KDWhN4dqhjduO7wBmHITLAjIrgE8vYDALcHIy6VawRk7awH970VJOvmcID-r3eFl7w4KWeAF-FXxGxji8606biV0SVXJ9xw9z8aIrvw7WcdLA/w300-h400/IMG_5307.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Hating Game<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="a-text-italic">Nemesis (n.) 1) An opponent or rival whom a person cannot best or overcome.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="a-text-italic"> 2) A person’s undoing</span></i></p><p style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="a-text-italic"> 3) Joshua Templeman</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>Lucy
Hutton and Joshua Templeman hate each other. Not dislike. Not
begrudgingly tolerate. Hate. And they have no problem displaying their
feelings through a series of ritualistic passive aggressive maneuvers as
they sit across from each other, executive assistants to co-CEOs of a
publishing company. Lucy can’t understand Joshua’s joyless, uptight,
meticulous approach to his job. Joshua is clearly baffled by Lucy’s
overly bright clothes, quirkiness, and Pollyanna attitude.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>Now
up for the same promotion, their battle of wills has come to a head and
Lucy refuses to back down when their latest game could cost her her
dream job…But the tension between Lucy and Joshua has also reached its
boiling point, and Lucy is discovering that maybe she doesn’t hate
Joshua. And maybe, he doesn’t hate her either. Or maybe this is just
another game.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>****</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span></i><span>The Hating Game</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Sally Thorne</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published year: 2016</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages: 387</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language : English<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Romance, Comedy<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age Recommendation : 18+ </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p>I've been waiting so long to read another romance book after my reading slump lately. I thought this book will be a safe choice to reignite my mood, but not really. Even after reading it, I watched the movie and still feel nothing.<br />Referring to the title, we know that this is a story about a nemesis finally falling in love, even without reading the burbs. I always love this trope, especially in the early Korean Drama era. <br /><br />There is Lucy Hutton, a small, beautiful, and cheerful woman, who works as an assistant to the CEO of a publishing company. She's a typical office's favorite girl, who is always helpful and brings brightness to the room. Meanwhile, Joshua is tall, big, neat-freak, gloomy, and OCD and also works as an assistant to the co-CEO. Joshua just arrived when both companies merged. Bring the dark clouds whenever he went.<br />Every day is a mind game between Lucy and Joshua since they both sit face to face and try to spy on whatever they're doing. <br /><br />There is a man in the office that seems interested in Lucy. He will resign soon, and because Joshua questioned Lucy's eligibility in the dating market, Lucy set the date with that man.<br /><br />If only Joshua didn't have a bad attitude and big grumpy, he is a fine man with handsome and manly looks, and sometimes, Lucy steals a glance or....have a yummy dream at night with him.<br /><br />Especially after that dream, Lucy's mind is unfocused on her hatred. Whenever she is close to Josh, she remembers how Josh held him in the dream. <br /><br />Josh looks like gets that vibes, one time he passionately kissed Lucy in the elevator, and lucy kissed him back. When they supposedly STILL hate each other. (I mean.........is it possible to hate someone but kissed him passionately? If it was me, I don't even want to see his eyes).<br />Through the half of the book, the hating game still continue, though their hearts desire otherwise. Josh show her humanity little by little, but Lucy didn't believe in him easily. Even though she wants him so badly, and they are together, Lucy is unsure if this is part of Joshua's plan to crush Lucy eventually. <br /><br />Well, since this book is popular and there is a motion picture based on the book, I expect a lot. I expect the snarky yet hilarious exchange between them, but what I got the most is the sexual tension between them.<br />Lucy is supposedly smart, bouncy, and funny but here I got the vibes she is only a people-pleaser and indecisive. Meanwhile, Josh's character is not really hateable. He's a nice guy but cold-blooded and doesn't put other people's feelings above his feeling(different from Lucy's). So there is nothing really to be hated of him instead of he came at the wrong time and wrong place.<br /><br />The plot story is predictable but I don't mind since we can expect it from the title. But I expect more from the book since it is very popular. I only remember how Lucy objectifies Josh most of the time. This is like 50% of romance, and 50% of an adult novel but disguised into the supposedly funny heroine. So my idea is, it is the story of two people who hate each other as big as their sexual desire. <br /><br />The climax is like a melted snow mountain. I've been waiting for the encounter will be fantastic, but no, the part, when they spent the night together, is more weighted in the novel.<br /><br />But It is still worth reading if you want to keep up with what's one of the most popular romantic-comedy novels nowadays. <span> <br /></span><p></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-18032402311316291762022-12-25T09:29:00.002+07:002022-12-25T09:33:53.258+07:00Heaven by Mieko Kawakami<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw_qz8nRdQHq8S8iFTXjFX-I-BBEinaab70U8GcM1GSPKqQPCY2qzHDmipQZp8oqfyfESQ8t8q1vN2zxXd5VdxhLb5QcCmtxBAHpGBHYBrXM4agwyMRRKf6GoMFjRfvZhyNnuqnSWnDAoNQXbhJlwn8uUzdEFN1U3d-p3GcON5fMxujhGX-N8yg45ng/s4032/IMG_4973.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgrw_qz8nRdQHq8S8iFTXjFX-I-BBEinaab70U8GcM1GSPKqQPCY2qzHDmipQZp8oqfyfESQ8t8q1vN2zxXd5VdxhLb5QcCmtxBAHpGBHYBrXM4agwyMRRKf6GoMFjRfvZhyNnuqnSWnDAoNQXbhJlwn8uUzdEFN1U3d-p3GcON5fMxujhGX-N8yg45ng/w300-h400/IMG_4973.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span><p></p><p><i><span>In </span><span class="a-text-italic">Heaven</span><span>, a
fourteen-year old boy is tormented for having a lazy eye. Instead of
resisting, he chooses to suffer in silence. The only person who
understands what he is going through is a female classmate, Kojima, who
experiences similar treatment at the hands of her bullies. Providing
each other with immeasurable consolation at a time in their lives when
they need it most, the two young friends grow closer than ever. But
what, ultimately, is the nature of a friendship when your shared bond is
terror?<br /><br />Unflinching yet tender, sharply observed, intimate and
multi-layered, this simple yet profound novel stands as yet another
dazzling testament to Mieko Kawakami’s uncontainable talent. There can
be little doubt that it has cemented her reputation as one of the most
important young authors at work today.</span></i></p><p><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>****</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Heaven <br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Mieko Kawakami</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published year : 2021</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 167</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language : English</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Asian Literature, Coming of Age</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age Recommendation : 18+</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Recently, there is a lot of book sales in Indonesia and I can't help myself crossing books from my wishlist. Heaven is one of the 50% discounted books from Kinokuniya during 12.12 (Or 11.11? Sorry lost track). </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Anyway, I've been in a reading slump since my pregnancy, looking at the thin pages of Heaven made me want to read it right away ignoring the queue of to-be-read books. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Different from other authors that usually create a middle aged-woman or man as the protagonist, Mieko Kawakami introduced us to the world of Junior High School where two people are barely accepted by their peers.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Narrator, a fourteen-year-old boy has a lazy eye that he believes to be the reason why he is being bullied by the boys in the class. Whenever bullying happened, the narrator was always obedient to his perpetrators ever since he was small. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One day, he received a short letter from an unknown writer, asking him to be her friend. Anxious, the narrator suspected that was a joke from his bullies, but the letter keep coming and feel genuine. Finally, he followed his instinct and decided to meet the writer, turns out it is his classmate, Kojima.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Indifferent from him, Kojima is bullied by her classmate's friends, girls especially. Maybe because of Kojima's appearance and smell. Peoples call her Hazmat because of her smell. Kojima also never protests when her perpetrators attack her. Submissive as the narrator. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yet Kojima in front of the narrator is different from the one in the class. She talked a lot and was smart. The mysterious girl also writes nicely. They agreed they should be friends and continue to exchange letters.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After knowing Kojima, the narrator's life seems to shift a little. Now he has a reason to go to school even though they never exchange words during school hours. But by seeing Kojima, he feels warmness that has left his life for a long time especially after Kojima told him, she likes his eye. Nobody ever told him that. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Occasionally, they meet outside the school, talking about their life or how bully could happen to them. Kojima has a very unique and independent point of view regarding bully. They have a point of view on why people can be mean and bully other people. They try to understand the point of view of their bullies, meanwhile, it is a one-way street. The bullies don't bother what they feel or think.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There is also the reason why Kojima always looks poor and dirty. It was her token to remember her poor father. It is a sign that she believed. Even though she is no longer poor, she doesn't want the memory of her father to cease away.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> "</span><i style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">You've gone through so much because of your eyes. It's a painful thing, I know, but It's also made you who you are. That's for sure. And because I won't give up my signs, I've gone through a lot, too. If we didn't have them, everything would be different. That's why I knew that I would understand you, better than anyone else, and why you would understand the way I feel better than anyone else. I knew it, And I wasn't wrong. When I sent you the letter, you came. You think about how other people feel. You're so kind. It makes sense. Because we're always in pain, we know exactly what it means to hurt somebody else. Maybe it's not as bad for me as it is for you, but I think I know how you feel, probably more than anybody." -Kojima to narrator-pages 64.</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">From the paragraph above, we understand the foundation of their friendship, and how the narrator's character. He's kind, thoughtful, and inferior. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One day, the level of bullying heightened, and the perpetrators made the narrator a human-volley ball, which means they kicked around the head of the narrator leaving blood so much and aches in whole his body. Kojima saw that, and she helped the narrator clean up after the bullying. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After the incident, the narrators had sleep difficulties. His whole body was aching, and his mind is puddled. What he thinks about is suicide. Even seeing Kojima didn't help him. He just stays in his room all day.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Until finally, he went to the doctor and the kind doctor examined him thoroughly and even suggest to have procedures for his lazy eye. The narrator had a procedure once but was not a success when he was a toddler. He never imagined that opportunity exists, even maybe will also change his life. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And accidentally, he met with one of his perpetrator's friends, Momose. Momose is always there when bullying happens, but he always stands still. Do nothing and watch. With all of his courage, the narrator counter Momose asking why they are so cruel to him didn't bother his feeling or life.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But the Momose's answer is beyond his expectations. He didn't feel any guilt. That everyone in this life has their urge and mind. One of the bullies' urges is to bully the narrator, not because of his eyes. Even when he doesn't lazy eyes, he is meant to be bullied.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It blows his mind. When he always put long thought about why they doing that to the narrator, his bullies simply didn't think. That human is very complex and different from each other. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">From the previous chapter, we understand the point of view of the victims, but from that chapter, we understand other human beings' ways of thinking. To be honest, it took me by surprise also. I think I never encountered any book or movie that explained the way bullies think so explicitly, smart and of course, annoying like that. After reading that, not that I understand or am permissive with that point of view, but simply, oh human is crazy like that!</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After that, the relationship between Kojima and the narrator shifts coldly. And there is also one last act that will change the course of their life.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I never expected that this book will be this heavy yet also light. The Author has her way to describe the young adult mind and simplify the complexity of human behavior, especially in bullying. Most of all, each character in the novel was different. Narrator, Kojima, Ninomiya (leader of a bully), Momose, and even the narrator's mother.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There is also a parenting issue that is highlighted in the background of the novel. Since bullying has happened for a very long time, but with a lack of communication, also school watch, it went unnoticed. A rigid relationship between the stepmother and his adolescent boy made this happen so a long time.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I think it is a very good novel, especially looking at the page number. I remember the Author differently from </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/#" style="background: transparent; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Ms. Ice Sandwhich</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">. The depth of human behavior in this novel is just different level. Kudos on that! </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">However, since there is explicit content of bullying, I recommend this book for 18 years old reader.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is one of must read!</span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-52190963124546742742022-12-04T16:55:00.004+07:002022-12-04T16:55:39.417+07:00Family of Liars by E. Lockhart<p style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHlEaUVl8jgisWOKNw2ym0amPWQm5T1jU5-caGVYCKBABNNRKBTJTm-rjjivIZ9UDvbSp3LNswXjdmeMZM7jZwKvbklR_yjgT0TJ1MeDVP6wjdpLo4MFWAeqzZNUZGihs4Z7lKgbr1ShqjHmhSxxo95TMGOyycwLfvPBnrL2DVhmkD608YJS5SX8UXw/s4032/IMG_4707.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtHlEaUVl8jgisWOKNw2ym0amPWQm5T1jU5-caGVYCKBABNNRKBTJTm-rjjivIZ9UDvbSp3LNswXjdmeMZM7jZwKvbklR_yjgT0TJ1MeDVP6wjdpLo4MFWAeqzZNUZGihs4Z7lKgbr1ShqjHmhSxxo95TMGOyycwLfvPBnrL2DVhmkD608YJS5SX8UXw/s320/IMG_4707.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table> </p><p style="text-align: center;"> <span class="Formatted">A windswept private island off the coast of Massachusetts. </span><br /><span class="Formatted">A hungry ocean, churning with secrets and sorrow.</span><br /><span class="Formatted">A fiery, addicted heiress. An irresistible, unpredictable boy. </span><br /><span class="Formatted">A summer of unforgivable betrayal and terrible mistakes.</span><br /><span class="Formatted"> </span><br /><span class="Formatted">Welcome back to the Sinclair family. </span><br /><span class="Formatted">They were always liars.</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">***</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">Family of Liars; Prequel of We Were Liars</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">Author : E. Lockhart</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">Published year : 2022</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">Pages : 298</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">Language : English</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted">Genre : Thriller, Young Adult</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Formatted"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Seven years ago, I read </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/#" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">We Were Liars</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> and got blown away, love it so much then when I saw the prequel lay in the bookstore, I have no choice but to purchase it. The thing about me, is I am OCD-ing when it comes to completing series, though I have a feeling this one will be predictable.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">We return to the 'noble' Sinclair Family, told from the point of view of Johnny's mother. The Eldest sister of four beautiful blond sisters, back in 1985.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Johnny's mother, Carrie is in her teenage year. Still every summer, the family comes to the private island along with her mother and father, Tipper and Haris also her three other sisters, Penny, Bess, and Rosemary. One summer, Rosemary, the youngest sister, drowns in the sea of the island. Her death was never really discussed among the family. They are living like before, strong as a rock, and never talked about their feeling.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But Carrie, who always being sensitive, has a lot on her plate. She wants to talk about her little sister with the family, but no one corresponds with her. Moreover, she's not Sinclair enough, her jaw is too strong, not beautiful enough as her sister. She must undergo surgery to repair the facial expression that leads her to sleep pill addiction.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Like any other summer, the family back to the Island. Harris's brother and his family also come. Also, Yardley-the sister's cousin brings her boyfriend along with two whole hormone teenage boys. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Seeing other newcomers, Carrie was delighted because that year has been tough for her. She is a bright girl in the school but noticed that nobody ever asks her on a date. One boy who particularly interests her is Pffef. The typical sunny boy who always flirted with every girl in the room.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">During the lemon hunting, Pffef suddenly kisses Carrie for the first time in her life. Infatuated, Carrie told them what happen that night to her sisters. And the summer fling happened. Tough Carrie realizes that Pffef is unreliable, but she experienced everything for the first time with that college boy. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One night, an unexpected event happened that change everything in Carrie's life. The truth about her family, the web of lies of her parents and sisters. And most of all, Carrie keeps seeing Rosemary's ghost. She love that girl so much but why only her saw Rosemary? Is it because of her addiction?</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Well, after reading We Were Liars, I guess I am quite familiar with E. Lockhart's writing style so what happened didn't surprise me enough. However, it is a quick read that must be a page-turner for me. I like how the family theme, the cold relationship between rich parents and their kids, and how the characters developed distinctively. I don't like the sisters, and their snobbiness, but how I love how Carrie talks with Rosemary's ghost genuinely.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And for the young adult genre, E.Lockhart's dictions are beautiful and keeping mentioning Robert Frost is a plus side for me.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: justify;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Therefore, I like this book though I like We Were Liars much better. Do I need to purchase it? For the sake of my collection, yes. But maybe kindle is better because it is cheaper!</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span class="Formatted"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span class="Formatted"><br /></span><span class="Formatted"></span></p><p><span class="Formatted"> </span><span class="Formatted"></span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-32233396816553525042022-11-22T13:14:00.003+07:002022-11-22T13:14:17.917+07:00Tuesdays with Morrie by Mitch Albom<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAbu8YcRPdn-KWGDMMzDOVb6W534nOvcswxXVjQvbWSdz_E5a600hTYzpFDgT4Qm2BqKwQGkNcnmIxyNS6ROdq-qtGvigNnjpP-eKyjehiKDYM3J3nDSBjA4YytRvzBkP2Rx3nUMSUt7gdPI7qRkBkbeakD0CXdgzG7QLL_z_YoWb0y9GtM4BTcodYA/s4032/IMG_4143.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOAbu8YcRPdn-KWGDMMzDOVb6W534nOvcswxXVjQvbWSdz_E5a600hTYzpFDgT4Qm2BqKwQGkNcnmIxyNS6ROdq-qtGvigNnjpP-eKyjehiKDYM3J3nDSBjA4YytRvzBkP2Rx3nUMSUt7gdPI7qRkBkbeakD0CXdgzG7QLL_z_YoWb0y9GtM4BTcodYA/s320/IMG_4143.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i><span>Maybe it was a grandparent, or a teacher, or a colleague. Someone
older, patient and wise, who understood you when you were young and
searching, helped you see the world as a more profound place, gave you
sound advice to help you make your way through it.<br /> <br /> For Mitch Albom, that person was his college professor Morrie Schwartz.<br /><br />
Maybe, like Mitch, you lost track of this mentor as you made your way,
and the insights faded, and the world seemed colder. Wouldn’t you like
to see that person again, ask the bigger questions that still haunt you,
receive wisdom for your busy life today the way you once did when you
were younger?<br /><br /> Mitch Albom had that second chance. He
rediscovered Morrie in the last months of the older man’s life. Knowing
he was dying, Morrie visited with Mitch in his study every Tuesday, just
as they used to back in college. Their rekindled relationship turned
into one final “class”: lessons in how to live. “The truth is, Mitch,”
he said, “once you learn how to die, you learn how to live.”<br /><br /></span><span class="a-text-italic">Tuesdays with Morrie</span><span> is a magical chronicle of their time together, through which Mitch shares Morrie’s lasting gift with the world.</span></i></p><p><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Tuesdays with Morie</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Mitch Albom</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>First Published year: 1997<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 192<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Non Fiction, Memoir, Self-help<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age recommendation : 13+ </span><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span><br /></span></i></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I've been in a reading slump since June and when I saw Tuesdays with Morie's slim pages, I decided to pick it up and turn out it is one of the best decisions ever.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Tuesdays with Morrie is a memoir written by Mitch Albom, a story about his beloved professor, Morrie. Morrie is one of Mitch's favorite professors because he always believes in Mitch. But like many teachers and student relationships, they drifted apart when Mitch graduated and was busy with his career.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One day, Mitch saw a television coverage, a story about his old professor who suffered from ALS. The same disease Stephen Hawking had. Mitch feels that he needs to contact his old professor, but his career is at its peak. He's a busy journalist, didn't know that he can make time to contact his professor.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But then, the opportunity came, Mitch flew to Boston, to meet Morrie at his home. Morrie is the same soul as he saw last time, while the disease limits his movement, inside, Morrie is someone who appreciates life, loves to dance, and most of all misses Mitch. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">They started talking about Morrie's life expectancy which should be not long. He is afraid that by that time he will be dependent on domestic matters to the people surrounding him. Mitch himself is at the intersection of his life. His career but somehow he felt lonely.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The first visit gradually become a routine visit, and Mitch came every Tuesday. He came bringing Morrie's favorite meal and spend the day talking about life. They decide to make a thesis about things in life. From regret, death, family, fear of aging, money, marriage, forgiveness, goodbye, and many other topics about life. They sat down and talked about specific topics that were prepared in the 'curriculum' while Mitch recorded Morrie's voice. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">As time passed by, Morrie's health deteriorated, but Morrie never skipped the lesson. He gave so many life perspectives, even the death is very near, he was never once scared of being dead. Because every human is destined to be dead, just many peoples escape from that reality.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are so many quotable quotes that are very beautiful in the book.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">" People are only mean when they've threatened, and that's what our culture does. That's what our economy does. Even people who have jobs in our economy are threatened because they worry about losing them. And when you get threatened, you start looking out only for yourself. You start making money a god. It is all part of this culture."</span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Mitch, if you're trying to show off for people at the top, forget it. They will look down at you anyhow. And if you're trying to show off for people at the bottom, forget it. They will envy you. The status will get you nowhere. Only an open heart will allow you to float equally tween everyone."</span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">and many others can make us the reader, rethink the value that we hold in our life. Since the book itself is not thick enough, it will be challenging to change our perspective directly. But it is a nice reminder for us, to not hold life so dearly that we forget what is matter the most.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And I wonder, after reading this, Morrie put so much influence in Mitch's life that later his writing mostly valued life and death equally.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It was a nice perspective, a quick ride for the airplane read that may bring the pivotal moment in the reader's life.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-85220705828089393002022-09-28T12:42:00.003+07:002022-09-28T12:54:18.125+07:00Normal People by Sally Rooney<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLjjD3R66Zlgw2yNyLjhDFf41FRupmdbKVyovUunneQlrT6MTn1d33_2dUpSEMdVGvpVFuaIAXLVsBoJW1Xyxn57Cv6iN2LTxDAkxgB21f0ur473f-IfjNnMyLkB6nb5XGKcf4mmh647eqQnioP-aEh7Dm8-KAQrjgdS94_ruUAmGp0TwpgZ1slk_3A/s3024/20220928_100341.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibLjjD3R66Zlgw2yNyLjhDFf41FRupmdbKVyovUunneQlrT6MTn1d33_2dUpSEMdVGvpVFuaIAXLVsBoJW1Xyxn57Cv6iN2LTxDAkxgB21f0ur473f-IfjNnMyLkB6nb5XGKcf4mmh647eqQnioP-aEh7Dm8-KAQrjgdS94_ruUAmGp0TwpgZ1slk_3A/s320/20220928_100341.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Softcover version</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><i>Connell and Marianne grew up in the same small town, but the similarities end there. At school, Connell is popular and well liked, while Marianne is a loner. But when the two strike up a conversation—awkward but electrifying—something life changing begins.</i></span></p><p><i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">A year later, they’re both studying at Trinity College in Dublin. Marianne has found her feet in a new social world while Connell hangs at the sidelines, shy and uncertain. Throughout their years at university, Marianne and Connell circle one another, straying toward other people and possibilities but always magnetically, irresistibly drawn back together. And as she veers into self-destruction and he begins to search for meaning elsewhere, each must confront how far they are willing to go to save the other.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /></span><span class="a-text-italic" face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Normal People</span><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> is the story of mutual fascination, friendship and love. It takes us from that first conversation to the years beyond, in the company of two people who try to stay apart but find that they can’t.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">*****</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Normal People</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Author : Sally Rooney</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Published year : 2011</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Pages : 266</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Genre : Fiction, Contemporary</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Age recommendation : 18+ (suicidal, sexual content)</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I think those who love Nick Hornby or David Nicholls may like this book. It certainly brings similar vibes to me. Maybe because both Nick Hornby and David Nicholls are English authors, the same as Sally Rooney. They emphasize the deep and meaningful conversations between the protagonists while inserting monumental moments subtly. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Normal People is a story about two different people, Marianne and Connel. Marianne is a loner, and grow up in a rich mansion together with her single mother and mean brother Alan. Connel is the son of Lorraine, a housekeeper who works at Marianne's family property. They both went to the same senior high school but never seen talk together in public.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Privately, they have many conversations. Marianne is a smart girl, and Connel likes how he can behave as himself in front of Marianne. Marianne never bothers much about what people think about her, contrary to Connel, who wants to be accepted by society. In school, Connel is a popular boy and has a lot of friends meanwhile Marianne is a very private girl that needs no friends in her daily life. Society mock her and even bullied her.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Maybe that is one of the reasons why Connel didn't want to be seen in public together with Marianne. Though he likes Marianne a lot, he chose another girl for the debutant party.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Since they talk a lot, Marianne recommends Connel try to pursue his study at Trinity College. One of the best universities in Ireland. Connel, who never dreamt as high as that, agreed. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">In college, since both of them stopped talking after the Deb incident, Connel finally meets again with Marianne. Yet, she's very different from the private girl from his high school. Marianne has a social circle, attends and held many parties, and has a popular boyfriend.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">But Connel is a different person also. He's just a poor boy from a village who comes to the top university where everyone tries to show how much money their parents have. He doesn't have a lot of friends, and can't stand at a party because he knows no one.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">But meeting Marianne is like seeing the light at the end of his dark tunnels. Marianne was his best friend, and speaking with her always bring a lot of joy and insight. So there, they get close again but never become a lover. They cannot define their relationship, they sleep together, practically almost live together but Marianne never said that they were a lover.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">There is a lot of moments, and event that pull or push them apart. They are both very different people. Marianne is a wounded girl who didn't believe that she has a right to be happy. She always met with the wrong man, or maybe she always chose a bad man because that is what she though she deserved. Meanwhile, Connel is thirsty for affirmation from another person. He loves Marianne so much, but is it enough to protect her from the outside world-that also his biggest fear?</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Yes, it seems a simple story, teenagers who fall in love and transform into adulthood, by affecting each other decisions in life. Some people bring positive effects in life, some people attract to a darker world. Are they regret meeting each other in the past? are they regret having a complicated relationship in the past that may ruin their future together? But one thing they sure, they bring the best to each other when they are together.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">A simple story but with a complex relationship. The third person-POV also brings us the reader, clear observations without judging one of them. Maybe it is because the English Author brings the conversations alive without boring the readers. I don't know I like the book just the way it is.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">There are some quotes that I love:</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><i>Life is the thing you bring with you inside your own head. -p 202</i><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><i>You learn nothing very profound about yourself simply by being bullied, but by bullying someone else you learn something you can never forget. </i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-91790298491992624672022-09-20T15:07:00.006+07:002022-09-20T15:07:48.706+07:00American Dirt by Jeanine Cummins<p> </p><p><br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGvNfVdXAnzmDM4goOQNremVAf9bYjYXOshvIwxdb9yJX9viPjkOsLlAFEC5kZ3JNsyK-MgL4tlu7xZ7czbXY-1RmXVCO2lMgNml9mCjC5G484iez-AasXIZX7C-ya0a-C14TVgr4sqYSQW_kgikIv7LA5WrL9VNFEh19tntX33ZQZsT-E3VQJ3zl4w/s3024/20220920_132731.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjvGvNfVdXAnzmDM4goOQNremVAf9bYjYXOshvIwxdb9yJX9viPjkOsLlAFEC5kZ3JNsyK-MgL4tlu7xZ7czbXY-1RmXVCO2lMgNml9mCjC5G484iez-AasXIZX7C-ya0a-C14TVgr4sqYSQW_kgikIv7LA5WrL9VNFEh19tntX33ZQZsT-E3VQJ3zl4w/s320/20220920_132731.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">American Dirt Paperback</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p><br /></p><p><i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Lydia lives in Acapulco. She has a son, Luca, the love of her life, and a wonderful husband who is a journalist. And while cracks are beginning to show in Acapulco because of the cartels, Lydia’s life is, by and large, fairly comfortable. But after her husband’s tell-all profile of the newest drug lord is published, none of their lives will ever be the same.</span><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Forced to flee, Lydia and Luca find themselves joining the countless people trying to reach the United States. Lydia soon sees that everyone is running from something. But what exactly are they running to?</span></i></p><p><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">***</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Title : American Dirt</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Author : Jeanine Cummins</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Published year : January 2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Pages : 386</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Genre : fiction</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Age Recommendation : 13+ </span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">I was lucky to get this book when it is on sale at 60% off last June, and finally, have intermittent time to read it during morning and lunch hours at the office. That's why it took me almost a month to finish it. It is not because the story is not interesting, but rather that nowadays I have limited free time. </span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">To be honest, this is the first Latin refugee book I ever read. Though there are so many noises outside regarding this book, I have no comparison and cannot argue because this is my first read and I see it as enjoyable.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The story is opened by the wretched tragedy, an 8 years old boy hiding in a bathroom together with his mother, whereas several men busy themselves killing the boy's family outside. The setting is the beautiful city of Acapulco, Mexico. In a county where we know that Cartels are more powerful than the government and justice system.</span></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">After several minutes the man looked for the kid and the wife but couldn't find them, they finally left the premise after trying the chicken barbeque on the counter, coldblooded. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Lydia and Luca emerged from their hiding and witnessed all their family member murdered in the garden, including Sebastian, Lydia's husband, and Luca's father. Shocked and terrified, Lydia knows the murderer won't stop until they found her and her son. No time for grieving, Lydia packed her bags and monies to run away from this city. Her only instinct said she must survive for Luca's sake. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">The next question is where to? how do they get out of the city without being detected? Taking her car is impossible, she took the bus, and transit to another city, thinking about her next steps.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">Along the way, Lydia realized she must get out of the country. El Norte- The United States of America. She remembered someone, his husband's acquaintance that may help her. But she knows, anyone is risking his life to save hers. Even the cartel in Acapulco just arise, but they have a network and spies everywhere. Everyone could be a spy. They would never be safe.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">From hiding in a church car arranged by her husband's friend, pretending to be missionaries bring them to Mexico City, the capital. But she must continue the journey on her own. From there, there are many ways to reach the border to El Norte. But taking flight is impossible, she doesn't bring Luca's documentation, and it is traceable. The only option is to take the train to La Bestia.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">But the train is famous for the migrants, and the high death ratio. First, the train safety, she can be crushed between two moving cars, or get sucked beneath the wheels. Second, human violence, many kidnappers, and half people on the train is the cartel member.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">She doesn't have a choice. Some people can manage to be escaped in La Bestia. The madness is her only choice. Along the way, she finds a friend, the sisters Soledad and Rebecca. Like her, the sister run away from something. But they are so young, in their teenage years, also so beautiful that may attract many eyes to see them.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">For the first time after witnessing his father dead, Luca finally speaks. She speaks to Soledad. And Lydia is grateful for that. She has scared Luca will never speak again.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">They stick together, endure all the hardships, risking their life, being kidnapped, tortured, and robbed. They need to change many trains and directions, sleeping everywhere to reach the border where their Coyote will bring them crossing the desert to El Norte.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">This book is a journey of a mother and a son together with two sisters to reach freedom from their haunted past. They were chased by bad people and must face many other bad peoples to survive. There is a low point where they just want to surrender, dead may preferable to dying. But they strive to free themselves.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">It is my first time reading a book about migrants in South America. How it is difficult for them to reach the land of freedom. Honestly, I'm flabbergasted. Despite many critics directed to the author since she's no Latino and the book is too Hollywood-y. But yeah, it feels like watching a movie, there is suspense, drama, and a slice of life all in one. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">The problem for me, when I opened the book from the first page, I'm so invested in the story, and without realizing it, my expectation was skyrocketing. I thought from the mid-end, it will be more and more exciting, but I feel the anticlimax. It is still exciting, but I don't see any suspense anymore. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;">But I like it a lot! since it is my first read, I learned a lot of things from the book. Many Latin words are not translated but keep repeating, so I googled them my self and imprint it in my memory.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"> I love the relationship between Lydia and Luca. She's the best mother anyone can ask for. Yes, I am confused about how can a smart woman make a mistake that 'cost' her family. But her love for Luca is without ending. She's a strong woman, yet so soft in her heart. She also helps the sisters, someone she just met several days ago. She can run bringing her child, hiking on a rocky mountain in the pouring rain, but she also hugs her son tightly to make sure that he feels her love. It is astonishing.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-60680194849441595582022-06-29T12:00:00.003+07:002022-06-29T12:00:24.236+07:00Wild by Kristin Hannah<p> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zBzJA05kasESy0gVHPbNY1QtIEsCtz4MU5nyinRiGLvBwCQ-npduIYgdehg9oN_i8dkCGKsUVCq3prSY02nPfD7U8e51qWZ4NKNkAszpqCECJPPg3Z9kodkNpYgu8C9_KnNJRfWqpMql0r4z0dIRnQdF2Eu_h-nnELmVgonZr3DuE1dfoZK909SOBQ/s4032/IMG_2539.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_zBzJA05kasESy0gVHPbNY1QtIEsCtz4MU5nyinRiGLvBwCQ-npduIYgdehg9oN_i8dkCGKsUVCq3prSY02nPfD7U8e51qWZ4NKNkAszpqCECJPPg3Z9kodkNpYgu8C9_KnNJRfWqpMql0r4z0dIRnQdF2Eu_h-nnELmVgonZr3DuE1dfoZK909SOBQ/w300-h400/IMG_2539.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition</td></tr></tbody></table><br /></p><p><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">In the rugged Pacific Northwest lies the Olympic National Forest—nearly a million acres of impenetrable darkness and impossible beauty. From deep within this old growth forest, a six-year-old girl appears. Speechless and alone, she offers no clue as to her identity, no hint of her past.</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><br style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;">Having retreated to her western Washington hometown after a scandal left her career in ruins, child psychiatrist Dr. Julia Cates is determined to free the extraordinary little girl she calls Alice from a prison of unimaginable fear and isolation. To reach her, Julia must discover the truth about Alice’s past—although doing so requires help from Julia’s estranged sister, a local police officer. The shocking facts of Alice’s life test the limits of Julia’s faith and strength, even as she struggles to make a home for Alice—and for herself.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">*****</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Title : Wild / Magic Hour</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Author : Kristin Hannah</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Published year : July 2020</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Pages : 480</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Genre : Fiction</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;">Age recommendation : 13+</span></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After Nightingale, I know I wouldn't be able to stop myself when seeing Kristin Hannah publish a new book and hit the local bookstore. Especially when it is on discount. Yet, I missed it in 2020-2021 and finally purchased it just now.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I think everyone knows that Kristin Hannah is one of a hell storyteller. Reading her book is like watching a great quality movie where we learn a lot about history or American classic stories, Wild is one of them. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The story started with the downfall of Dr. Julia Cates's reputation. Born in a small town to a famous family, little Julia always struggles to find her own place in the family or the town. She decided to leave the town, built her career in LA, and make a name for herself. But everything she built is destroyed because of a scandal that almost cost her jail time. Even though she was finally proved innocent by the court, public opinion did not agree with that.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Back in her hometown, Ellie Cates, once a homecoming queen, the beauty of the town, now served as chief police. Once in a calm and quiet city, suddenly there is a commotion, a girl is found at the top of a maple tree near a rain forest and brings a wolf pup with her.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is one thing that never happened, and Ellie must find a way to solve the mystery of that girl. But the girl is either mute, deaf, or autistic. She refused to speak, and simple interaction didn't work. She howled, eat like a beast and move like a wolf. Ellie realizes, she would need help and her sister, Julia is the best in the field.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">No longer having clients, Julie decides to help Ellie, even though she must face her own demon for the consequences. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Meeting the wild girl, Julie knows that she has a lot of trauma under her little malnourished body. Every day, she works 18 hours to try to find the best method to treat her. Meanwhile, Ellie works at her best to find the girl's identification. But no one claimed her from the neighboring cities, she try to invite the national press, so many people will help her to search for her family. But her sister is the cost. Bring Julia to the spotlight, and even gain national exposure, but they only highlight her past scandal.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But they decide to do anything for the girl. Even Julie's biggest fear. The press keeps nagging her, questioning her ability and credibility, many bodies try to get a hold of the case to advance their own career. That's why Julie decides to be the foster parent for the girl.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Slowly, the girl learns one or two words from Julie. She even didn't mind getting closer to Julie. Though she doesn't understand what Julie said, she like Julie from her warm smile and beautiful sound. She learns to trust her.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Though they are making progress, it is not big enough from the public's perspective. The press soon lost interest which mean it will harder to find the girl's parents.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Doubting her ability, and past trauma, Julie endured the difficulties in the process to treat the girl. But in the process, she falls in love. She loves the girl so much that decides to adopt her. But not long, the girl's troubled father appears. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The handsome guy that just released from jail, for the murder of his wife and child charge. Will Julie give up and release the girl to her biological father? Meanwhile, Ellie, the hopeless romantic that always unable to say no to a handsome guy, will she fall again to a handsome guy and sacrifice her sister?</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yes, the plot is like always, Kristin Hannah made it so well. The family theme is still her core, and this time the bond between her estranged sister that tested again once they start bonding. </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Though it is a bit predictable like no other of her previous book, I enjoyed the read. Everyone is struggle to fight their own demon. Julie, her past memories, and her self-confidence. She always being her sister's shadow and back to her hometown, made her small again no matter how successful she is. Ellie, always being the center of attention, keeps questioning why her marriage always failed and wondering why her sister dislikes her, can she prove to the world that she is a competent chief? not only the beauty without a brain. And the girl, Alice, only knows how to live in danger, can she trust strangers that offered her shelter? she only knows she is a bad girl. Didn't deserve to be loved.</span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One thing that disturbs me, is how Julie conduct research to find a clue about the girl's symptoms, by googling. It is rather shocked me since Julie is high profile psychiatrist. Why would someone with a long record of patients, googling the type of autistic? </span></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">However, I must admit that Wild didn't affect me as much as Hannah's previous books (especially </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/blog/post/edit/3744382080051514992/6068019484944159558#" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Great Alone</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">) but still, I enjoy reading it. Kristin Hannah is one of the best American authors out there. </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> </p><p style="text-align: center;"><span style="color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: Merriweather, Georgia, serif; font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-32983496105745962652022-06-24T14:13:00.003+07:002022-06-24T14:19:37.274+07:00The Disaster Tourist by Yun Ko-Eun<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGaUE_mp82m3TID_cFrpHHbO23eJyz2NHegqg6p33ICbMQpARTCdBryq4aTGOZEg9YPFWcOP6Cod6ckMSnt8UDVkqzC3VvUblB0rKLr4DAKURsTQDG2jC6GGypOHXoAuK_qxUIhe9KWOGNExZIwFTvOb3Q6g6GxNbB36KALExrSBmwm0i5cwsl0CzfA/s4032/IMG_2489.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguGaUE_mp82m3TID_cFrpHHbO23eJyz2NHegqg6p33ICbMQpARTCdBryq4aTGOZEg9YPFWcOP6Cod6ckMSnt8UDVkqzC3VvUblB0rKLr4DAKURsTQDG2jC6GGypOHXoAuK_qxUIhe9KWOGNExZIwFTvOb3Q6g6GxNbB36KALExrSBmwm0i5cwsl0CzfA/s320/IMG_2489.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-size: 14px;"><i>Jungle is a cutting-edge travel agency specializing in tourism to destinations devastated by disaster and climate change. And until she found herself at the mercy of a predatory colleague, Yona was one of their top representatives. Now on the verge of losing her job, she’s given a proposition: take a paid “vacation” to the desert island of Mui and pose as a tourist to assess the company’s least profitable holiday.</i></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">When she uncovers a plan to fabricate an extravagant catastrophe, she must choose: prioritize the callous company to whom she’s dedicated her life, or embrace a fresh start in a powerful new position? An eco-thriller with a fierce feminist sensibility, </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="box-sizing: border-box;">The Disaster Tourist</span><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"> introduces a fresh new voice to the United States that engages with the global dialogue around climate activism, dark tourism, and the #MeToo movement.</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><i><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">***</span></i></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Title : The Disaster Tourist</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Author : Yun Ko-Eun</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Published in English: 2020</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Language : English </p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Pages : 200</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Genre : Fiction</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;">Age recommendation : 13+</p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Since my friend shipped several Korean books last month, so I started to read any Korean author's books in my collection. I was very afraid of running out the books in my collection so last time I decide to read any other than Korean books.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Disaster Tourist is one of the books that I picked simply because I love the yellow cover the most. I haven't read the blurbs or reviews. Sometimes, in life, we need this kind of spontaneity when picking up a book on the shelf.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">And, I am not disappointed. The Disaster Tourist brought a very unique theme and provoking point of view that I seldomly find in the books I ever read. This book is about Tourism, the greatness and the sorrow that is brought together and retold from a travel employee perspective.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The Jungle is a travel agency specializing in a disaster tourist attractions. The agency creates many programs to allow the traveler to visit a used-to-be disaster location and experience also gain sympathy from the locals. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Ko-Yona has been 10 years with the company. She is one of the key people to create new programs before it being sold to the market. Yona has been working intensely to create a travel experience in Jinhae- a shore city that was hit by a tsunami recently.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">But something is not quite right. Her Team Leader, Mr. Kim gradually acts hostile toward her. Three times, Mr. Kim has been sexually harassed her. The news also spread quickly, some victims of Mr. Kim ask Yona to join strikes with them to start a protest so Mr. Kim can be processed by HR. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Yona, like any typical victim, denied that it is sexual assault. Mr. Kim only 'touch' her several times, not as much as other victims, and most of all, maybe, It was Yona's mistake. Mr. Kim is so powerful that any person who went to challenge him, ends up voluntarily resigning from his position.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Want to shake off the bad thing that happens in the office, Yona receive an offer from Mr. Kim to do a business trip to review one of the declining travel packages in Mui, Vietnam. Yona understood that an overseas business trip is usually given to an employee that wants to end his career with the company. But Yona thinks it will clear her mind.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Yona went to Mui, disguised herself as an ordinary traveler, and assessed the program. Mui is clearly on the edge of the tourist peak cycle. There are no volcanoes like advertised, the desert is so small that may be dune is the appropriate name, and the floating house is strange as well. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Six days after staying on the island, Yona is ready to come back to Korea. But, an accident happens, when she uses the lavatory at the other train's car, the train divides its route and the car goes in the other direction. Missing her baggage, passport, and purse, Yona finds herself lost in translation.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">She decided to come back to Mui, maybe the resort can help her. But when she arrived, everything is so different from the first time she arrived. Like everything that happened is just a theatrical act. The resort, that initially full of employees, is now like a deserted place. Even the locals, didn't seem to accept Yona's presence.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">After several attempts to request help from the Jungle, the resort manager learns that Yona is Jungle's employee most of all, the one who is responsible for the program assessment. He then offered a one-time opportunity to Yona. A chance that may make her successful so she can replace Mr. Kim, or just seeing her name printed again in the booklet of Jungle's travel program.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">This book brings the issue of how tourism impacted the local region. Many people believe that when a resort is built, the economy of the island will be so developed and it trickles down to the local people. But most of all, people didn't realize how much it affect the local economy. In Mui's case, even the locals cannot enter the beautiful beaches again because it is limited to the resort guest only. Other than that, tourists may only buy souvenirs or food stalls from the locals, which didn't impact as much as the ecological damage.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">See? The theme is as strong as the tsunami. Yet, the author only touches base on this issue. Also, the issue of sexual harassment may be only 5 pages long and even the author is not comfortable bringing up this issue. I don't think it is necessary and relevant to the story. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">Yona's character is also not the type of smart, independent, and detailed type that can bring many great travel programs as described in the early books. She is timid and indecisive. Additionally, the author didn't show much of Yona's mind so we cannot have a special bond with her. And what disturbed me most, Yona frequently overheard locals said about this thing and that as if Yona understand the language already. It doesn't mention that Yona can understand the language after several weeks staying. </span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">The author focused on the detail of the destruction of Tourism, and there are a few lines worth remembering. Other than that, we can close the book not to be urged to finish it. Lucky me, I have time to read so I can finish it before I change my mind later.</span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><span style="font-size: 14px;">It is not a bad book or the great one. A good book! </span></span></p><div style="text-align: justify;"><br /></div>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-24523128019752305312022-06-19T10:50:00.005+07:002022-06-19T10:51:06.331+07:00the First Phone Call from Heaven by Mitch Albom<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIUOhXfKFkyFz0H4J6FGKRhZvmwDU31vMIgxaugzJYOtpkh3PoDXpiIoOYb102ZV4bEHV_-qvVv3fr4HFyjgrlNs88Pb0gRJB6pHCnzKiJ_eNuXZbFZQ97Dz3Y2cZ6Hm0rFRA2lDhryhFhBf0Gg8SZtMt_HYTyjrv3N5CdZnFKlMi7ekztm02__e51g/s4032/IMG_2350.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKIUOhXfKFkyFz0H4J6FGKRhZvmwDU31vMIgxaugzJYOtpkh3PoDXpiIoOYb102ZV4bEHV_-qvVv3fr4HFyjgrlNs88Pb0gRJB6pHCnzKiJ_eNuXZbFZQ97Dz3Y2cZ6Hm0rFRA2lDhryhFhBf0Gg8SZtMt_HYTyjrv3N5CdZnFKlMi7ekztm02__e51g/w300-h400/IMG_2350.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hardcover Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i><span>One morning in the small town of Coldwater, Michigan, the
phones start ringing. The voices say they are calling from heaven. Is it
the greatest miracle ever? Or some cruel hoax? As news of these strange
calls spreads, outsiders flock to Coldwater to be a part of it.</span></i></p><p><i><span>At
the same time, a disgraced pilot named Sully Harding returns to
Coldwater from prison to discover his hometown gripped by miracle fever.
Even his young son carries a toy phone, hoping to hear from his mother
in heaven.</span></i></p><p><i><span>As the calls increase, and proof of an
afterlife begins to surface, the town--and the world--transforms. Only
Sully, convinced there is nothing beyond this sad life, digs into the
phenomenon, determined to disprove it for his child and his own broken
heart.</span></i></p><p><i><span>Moving seamlessly between the invention of the
telephone in 1876 and a world obsessed with the next level of
communication, Mitch Albom takes readers on a breathtaking ride of
frenzied hope.</span></i></p><p><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>*****</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>The First Phone Call from Heaven</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Mitch Albom</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published this edition : November 2013</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 323</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language : English</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Fiction, life lesson<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age recommendation : 13+</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p>This is my first Mitch Albom book. Though I know how popular he is, I haven't encountered a book fate with his. Actually, I bought the book a long time ago, circa 2015, and with a lot of determination, I decided to dig into my piles of unread books, and found this blue cover. <br /><br />It is started with a mysterious call from a deceased son to his father, a sister to her little sister, a mother to her daughter, and a worker to his former employer. All calls are from the dead to the grieving human and all happen in a small town namely Coldwater where a lot of people have a strong religious faith.<br /><br />All those calls happened on Friday, every week. Confused and disbelieved, the call recipient has a mixed reaction whenever receiving the call. It feels like they have been given a second chance to have interactions with them, who left early.<br /> <br />The first confession happened during a mass praying inside a church. Two people are confessing that they received a call from the dead. First, is Katherine Yellin, a realtor that has been obedient in the church, and second is a hardworking employer, that always honest and rarely speaks in the crowd. <br /><br />And then, the gossip spread through the town until local news picks it up and makes a story on the television, and soon enough it becomes nationally aware. The effects are unanticipated. There are a lot of people from other cities who come to Coldwater. They are roaming the city by the van, congestion happened, queues in the diner and petrol stock is limited. Some people think a miracle happen in Coldwater. Religious people pray and hail Katherine as a holy person. Some people just stay at Coldwater, purchasing the same handphone model with the hope that someone they loved calls them from heaven.<br /><br />Meanwhile, Sully Harding, a veteran aero man just released from the prison and comes back to Coldwater only to witness the madness. His wife passed away when he was in the prison, his 7-year-old kid demand a phone so his mother can call him, and most of all he was pissed if it were true, why did his wife never call him? He will investigate this, and prove that there is something fishy about the call from heaven.<br /><br />After all, the chief of the police department also received a call from his deceased son. Jack Sellers didn't dare to tell people that he also receives the strange call every week, because Jack couldn't find the logic behind it even though deep down he's looking forward to the call. <br /><br />Between Sully Harding tried his best to expose this strange call, some people enjoy its popularity and even gain a profit from the call. The handphone issuer, the city, and of course the mayor. Meanwhile, the religious elder was skeptical about the miracle even though it made his church fully packed in Sunday mass for the first time. <br /><br />I think this is a provoking story that crosses over so many phenomena that exist in our life. About a handphone phenomenon that made us anxious whenever we go especially when we waiting for someone important to call, then there is a religious faith that is sometimes beyond logical- that most people embraced a miracle in their life, and the unfinished business lingering between the left behind and the passed away. Also, the Author stitches the story with the background story of how Alexander Graham Bell invented a phone call. <br /><br />The premise is wonderful, yet it lacks emotional bonding. Maybe it is because so many protagonists in the book and the pages are not that many so the emotion is not fully developed. Though there is a twist at the end of the book, yet, I can detect it in the early chapter of the book. <br /><br />This book is about a life lesson that Albom's undoubtedly forte that made us think a lot about miracles and the unfinished business with someone who passed away in our life. This is a story about how humans basic's need to redeem their wrongdoing in the past. I understand it and agree. Yet, I feel like watching flash news that I don't develop an emotional relationship with at least one of his characters.<br /><br />I will try to read other Albom's books for sure because it is not a bad book. It is just me being Asian :) <br /><br /><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span> </span><i><span> <br /></span></i></p><p></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-16978363099978859692022-05-18T20:33:00.004+07:002022-05-21T11:46:17.644+07:00My Brilliant Life by Ae-ran Kim<p> <br /></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV9nhCjuBANQempzU5zez0l48CqDGaDAYW0voJxLpveJkv0CpH7Z8o4m8_zjwdmC4VkeibrMUPzs8-ljlPDjHprxU_QbYmbaEHFb13OuLU4Dtsys9BU1qW5THC8Q3-KbHiBNGezyJgowLFu4qpKhaJt5f91TlnN6uF6dorIKIOBaMOIWjBMbUhkcifg/s3763/IMG_1908.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3763" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitV9nhCjuBANQempzU5zez0l48CqDGaDAYW0voJxLpveJkv0CpH7Z8o4m8_zjwdmC4VkeibrMUPzs8-ljlPDjHprxU_QbYmbaEHFb13OuLU4Dtsys9BU1qW5THC8Q3-KbHiBNGezyJgowLFu4qpKhaJt5f91TlnN6uF6dorIKIOBaMOIWjBMbUhkcifg/w514-h640/IMG_1908.HEIC" width="514" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i><span>Ae-ran Kim's </span><span class="a-text-italic">My Brilliant Life </span></i><span><i>explores
family bonds and out-of-the-ordinary friendships, interweaving the past
and present of a tight-knit family, finding joy and happiness in even
the most difficult times.<br /><br />Areum lives life to its fullest,
vicariously through the stories of his parents, conversations with
Little Grandpa Jang―his sixty-year-old neighbor and best friend―and
through the books he reads to visit the places he would otherwise never
see.<br /><br />For several months, Areum has been working on a manuscript,
piecing together his parents’ often embellished stories about his family
and childhood. He hopes to present it on his birthday, as a final gift
to his mom and dad; their own falling-in-love story.<br /><br />Through it all, Areum and his family will have you laughing and crying, for all the right reasons.</i></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span><i>***</i></span></p><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Book ID:</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Title : My Brilliant Life</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Ae-ran Kim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>International Published Year : 2021</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 203</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Language: English (Original : Korean)</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Translated by : Chi-Young Kim</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Fiction, Melancholic, Asian</span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><span>Age recommendation : 13+ <br /></span></div><p style="text-align: center;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Before I came back from South Korea last year, I purchased many Korean Author books in case they will be difficult to find overseas. Then, it took time for me to read one by one. I picked this book, without reading the blurbs, assuming it will be the best companion during my short vacation at the beach. Long story short, I read it on the airplane, and tears ran down my eyes along the trip. It was a short read, took about 2.5 hours of intermittent reading. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Well, from the beginning, I was enchanted by the way Aerum- 16 years old boy- told the stories about his parents. Though still young, Areum's vocabulary is rich, and his mind is beyond an adult man, moreover like a middle man or a wise man. All his life, Areum learned everything from the books. This is how he describes books:</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Books were everything to be - a grandmother who told me stories all night long, a teacher who imparted all the knowledge in the world, a friend who shared their secrets and problems. Philosophy was difficult and I still don't understand many parts of those books, but I thought of them as a long, elegant poems. I figured the parts that didn't make sense to me would someday walk toward me and say hi, the way important lessons usually sink in later in life. They made my heart race without having to physically run."-Page 33.</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">As someone who grow up accompanied by books, those words were like a treasure that was just found inside my heart. That's how exactly how I felt about books, and the author delivers it very well.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Areum is sick since he was 2 years old, therefore he cannot attend school and didn't have same-age friends. His friend is little Grandpa Jang, the eccentric senior neighbor that lives together with his father, Grandpa Jang. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Areum is a good boy that understands very well about his circumstances. His parents, his parent's financial condition, and very perceiving whenever he talks with other people. He loves his parents the most and would do anything to lessen his parent's burden. He wants them to be happy because there is nothing that crushes a parent's heart anything more than their child's death.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">For his upcoming birthday, Areum plans to write a beloved story about how his parent met and fell in love and then decide to have Areum. Even breaking Areum's heart, he bravely asked a laptop to write his story. His parent, never been asked anything in particular by Areum, of course, grant his wish.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But during his process, in his routine check-up, Areum and his mother learned that Areum's sight was deteriorating. Not long, Areum will be blind. And his heart is in bad condition and Areum needs to be hospitalized. But his parent has no money.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One day, Areum overheard his parent being offered to be on a television show to gather the nation's attention to donate money for Areum's hospitalization bill. Areum, decide to do that and take a side of his project.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">When the producer and his crew met Areum, they realized how unique Areum-not only his condition but also his personality. The way he talks, his witty personality, and his vast knowledge. There is a conversation between Areum and Mr.Cha the producer before he decided to continue the program. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"What do you like to read?"</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"All kinds of books."</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Oh?"</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"My body is aging faster than my mind, so I have to make sure my mind matures as quickly as possible if I want to keep up,"</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Tell me about one of the books you've read recently,"</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Hm, let's see. Oh, there was a book of poetry I read recently. This line is great: "It's wonderful to become someone at once."</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"It is."</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"I also like this: 'It's a little sad not to become someone at once."</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Do you know what that means?"</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"I just like the phrase. You know how when a leaf falls on a lake, the surface of the water ripples silently? That happened in my heart when I read this." </span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Aw! How can you not fall in love with Areum's character? How he is wiser beyond his age and most of all he always trying to be stronger than anyone else that loves him.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I love everything about this book. Everyone's character distinction, his hardworking and jock father, his beautiful, loving mother, and the mischievous little Grandpa Jang. Even the antagonist that will come later, you cannot fall into the personality. Then I love how the author (and translator of course) describes nature, the heart, the sound, the mind, and anything in this book. Her diction is so melancholic yet imprints the words in my heart. Just like when a leaf falls on a lake. My heart shakes every other page whenever I found how generous Areum is towards misfortune in his life.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This book teaches me many things, not only sorrow that breaks my heart but how a son loves towards parents, how to not be angry about the situation, and make the best of a misfortune. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I recommend this book to be a must-read at least once in your life. Even if you dislike reading, maybe you can watch the movie version (but I haven't watched it hahaha) that was released in 2014.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It was such a treat finding a great book like this. Thank you Ae-ran Kim Jjjakanim! And yes, it ripped my heart apart!<br /></span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span><br /></span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-63116389545435309012022-05-09T14:43:00.002+07:002022-05-09T14:43:36.130+07:00Earthling by Sayaka Murata<br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ghX2JvGpllaqZk2rRIZ4WXQ6hsAxpnDjcxhZl0a48uqlvuLjmr8JfloGXO844Qz17wcH6qvxiC1VA-LNbDPpoGBSLYZLCPwrxRYk7QR3FDavD7UmHg7-dV0nYgBTU8fCuiJP3vKtI6IKcU8_VW0SAVMJUSMpWVFlLWJ_ixxTnk2O0hWr49n1hbr19g/s4032/IMG_1289.HEIC" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh5ghX2JvGpllaqZk2rRIZ4WXQ6hsAxpnDjcxhZl0a48uqlvuLjmr8JfloGXO844Qz17wcH6qvxiC1VA-LNbDPpoGBSLYZLCPwrxRYk7QR3FDavD7UmHg7-dV0nYgBTU8fCuiJP3vKtI6IKcU8_VW0SAVMJUSMpWVFlLWJ_ixxTnk2O0hWr49n1hbr19g/s320/IMG_1289.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Earthlings Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>As a child, Natsuki doesn’t fit into her family. Her parents favor
her sister, and her best friend is a plush toy hedgehog named Piyyut
who has explained to her that he has come from the planet Popinpobopia
on a special quest to help her save the Earth. Each summer, Natsuki
counts down the days until her family drives into the mountains of
Nagano to visit her grandparents in their wooden house in the forest, a
place that couldn’t be more different from her grey commuter town. One
summer, her cousin Yuu confides to Natsuki that he is an
extraterrestrial and that every night he searches the sky for the
spaceship that might take him back to his home planet. Natsuki wonders
if she might be an alien too. Back in her city home, Natsuki is scolded
or ignored and even preyed upon by a young teacher at her cram school.
As she grows up in a hostile, violent world, she consoles herself with
memories of her time with Yuu and discovers a surprisingly potent inner
power. Natsuki seems forced to fit into a society she deems a “baby
factory” but even as a married woman she wonders if there is more to
this world than the mundane reality everyone else seems to accept. The
answers are out there, and Natsuki has the power to find them. </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Title : Earthlings</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Sayaka Murata</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published year : 2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 249<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language : English</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Fiction, Utopia</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age Recommendation : 18+</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I loved Sayaka Murata right after I finished reading </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/#" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Convenience Store Woman</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, her quirk and the relatable protagonist have made her name carved into the hall of fame among the great Japanese author. So when her second book lies on the bookshelf, I do not doubt to check out without even checking the spoiler or blurbs.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And I am grateful! This book is one of the things that shouldn't be bothered by spoilers because you won't get excited during the roller coaster ride. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The story starts with the nostalgic little Natsuki, every summer, she and her family visit their relatives in a wooden house belonging to their grandfather in the mountainous area in Nagano Province. Nagano is famous as the Switzerland Area of Japan, a highland with narrow and winding streets. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">During the summer, all the cousins and nephews gathered together to celebrate the Obon Festival. But her family, especially her big sister and mother despise that routine. Every time, her sister will act up sick so the family can leave early.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But Natsuki loved to be there, the nature, and especially whenever she met her cousin, Yuu. Yuu has the same age as her and is obedient to Natsuki. One day, Yuu confesses that he is an alien that looking for his spaceship to go back to his planet. Natsuki, hearing that confession also wonders if maybe she is an alien also. She has a hedgehog named Piyyut that sometimes talks to her via telepathy. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Since they feel the same way, stranded on a strange planet and waiting to come back to their habitat, they get along together and make a pack to always come back in the next summer holiday. They promised each other to survive until they meet again next year. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Because when they come back to their hometown, they must face the reality of life. Yuu with his dependent mother, treat Yuu as his husband. And Natsuki lives with her abusive mother and harsh sister. Her friends also seem very different to her, they adored the part-time teacher at the cram school, that in fact, has harassed Natsuki many times. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One day, when their grandfather's sudden death, a tragedy happened, after that, the family change drastically, Yuu and Natsuki are not allowed to meet again even until they are both adults.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Twenty-three years later, Natsuki is an adult, she is married to an asexual husband, Tomoya. Their wedding is blanket protection from prying society that demands them to be standard humans. Both called the society the Factory.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Even then, Natsuki still feels that she is not human after all. She tries so hard to be drawn into humanity, but with no success. Meanwhile, Tomoya wants to do anything outside the standard context of humanity. He wants to leave behind his humanity and become an alien.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">After hearing so many stories about a wooden house in Nagano, Tomoya asked Natsuki to visit the house and stay for a while. The problem is, that Yuu lives there. Natsuki is unsure if her family will allow them. But finally, after a while, Natsuki and Yuu meet again.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I will stop the story here and let you read the book and enjoy the crazy ride like a roller coaster. Starting from that point, everything will make you jaw-dropping. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The story aspired when we were a child and thinking that maybe, we are from outer space. What if we didn't grow out of that idea until we are adults? because we always feel didn't fit in society. The dystopia of society, where most person judges us by the standardized life. Not only does marriage or having a baby matter, but also so many rules, and discoveries by a human that shapes our lives. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Besides the utopia idea, the book carries so many messages that are sometimes neglected by society. When a child cries for help, sometimes, adults-only wants to hear what they want to hear. Sometimes, we are too scared to think differently because the standard of humanity has shaped how our brains work.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I have mixed feelings about reading this book. I love the messages because once again Sayaka-san knocked out the heart by telling an atypical human being, innocently. No, there is no satire or hateful comments towards humanity, as I feel. But what I am uncomfortable with is some of the themes brought to the book. I won't spill it, maybe simply because I never read this kind of book before.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Overall, it is a great book. The book is 249 pages long, but we can read it in a single sit. It is easy to digest and somehow slightly different from most Japanese Authors that I know! I'd say I recommend this book to any reader who wants to enjoy a different perspective when </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-12934947615591004072022-04-25T09:20:00.005+07:002022-04-25T09:27:22.167+07:00The Good Son by You-Jeong Jeong<div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxgnCMuJ4XfXsbCeninNZ5i9eYhCxa-cIO3m-FQLuOqwGuogIQ-78lRFHloJhUe1vpWsDQkM_fymU9SQj0BmQspoFAx1vtf0V6Xjj9zV4EZM3zaNPi2OgC4ZaG3GFVz71f9YZnV6rUBWTPVzxHnT44osjaecJbZ9D3iD-W2ShLyt4oBwd5arwTLMO1A/s4032/IMG_0304.HEIC" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivxgnCMuJ4XfXsbCeninNZ5i9eYhCxa-cIO3m-FQLuOqwGuogIQ-78lRFHloJhUe1vpWsDQkM_fymU9SQj0BmQspoFAx1vtf0V6Xjj9zV4EZM3zaNPi2OgC4ZaG3GFVz71f9YZnV6rUBWTPVzxHnT44osjaecJbZ9D3iD-W2ShLyt4oBwd5arwTLMO1A/w300-h400/IMG_0304.HEIC" width="300" /></a></div><br /> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>**** <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Early one morning, twenty-six-year-old Yu-jin wakes up to a strange metallic smell, and a phone call from his brother asking if everything's all right at home – he missed a call from their mother in the middle of the night. Yu-jin soon discovers her murdered body, lying in a pool of blood at the bottom of the stairs of their stylish Seoul duplex. He can't remember much about the night before; having suffered from seizures for most of his life, Yu-jin often has trouble with his memory. All he has is a faint impression of his mother calling his name. But was she calling for help? Or begging for her life?
Thus begins Yu-jin's frantic three-day search to uncover what happened that night, and to finally learn the truth about himself and his family. A shocking and addictive psychological thriller, The Good Son explores the mysteries of mind and memory, and the twisted relationship between a mother and son, with incredible urgency.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>***</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Title : The Good Son</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Author : You-Jeong Jeong</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Published year : 2018 <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Pages : 309<br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Language : English<br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Genre : Psylogical Thriller <br /></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Age Recommendation : 18+ </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: justify;"><i><br /></i></div>I know it won't an easy read when it comes to reading You-Jeong Jeong's work. Mostly, she wrote based on the killer's point of view, and most of the time, they have mental health issues. But still, I didn't expect I was thrown and agitated learning about the killer's 'struggle'.Because it is so real like I am in the maze of evil's brain and I cannot judge him.<br /> <br />So the story is about Why-did-it, not Who-done-it. You can guess the plotline, all the way from the beginning if you had read several works of the Author. They have the same writing style. <br /> <br />There is Yujin, twenty-five years old boy who lives under her mother's roof together with his best friend and adoptive brother, Hae-jin (yes the name is a bit confusing). Yu-jin's life should be wonderful, he is a former swimming champion, smart and young. But, inside, He's handicapped by his disease, epileptic. The disease also end his swimming career and made his life under 24-hours surveillance by her mother. <br /> <br />Secretly, Yu-jin likes to sneak away from his house at midnight thru the roof stairs and run to the sea wall. Usually, the neighbor's dog always makes a sound whenever he climbs the stairs, like notifying anyone he's run away from the house.<br /> <br />One day, he woke up and feel the metallic smell while whole his body was covered in blood, not his. Downstairs, he found his mother's bloody body and a trace of blood along the stairs up to his room. <br /> <br />The thing is, he didn't remember much about last night. He tried to remember by analyzing the things that usually happen around his routines. He remembers about being raining last night, he noticed his muddy shoes, but why did he find mud trace in her mother's shoes? About her white night-gown, something he purchased for her mother's birthday but barely seen to be worn. A car key in her mother's gown. <br /><br />He didn't hurry to call the Police. He analyzes every detail possibility that happened during the night while trying to reach his black-out memories. He knows the Police will suspect him if he found the blood trace, so the best thing is to clean the body and the house before his adoptive brother gets home and suspect him.<br /><br />On and on, his selective memories come back in pieces, not only what happened recently, but also during his teenage years, child-age. The memories about his passed brother, Yu-Min, a razor that belongs to his father, his eagerness to keep swimming but prohibited by his mother. <br /><br />He found her mother's journal that spans his early years. He didn't recall what happen until he read it in the journal, but once he remember, he remember every piece and detail about it. <br /><br />Likewise, I know who did it from the start, and I have a glimpse of what happened in the past that craved his relationship with his mother. To be honest, the early chapter is quite slow and dragging especially when Yu-Jin tries to analyze what happened at the crime scene. Once he got the realization of who had done it, and his memories came back, it become a page-turner (about page 50 and so on).<br /><br />Yu-jin feels betrayed during his whole life when he thought he is epileptic, not the way around, the medicine made his seizure. He loves the sensation when he is no longer taking the medicine, his sense is sharper, though he must deal with the headache. <br /><br />Reading the journal, sporadically, he finally understands what happened during the years, why his mother was so protective of him, and who should be blamed for his failure to become the greatest swimmer. He knows, he holds grudges for a very long time. <br /><br />While I, the reader, was so awed trailing the maze of a psychopath's brain. His non-existent moral compass, his brilliant brain, to be honest not a fun ride but you know you gotta continue because you want to know the ending door. Like a visiting haunted house, you know it will scare you, but you just want to know.<br /><br />Even after I finished reading, the aftershock still lingers on me. I hate reading something like this (like watching You-at Netflix), but the journey was crazily good (but I'm DNF-ing You because it's too disturbing). <br /> <br />I read that several famous serial killers in Korea inspired the author to write about Yu-Jin, and yet I cannot comprehend them, but I understand Yu Jin (but not endorsed his act). <br /> <br />Well, actually, after reading it, I gotta checking every door if it has been locked at the night. Because I don't want a strange psychopath to come to my house and kill me and my family just because they have an episode. Yes, Imagine, that's the impact after reading this book. <br /> <br />Yet, if you love psychological thrills, I recommend this book. You don't have to guess who do it, you will know right away, but relax, there are unexpected events along the way that made your grip tighter like whenever you watch horror movies. It's a hell ride!<br /> theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-17453430324011202212022-04-17T11:29:00.004+07:002022-04-17T11:35:54.582+07:00Love & Gelato by Jenna Evan Welch<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2xAA-Hi7tZei-217G6CkWRmkfykuZ6JPQYi5K-3bR77U8gA7ONLq_5JW2RkY0nyq0F2bu3BEmFdH7jMR_w77cvhrAuJ7N68vukr111p-dkObafWHOHV8d3_x0pqGKCXLHE-Frbb4C6NhGkaYohOEDmH_Y0XwsbijB1cDnPwhGz7F8BWcQpwE62_Cmw/s4032/IMG_0183.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF2xAA-Hi7tZei-217G6CkWRmkfykuZ6JPQYi5K-3bR77U8gA7ONLq_5JW2RkY0nyq0F2bu3BEmFdH7jMR_w77cvhrAuJ7N68vukr111p-dkObafWHOHV8d3_x0pqGKCXLHE-Frbb4C6NhGkaYohOEDmH_Y0XwsbijB1cDnPwhGz7F8BWcQpwE62_Cmw/s320/IMG_0183.HEIC" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>Lina is spending the summer in Tuscany, but she isn’t in the mood
for Italy’s famous sunshine and fairy-tale landscape. She’s only there
because it was her mother’s dying wish that she get to know her father.
But what kind of father isn’t around for sixteen years? All Lina wants
to do is get back home.<br /> <br />But then Lina is given a journal that
her mom had kept when she lived in Italy. Suddenly Lina’s uncovering a
magical world of secret romances, art, and hidden bakeries. A world that
inspires Lina, along with the ever-so-charming Ren, to follow in her
mother’s footsteps and unearth a secret that has been kept for far too
long. It’s a secret that will change everything Lina knew about her
mother, her father—and even herself.<br /> <br />People come to Italy for love and gelato, someone tells her, but sometimes they discover much more.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Title : Love & Gelato</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Jenna Evan Welch</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published date : May 2016</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Pages : 400 Pages</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language : English</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Young Adult, Romance, Travel</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Age Recommendation : 10+</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p>It is always nice to take a break from Asian Literature and then dive into American Young Adult fiction. Like a scoop of Gelato, this book defines love and family matters in a sweet, sour, and refreshing story.<br /><br />Carolina, a high school student from the USA, just experienced a life-changing moment. Her world crashed in a matter of months because of her mother's sickness. A terminal pancreatic cancer, 4 months after the diagnosis, her mother passed away. <br /><br />Before that, Carolina- or Lina made a promise to her mother to try to stay in Florence, a beautiful city in Italy. Under normal circumstances, it would be a blessing. But suddenly her mother spews so many stories about a man named Howard, who lives in Italy. And in a matter of no time, Lina flew to Italy to stay during the summer with this just-known man, Howard.<br /><br />Howard is a gigantic man, with blond hair and blue eyes. So much different from Lina, but she learned from her grandmother that Howard is his estranged father. <br /><br />On top of all, Howard is the caretaker of the US Memorial of WWII victims in Florence. They live deep in the cemetery, though that is just a symbol. <br /><br />Resistance at first, Lina slowly explores the city with a cute boy that lives in a ginger beard house behind the cemetery. Lorenzo or Ren. <br /><br />Plus, there is a journal from her mother that send specifically to Italy before she passed away. Lina peeled every page slowly and explore the city while learning the truth, about what happened to her mother during her stay in Italy. <br /><br />Meanwhile, her future classmates are good people. They welcome her, and there is a special handsome boy with a British accent, Thomas that may like Lina. Should Lina stays after the summer or does she need to come back to the US, and live with her best friend? Because as beautiful as the city, as delicious as the food, everything surrounding her is foreign to her skin.<br /><br />This book delivers a 'general' plotline in a very unique way that is made in an unpredictable 3/4-way. But, hey, nobody mind with cliche plotline when it comes to a romantic story. <br /><br />Combining a dreamy city, handsome and beautiful boy, American teenage girl with family matters is a good formula to flutter every reader's heart. I like how the author didn't bring the old formula into a detailed plot. Bring Thomas to the story, how Lina initiates kissing even how relentless she is to pursue her mother's story (without even finishing the journal first! yes, teenager!) and of course fighting for the feeling.<br /><br />I love the chemistry between the funny and sarcastic Lina combining the good father and dorky Howard. How they endure the mourning phase and fight for the love they believe in. Though Lina's mother has no line except in the first chapter, her journals echoed how dynamic, brave and lovely her character is. <br /><br />There are so many Italian stereotypes in the book, I don't know how the Italians take it. Plus, sometimes the metaphor is undecipherable like, "my voice was like weak tea". The diction and sentences especially in the early chapters are not flowing seamlessly. <br /><br />Yet, it is a light-reading that is a bit questioning your logic. But, I don't mind! It is the best book to take a break from the heavy theme and fluffed my heart during the break.<br /><br />It is a good read! And this book would make a good motion pictures in Netflix! <br />theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-7205510948204841562022-04-14T22:43:00.001+07:002022-04-14T22:43:29.930+07:00The Factory by Hiroko Oyamada<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q3AukfsLi_DG-cvy15TtZFir2hgANba3RaJ_EvxLPVTICzoORMMTuwhPeW0Ajhk_CYQMePeVuSEFB4qhYJhZ-GwvBh1NQ-vVINmyZcHg71XTUoyvoVMyTOMwmECBtUn5ZWU8-TXpYBVvXzb9BlLGrvLimEzPWyBCYpenWIfKBDnwXxNyEXSrAMcLrg/s4032/IMG_0146.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh0q3AukfsLi_DG-cvy15TtZFir2hgANba3RaJ_EvxLPVTICzoORMMTuwhPeW0Ajhk_CYQMePeVuSEFB4qhYJhZ-GwvBh1NQ-vVINmyZcHg71XTUoyvoVMyTOMwmECBtUn5ZWU8-TXpYBVvXzb9BlLGrvLimEzPWyBCYpenWIfKBDnwXxNyEXSrAMcLrg/w300-h400/IMG_0146.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Novella The Factory</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p style="text-align: center;">****</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 14px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">The English-language debut of one of Japan's most exciting new writers, The Factory follows three workers at a sprawling industrial factory. Each worker focuses intently on the specific task they've been assigned: one shreds paper, one proofreads documents, and another studies the moss growing all over the expansive grounds. But their lives slowly become governed by their work―days take on a strange logic and momentum, and little by little, the margins of reality seem to be dissolving: Where does the factory end and the rest of the world begin? What's going on with the strange animals here? And after a while―it could be weeks or years―the three workers struggle to answer the most basic question: What am I doing here?</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">With hints of Kafka and unexpected moments of creeping humor, The Factory casts a vivid―and sometimes surreal―portrait of the absurdity and meaninglessness of the modern workplace.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">***</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Author : Hirohito Oyamada</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Published date : 29 October 2019</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Genre : fiction, contemporary, Japanese Literature</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Original Language : Japanese</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: center;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Judging by the pages, I thought the novella is typically one-sit-ending, yet I was wrong. The Factory, brings a quite heavy theme, weaving the mundane life and philosophical idea about the essence of life.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">There are three protagonists told in the story. A young and ordinary woman in the early 20s, a 30’s man that just out of a permanent job, and a researcher just offered a project in a mega-factory.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The woman initially applies job for a permanent position, but judging from her experience, switching one job to another in a short term, she got offered a temp work. She will be in charge of shredding documents at the supporting department that lies in the basement and far corner of the building. Not that the job is not important, people in that department should know that all documents are confidential so potentially, somebody may approach them to leak the documents.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The middle aged-man offered to work as a proofreader in the factory. Same as the woman, he works as a temp. There are few people in his department, and most of them are women. Every day, he read all of the documents and corrects them, yet he is unsure that his contribution matter. Many documents he read, in Japanese, and English but nobody teaches him anything. He only can consult with the dictionary on his desk, and not long, he falls into a routine, and sometimes, he dozes off on his desk. Something that was previously really shameful, but lately, it is acceptable.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The researcher, who previously worked at the university and suddenly offered to work at the factory for the project on green moss. From the beginning, the work offer was strange. He was asked to transform the factory’s roof into green moss, yet he will work alone In the department. There is no deadline or supervisor for his work. Once a year, he held a Moss hunt in the factory, to identify moss vegetation throughout the factory.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">The factory itself is so big, even bigger than the city. At least someone in every house or someone that they know works at the factory. If someone works there, it is an achievement. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Though at first, we cannot see the connection between those three protagonists, slowly we learn it. But no matter the connection, the most brilliant thing about this book, is the detailed description of the surrounding, the sound, the air, and the environment are so vivid and slowly, without realizing, the story shifted from the mundane life into the essence of human life.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">There are many questions asked that may be relatable to ours. Why are we even here? Why do I need to work? Is life really about working? Every day we face the same routines, without we realized, that 15 years have gone by and we missed out on many things. </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">We are introduced from the three different perspectives. Younger workers, that may still have many choices on how to build their career yet should be thankful to have a job while many others do not; middle-aged men, have few choices of career but must face dull jobs every day, and a respectable job; researcher, an idealist yet got confused the relation between his field of job and the applicability in the factory.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">I understand why the book is such a hit, especially in Japan, one of the countries with the longest working hours. There are many workers out there who question why we even live if life is about working? </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">Then, why I said this book cannot be categorized as one-sit-ending, is because the author has a unique way to tell the story without bothering with the usual rules of paragraphs. Sometimes, the story jumps to one another without any marking or new paragraph. So the reader must concentrate to read and understand it, avoiding rereading it.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">It is a very unique book. Many may dislike it because of the strangeness. Bold writing from the newcomer author, that successfully gathers the world’s attention.</p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;">It was a good read and refreshing! </p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; margin: -4px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; text-align: justify;"> </p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-69362311102491332822022-03-11T16:19:00.004+07:002022-03-11T16:25:13.248+07:00The Vanishing Half by Brit Bennet<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYYRJyR_93MxGTMrwf1fv9ElO5IKb-P5U-s7SMvqO8d8vwpr-bMfMxE2tNC33VHAD1nHt844WyGrxKIUZdBZh8CwkfKeVtj9hBECDUMWWWX2L2RK6DTb-lIuBQRqopFfQPBBMoQwvXmy1Iviz_I-9N089n5jEIyQSulLp2fzC0WcbdPC7U_rZUSpAH7w=s3024" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjYYRJyR_93MxGTMrwf1fv9ElO5IKb-P5U-s7SMvqO8d8vwpr-bMfMxE2tNC33VHAD1nHt844WyGrxKIUZdBZh8CwkfKeVtj9hBECDUMWWWX2L2RK6DTb-lIuBQRqopFfQPBBMoQwvXmy1Iviz_I-9N089n5jEIyQSulLp2fzC0WcbdPC7U_rZUSpAH7w=w400-h400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition <br /></td></tr></tbody></table><span> </span><p></p><p><i><span>The Vignes twin sisters will always be identical. But after
growing up together in a small, southern black community and running
away at age sixteen, it's not just the shape of their daily lives that
is different as adults, it's everything: their families, their
communities, their racial identities. Many years later, one sister lives
with her black daughter in the same southern town she once tried to
escape. The other secretly passes for white, and her white husband knows
nothing of her past. Still, even separated by so many miles and just as
many lies, the fates of the twins remain intertwined. What will happen
to the next generation, when their own daughters' storylines intersect?<br /><br />Weaving
together multiple strands and generations of this family, from the Deep
South to California, from the 1950s to the 1990s, Brit Bennett produces
a story that is at once a riveting, emotional family story and a
brilliant exploration of the American history of passing. Looking well beyond issues of race, The Vanishing Half
considers the lasting influence of the past as it shapes a person's
decisions, desires, and expectations, and explores some of the multiple
reasons and realms in which people sometimes feel pulled to live as
something other than their origins. </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Title : The Vanishing Half</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Author : Brit Bennet</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Published date: June 2020, by Riverhead<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Genre : Historical Fiction<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span>Language : English<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span> </span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span>"Her death hit in waves. Not a flood, but water lapping steadily at her
ankles. You could drown in two inches of water. Maybe grief was the same."</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span> </span></i></p>I expected a lot when picking up this book from the shelf since it is the best historical fiction in 2020 and I skipped my book queue to read the book every night before I slept. The setting is around the '60s to early '90s, considering the time span and the thickness of the book (about 366 pages), in my opinion, it is the right fit. <br /><br />There was a really small town called Mallard where the citizens are mostly colored people from the previous generation. When the era has not been kind to colored persons, the situation made them adapt, they are trying to dilute their color and live like white-wanna be. <br /><br />The thing is, colored persons recognize other colored persons. Though people can overlook Desiree and Stella as white people, they are too afraid to try the white person lane, or white person sections in the swimming pool. <br /><br />Desiree and Stella are identical twins. Desiree, as a big sister, is the braver but also the reckless one. Meanwhile, Stella is the calculated one, quiet, smart, and obedient. Then one day, the twin decided to escape the town at the age of sixteen.<br /><br />Adventurous Desiree leads the way. Underage and having no money, they worked illegally and lived in a dinged and small apartment. <br /><br />But it was several years ago, the book opened with the arrival of Desiree at Mallard. Bringing a small girl as black as a jet, but without a husband, even more Stella. The town, gossipping but welcomes Desire back. And their single mother, shocked as ever especially saw the little girl, Kennedy, but welcome it anyhow.<br /><br />Kennedy, being the only blackest girl in the school, learn how to be invisible as a shadow. Her colored skin stands out so much that it is hard for her to have a friend, and accept herself. In that era, black and girl is separated and treated differently.<br /><br />Kennedy loves to run, she's the fastest runner, and she knows, she needs to escape Mallard, like her never-met-aunt, Stella. After graduating from High School, Kennedy decided to pursue her study where she cannot be recognized anymore.<br /><br />At California, Kennedy finally found a community that was willing to befriend her without glancing at her skin color. There, Kennedy found love and encounter her mother's past, Stella.<br /><br />Stella, of course, is a very different person. She's white, rich, and unreachable. Kennedy met Stella's daughter and naturally, Stella want to inform them that they are cousins. But of course, it is not easy.<br />There are so many issues brought in this book, racial, LGBTQ, social class, domestic violence on top of the self-seeking phase for the bi-racial protagonists. Though from the blurbs, we can assume that the main spotlight will be on the twins, it is not really. The main spotlight is Kennedy, a black girl from a small town, struggling her way to be accepted by society. <br /><br />The story of course stellar, the dictions are beautiful. But in my opinion, it is losing its depths. I want to know more about the interesting-Desiree, her character is built up elegantly, but most of the time, the story is about Kennedy. There are parts that we looking forward to reading the detail, the days how Stella finally chose to be white, her inner battle, because adult Stella, transform into a robotic rich woman that barely shows her heart.<br /><br />But overall, it is a very good read. Many books and movies raise racial issues, and this is one of the outstanding.<br /><br />theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-50906293681814234572022-02-24T13:43:00.005+07:002022-02-24T13:43:31.374+07:00The Nakano Thrift Shop by Hiromi Kawakami<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvI7_Uvl1Wq0atn9Re2ZYoD4bYvqdk-mxJ7FhZTsMMp4WB9Zglm3XFJNHW7E5bsyMev63tuIGYzTMLhc9gMNuvRtzVQ1heh37ixjcH9Zov_kSexi_CLLBrKxjpzEx-LHzcEkjnxSbEQLhOeyx5ySfB0xpJXus5R3rzGHo-fmruObarRPU_RLnPKDX52Q=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgvI7_Uvl1Wq0atn9Re2ZYoD4bYvqdk-mxJ7FhZTsMMp4WB9Zglm3XFJNHW7E5bsyMev63tuIGYzTMLhc9gMNuvRtzVQ1heh37ixjcH9Zov_kSexi_CLLBrKxjpzEx-LHzcEkjnxSbEQLhOeyx5ySfB0xpJXus5R3rzGHo-fmruObarRPU_RLnPKDX52Q=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p><i><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">From the author of
Strange Weather in Tokyo comes this funny, heartwarming story about
love, life, and human relationships that features a delightfully offbeat
cast of characters.<br /><br />Objects for sale at the Nakano Thrift Shop
appear as commonplace as the staff and customers that handle them. But
like those same customers and staff, they hold many secrets. If examined
carefully, they show the signs of innumerable extravagancies, of
immeasurable pleasure and pain, and of the deep mysteries of the human
heart.<br /><br />Hitomi, the inexperienced young woman who works the
register at Mr. Nakano's thrift shop, has fallen for her coworker, the
oddly reserved Takeo. Unsure of how to attract his attention, she seeks
advice from her employer's sister, Masayo, whose sentimental
entanglements make her a somewhat unconventional guide. But thanks in
part to Masayo, Hitomi will come to realize that love, desire, and
intimacy require acceptance not only of idiosyncrasies but also of the
delicate waltz between open and hidden secrets.<br /><br />Animating each
delicately rendered chapter in Kawakami's playful novel is Mr. Nakano
himself, an original, entertaining, and enigmatic creation whose
compulsive mannerisms, secretive love life, and impulsive behavior defy
all expectations.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText14815099139689871193"> </span><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">Title : The Nakano Thrift Shop</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">Author : Hiromi Kawakami</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">Published date : June 2017 (English Ver)</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">Genre : Fiction, Contemporary</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14815099139689871193">Language : English</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I have had a strange coincidence in the last several years, reading Hiromi Kawakami's book at every beginning of the year. </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" style="color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank">From Strange Weather in Tokyo</a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> to </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" style="color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank">the Ten Love of Mr. Nishino</a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">, I love the strange feeling whenever after I read her books.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The Nakano Thrift Shop brings back the same formula of her previous book, an encounter with peculiar persons in a daily mundane environment. The protagonist is Hitomi, a woman in her early 20s, has no experience and is just between teenage life and adulthood, works in a thrift store, owned by Mr. Nakano.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are only two employees, Hitomi, and a man named Takeo, aside from Mr. Nakano. Mr. Nakano has a sister, Masayo, who an artist, eccentric, and very romantic, often visit the store and have a chat with Hitomi.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The story is mostly about an ordinary day in the store. A pick-up, house call, strange customers, strange objects, and days when the season affect the store. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">While Hitomi is doing storekeeping, she usually has a chat with Mr.Nakano or Masayo. Takeo is very introverted and seldom makes a long conversation. But three of them always indulge the peculiarity of Mr. Nakano. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Mr. Nakano visits ‘the bank’ very often, which means he has a mistress and makes a visit during daylight. He also talks oddly, starting with “ as you know” as the opener. Hitomi didn’t understand why the woman in middle age was so attracted to Mr. Nakano. Maybe the way he smiles, or talks. But surely, Mr. Nakano has a very beautiful mistress.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Meanwhile, Hitomi is exploring herself. She is attracted to Takeo but has zero experience regarding man or boy. She seeks advice from Masayo, who has a very romantic ideal about love, and many experiences with the man. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Slowly but sure, the season has changed, so do the shop. More customers are coming, more house pick-up, even Mr. Nakano asked by several customers to value their items. Hitomi’s relationship with Takeo also shifted. Is she really in love with Takeo? How to be brave when it is a time to fight for love or just surrender? </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Masayo and Mr. Nakano’s life also shifted. A year passed by without they even realizing it, and everything’s changed.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are many reasons why I love Japanese literature, from classic to contemporary. They humbly raise the issue in mundane life. There is no big-bang or general formula: intro-conflict-climax-ending. Sometimes there is no climax or conflict at all.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In this case, this is a humble story about an inexperienced girl working for the first time in a relatively small working place. She falls in love with her co-worker but struggles to find the bravery to make a decision. On the plus side, she has a very interesting boss. Even he’s a petty man, he’s a decent human being and usually has a very mind-blowing perception. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yes, at first, it is very slow-moving, but not painful. The reader can enjoy the conversation and banter between cheeky Mr. Nakano with anyone else. Subtly, there is a plot, Hitomi’s relationship development with Takeo, and later, how working with Mr. Nakano not only gives her valuable experience but an attitude toward life.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is simple yet very moving writing. Maybe, a lot of people will struggle with the very ordinary Hitomi. She’s an average girl working in not-so-fancy-place.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">From my point of view, it was a difficult task to keep the reader engage in a ‘pointless’ conversation without getting bored and Kawakami-San did a really good job in this book. Mr. Nakano’s character reminds me of the eccentricity of Mr. Nishino in her previous book.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In conclusion, yes, please read it. It is a very enjoyable book. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Bonus, here is a quote from the book that I found has a very deep meaning:</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">“When you get old and far-sighted, you can’t look your sweetheart in the eye from close up. You need a little distance so that you can focus on each other. So that your faces don’t look blurry.” </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">A very good metaphor for a relationship of the ‘old’ couple.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-80491675620371841822022-02-17T17:38:00.007+07:002022-02-17T17:38:53.014+07:00Cloud Cuckoo Land By Anthony Doerr<p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCV7greNz0dOxv6WHu_k1b8IPKIS7XSBm9z9paW5Ue_IRBDavGSjNbBUbEtVjUTjJSpumk-Cjx5PfLyCwjO2lmEJOmsgJ2-q9g493tmHgz440H9VLISjHOSkzi6BWZi4mHbk3IHC8wlKdU5kH7wwicRW9ja2pyKuQRs15MR6sAW1TpdWY4qEqRnqRWaQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjCV7greNz0dOxv6WHu_k1b8IPKIS7XSBm9z9paW5Ue_IRBDavGSjNbBUbEtVjUTjJSpumk-Cjx5PfLyCwjO2lmEJOmsgJ2-q9g493tmHgz440H9VLISjHOSkzi6BWZi4mHbk3IHC8wlKdU5kH7wwicRW9ja2pyKuQRs15MR6sAW1TpdWY4qEqRnqRWaQ=s320" width="240" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloud Cuckoo Land Softcover Edition</td></tr></tbody></table><br /> </p><p style="text-align: center;">Title : Cloud Cuckoo Land</p><p style="text-align: center;">Author : Anthony Doerr</p><p style="text-align: center;">Published : September 2021</p><p style="text-align: center;">Genre : Historical Fiction, Sci-fi</p><p style="text-align: center;">Language : English</p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Thirteen-year-old Anna, an orphan, lives inside the formidable walls of Constantinople in a house of women who make their living embroidering the robes of priests. Restless, insatiably curious, Anna learns to read, and in this ancient city, famous for its libraries, she finds a book, the story of Aethon, who longs to be turned into a bird so that he can fly to a utopian paradise in the sky. This she reads to her ailing sister as the walls of the only place she has known are bombarded in the great siege of Constantinople. Outside the walls is Omeir, a village boy, miles from home, conscripted with his beloved oxen into the invading army. His path and Anna’s will cross.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Five hundred years later, in a library in Idaho, octogenarian Zeno, who learned Greek as a prisoner of war, rehearses five children in a play adaptation of Aethon’s story, preserved against all odds through centuries. Tucked among the library shelves is a bomb, planted by a troubled, idealistic teenager, Seymour. This is another siege. And in a not-so-distant future, on the interstellar ship Argos, Konstance is alone in a vault, copying on scraps of sacking the story of Aethon, told to her by her father. She has never set foot on our planet.<br style="box-sizing: border-box;" /><br style="box-sizing: border-box;" />Like Marie-Laure and Werner in </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">All the Light We Cannot See</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">, Anna, Omeir, Seymour, Zeno, and Konstance are dreamers and outsiders who find resourcefulness and hope in the midst of gravest danger. Their lives are gloriously intertwined, and Doerr’s dazzling imagination transports us to worlds so dramatic and immersive that we forget, for a time, our own. Dedicated to “the librarians then, now, and in the years to come,” </span><span class="a-text-italic" style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">Cloud Cuckoo Land</span><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"> is a beautiful and redemptive novel about stewardship—of the book, of the Earth, of the human heart.</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;"><br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; box-sizing: border-box; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-align: start;">***</span></i></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">When I saw Anthony Doer’s book stacked at the Bookshop last month, I was elated. It’s been so long since my beloved </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" style="color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank">All the Light We Cannot See</a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">. Purchased it, and then finished my-mandatory-non-fiction-book, I pick this book, despite the long queue of other books.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And I didn’t read any single word in the blurbs. I trust the big name of Anthony. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are five major ‘streams line’ in this book led by five different persons, and three different timelines. First, in every different chapter, we meet one page of ‘Cloud Cuckoo Land’, an ancient book written by Diogenes. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Then our first protagonist Zeno, set in 2020 when He was a librarian. He’s busy on one winter day rehearsing with several kids that will perform a play Cloud Cuckoo Land. Zeno is a veteran of the Korean War. During the war, he met a man that introduced him to Ancient Greek. He’s in love with the language. Since he was a child, Zeno is always a strange kid. A strange name and strange skin color. During his childhood, he found salvation in the library.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The second protagonist is Seymour. He is also an outcast. Raised by a single mother, Seymour is forced to be an adult in early life. While her mother works very hard in between jobs, the money is never enough. Until Seymour’s uncle's death and they inherited an old house near Lake Idaho. There is a forest at the back of their house and becomes Seymour’s favorite place. He befriended an owl. Seymour cannot tolerate loud sounds or strong smells. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In the 2020 setting, Seymour is visiting the Library while Zeno is upstairs with the children. They are crossing in this timeline. Eighty-six year Zeno and teenage Seymour.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The third and fourth protagonists are in the 1400s. Anna is an orphan girl living with her sister, Maria in Constantinople. Anna is an explorer, she always seeks freedom outside the wall, rather than living as a sewing worker like Maria. When Anna saw someone reading a book, she was drawn and found it mesmerizing. She learns to read Ancient Greek and later, become a very valuable skill.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Behind the enemy line, there is Omeir. A boy with a cleft palate. He is the only one of the protagonists that didn’t have a close relationship with the book. Omeir, along with man in his country marched to penetrate the wall of Constantinople where Anna lived.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And the last protagonist is Konstance, traveling in a spacecraft named Argos to distant planet Oph2, to flee from pollution, drought, and wildfires.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">A lot is going on in this book. Environmental awareness that knitted the present day and fifty years beyond. There is also about autism, a self-searching or redemption thru a war, poverty, and many more. But, above all the stories are interwoven ultimately by the Cloud Cuckoo Land that traveled generations after generations.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The idea of the story is ambitious and brilliant. Even I am not a fan of Sci-Fi, I love the story of Konstance the most. I love history-fiction but am dragged by the story of Omeir and Anna. </span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">About 4/5 of the books are very slow-paced. I almost DNF several times because it is going nowhere. The story of Anna and Omeir waiting for the war is too long. But yes, Doerr's words and sentences are lyrical and beautiful, still cannot save the boredom in my mind.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And suddenly, the book has a very fast-paced plot. There is a lot of unexplainable cause like what happened in Argos during Konstance self-isolation. What changes Seymour’s mind after the tragedy in the library. Why are the later-adult children in the library willing to meet Seymour, after what happened in the past?</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But above all, there are a lot of subtle messages in the book (and hard diction). How the internet radicalizes the pure mind, how in the future to escape natural disasters, we must become refugees to understand the cost of war. All our protagonists are either seeking redemption or purpose in life. The lonesome, misfit that wants a decent place in the world.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Aethons in the story of Cloud Cuckoo Land is the metaphor of this book, a red thread linking thru the time gap and protagonist. This book is also about how we survive during the cruel condition and eventually find the love that saves us, and maybe the earth.</span></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I didn’t love this book as I love All the light we cannot See. It is a great book, but just too exhausting reading 700 pages where most of it is waiting for the game. Anthony Doerr is still the ambitious and idealist, that makes us love him. So in the conclusion, if you have plenty of vacant time, you can read this book and experience 700 years span.</span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p><p style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #0f1111; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: 100%; caret-color: rgb(15, 17, 17); font-size: 14px;"><br /></span></span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-89530616363165830792022-01-15T18:28:00.006+07:002022-01-15T18:34:36.059+07:00A Little Life by Hanya Yanagihara<p style="text-align: center;"></p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOctjg6QG3wLi8lD9WH4h3K34fJceqLlahlLy_RH9OuWCiaRqft_Ka0WKWrLgTrsmgiOjbuZoITlBc3piGLvh0tLPOhweKFDBGX4qGJH9wvUTLjczQaPQDh6VASGW4yhbqE7FwwImlhDkg5B_k7DLUFA7j-EXQ5YSDVsZVu65emf1SHkm_bLGJk5VfoQ=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiOctjg6QG3wLi8lD9WH4h3K34fJceqLlahlLy_RH9OuWCiaRqft_Ka0WKWrLgTrsmgiOjbuZoITlBc3piGLvh0tLPOhweKFDBGX4qGJH9wvUTLjczQaPQDh6VASGW4yhbqE7FwwImlhDkg5B_k7DLUFA7j-EXQ5YSDVsZVu65emf1SHkm_bLGJk5VfoQ=w480-h640" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A Little Life Paperback Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i> <br /></i><p></p><p><i> A Little Life follows four college classmates—broke, adrift, and
buoyed only by their friendship and ambition—as they move to New York in
search of fame and fortune. While their relationships, which are tinged
by addiction, success, and pride, deepen over the decades, the men are
held together by their devotion to the brilliant, enigmatic Jude, a man
scarred by an unspeakable childhood trauma. A hymn to brotherly bonds
and a masterful depiction of love in the twenty-first century, Hanya
Yanagihara’s stunning novel is about the families we are born into, and
those that we make for ourselves.</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">***</p><p style="text-align: center;">Title : A Little Life</p><p style="text-align: center;">Author : Hanya Yanagihara</p><p style="text-align: center;">Published year: 2015<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Pages: 816<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Genre: Coming of Age, Melancholic, Fiction<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Publisher : Penguin Random House <br /></p><p style="text-align: center;"><br /></p><p>Before I decided to purchase and later read this book, I noticed many readers recommend this book because we can feel the Osamu-Dazai- vibes in the book. When I saw the book volume, to be honest, a second thought came into mind, lately, I don't have the luxury of time to read seven hundred pages and more. But I love Osamu Dazai's vibes in any book, so I give it a go.<br /><br />The story opened with the life glance of the four friends. Malcolm, a rich kid but have deep inferiority in front of his father. Then JB, the black kid from a successful household. He'd always be the center of attention, have a lot of friends and the aspiring artist among them. And here is Willem, the handsome boy but always looks solemn. He's an aspiring actor, and maybe, not the most brilliant mind between the four of them. Then, in the opposite of everyone, Jude, the tall man who always looks quiet and has a lot of secrets in the past. He is the smartest, anyone who saw him always admire his mind. <br /><br />Even they are very close to each other. but Willem closet the most with Jude. After coming to New York, They lived together in a small and shabby apartment-that rarely have the elevator worked. Meanwhile, JB is always close with Malcolm. <br /><br />The four boys, known each other since college, and move to New York after they graduate. Jude working at the US justice of the supreme court. Meanwhile, Willem, working toward his goal from one play to another. Malcolm is an interior designer or architect? ( I am not clear), and, JB is experiencing a lot to create arts.<br /><br />They always have dinner together in a cheap Vietnamese restaurant even each of them knew that the taste is so bad, but it is cheap anyway. Everyone has their routine in that restaurant.<br /><br />After a snapshot of each of them, the narration shifted, more focused on Willem and Jude's personalities. Also, their relationship is loving toward each other. <br /><br />One night, after they moved to the shabby apartment, and JB has recommended them to hold a new year party, Jude suddenly seeking for Willem's help to bring him to the doctor because he cut 'too much'. Shock, frantic, and disbelieved, Willem took them to the doctor/friend Alex. Alex knew Jude during his college days and even when he finally being Orthopedist, he treat Jude for any kind of health problem. In retrospect, Jude only can go to a doctor if it is Alex. <br /><br />Angry and sad, Willem is tormented. He should ask or talk to Jude about whatever happened in the past. Why Jude cut his hand deliberately. But Willem is being Willem. He doesn't want to step into Jude's privacy. But he knows, sooner or later he must talk. But maybe it is too late. <br /><br />Righto, then the 'camera' then focus on Jude. At first, the early age is briefly mentioned in the early chapter of the book. For now, it focuses on how Jude met with professors during college and how they help him to earn his career also how he met Alex. Jude is very smart, taking law and mathematics in college. Playing piano and singing very well. The singing, bring curiosity about Jude's past. He said, he learned it from being catholic. Jude's past is being peeled very slowly until the last chapter. <br /><br />Then there is Harold, a prior professor that invests so much in Jude's life and career. He loved Jude's brilliant mind and earnestly this man behave. He and his wife, Julia always have Jude and his friends coming around during Thanksgiving. Harold even loves Willem, JB, and Malcolm.<br /><br />The months are explained briefly in a paragraph and after. So many names, during his college days, works, JB's friend that also Jude's friend, JB's artist circle, Harold's close friend that also mentioned in the book. This frustrates me since I am worst remembering my name. So my easy mind keeps thinking why they even mentioned if they don't have a life in the book. Like Asian Henry Young, Lucien, India....and many more that they don't even speak in the book.<br /><br />Actually, the dialogues are not the majority of this book. The author loves to describe the situation inside the heart or the surrounding in very beautiful prose. I don't mind at all, but 700+ pages are too much. Me-being inpatient sometimes skips the paragraph, only to come back again because the plot jumping and made me confused.<br /><br />Despite that, I love how the author describes JB's art and his process to gain it. Many of the persons in the book are artists or lawyers and the author makes really good work to provide detail in them. <br /><br />Yet, the description of how Jude's past is so vividly may bring trauma for the readers. Jude's character, even as the Author's intention to create an 'irreparable character', is so stubborn and proud. His friends said it was his charm, but for me, he is a dickhead. I have loathed Jude so much in one chapter because he is being narcissistic, sadistic and did not believe anyone at all. But I found my heart shattered at the next chapter because of learning Jude's past. <br /><br />The vivid detail of how Jude frequently cuts his hand and leg is disturbing and sad. The author did a good job describing why and how Jude is Jude. What inside Jude's feeling and his consistent stubbornness.<br /><br />Even all the main characters are male, I felt they are a very romantic person. Willem especially is very sensitive and caring. Even JB and Malcolm. And then Harold, how he treats Jude like his precious little girl. And there is a little portion of a woman in the book. Yes, there is Julia, but, she's just one level above cameo in the book. Aside she's being a scientist, I don't remember much about her.<br /><br />I have an ambivalent feeling about reading this book. I love the Author's prose, I love the depth of his characterization. But reading this book, only give me depression. I don' see a silver lining aside from the sad, sad, sad story of a successful man who has anything in the present but is deeply trapped in the past. </p><p>And why they never visit the Vietnamese restaurant any more? since in the beginning it is described they fequently came to there. But it only took once in the book. Maybe it is because the author try to resume decades of their life in the book and didn't want to skip or jump, so sometime small detail is forgotten. <br /><br />And finally, I don't feel Osamu Dazai's vibe in here aside from suicidal thoughts. The mind labyrinth that trapped a man. So, if you love a very sad story that is well written for 700+ pages, then this is your choice.<br />Ah, after reading this book, I realize one thing. That we must grateful for the present. What life has given us, loving people surround us, even if we have a regretful past. </p><p style="text-align: center;"></p><p style="text-align: justify;"> <br /></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-14430412825760719842022-01-05T10:58:00.002+07:002022-01-05T11:09:35.898+07:00People from My Neighbourhood by Hiromi Kawakami<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUkvbNDr0MNsXUrs8HLlm1CU9SDgKbDP9POH9v8uMTVDxZrpYrMTp7GQFF9pNpYgxnsy0Z1VR1e-7hTfL3aUPKTk_bN-IJ-PSz7IzbqO0RT0NavgOrqy4i1c7E3gGh6uYtqx4rRYphL0s9_SHAY_WsmsbjLmAHxYE6_clYcLonEan5sXZSUjQUYDZnYQ=s2950" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2863" data-original-width="2950" height="389" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEgUkvbNDr0MNsXUrs8HLlm1CU9SDgKbDP9POH9v8uMTVDxZrpYrMTp7GQFF9pNpYgxnsy0Z1VR1e-7hTfL3aUPKTk_bN-IJ-PSz7IzbqO0RT0NavgOrqy4i1c7E3gGh6uYtqx4rRYphL0s9_SHAY_WsmsbjLmAHxYE6_clYcLonEan5sXZSUjQUYDZnYQ=w400-h389" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Pocket size book<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><i><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">A bossy child who lives
under a white cloth near a tree; a schoolgirl who keeps doll’s brains
in a desk drawer; an old man with two shadows, one docile and one
rebellious; a diplomat no one has ever seen who goes fishing at an
artificial lake no one has ever heard of. These are some of the
inhabitants of </span></i><i><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">People From My Neighborhood. In their lives,
details of the local and everyday—the lunch menu at a tiny drinking
place called the Love, the color and shape of the roof of the tax
office—slip into accounts of duels, prophetic dreams, revolutions, and
visitations from ghosts and gods. In twenty-six “palm of the hand”
stories—fictions small enough to fit in the palm of one’s hand—Hiromi
Kawakami creates a universe ruled by mystery and transformation.</span></i><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText13544251731620334021"> </span></i><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">Author : Hiromi Kawakami</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">Published year : 2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">Origin languange : Japanese</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">Genre : Short Stories, Fiction</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">Pages : 121<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021">Publisher: Granta<br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021"><br /></span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This is a book that made me fall in love at the first sight because of the cover. The pink shade, cherry blossoms at the front, and house illustration bring back memories of Japan. I always have good memories while in Japan, so this book has drawn me personally. The pocket-size is also one of the main attractions. It is a book we can finish during one to two hours read. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The short stories collection is about people who live in the author's neighborhood. Each story is intertwined and creates a warm and fuzzy feeling when reading it.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The unnamed protagonist is a girl or a woman who lives in a very diverse culture and background. There, The Love cafe stood which struggle with the menu and the taste. There is a taxi driver who lives in a tenement, a family who came from America and has an American name, and there is also an unconventional story about a man who has two shadows, a day without gravitation, doll brains that kept by a girl.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are also names repeated several times. Kanae, the protagonist's friend, Kanae's sister, the headmaster of dog school, and many more.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">When reading into Kawakami's world, there is no boundary to separate between what is real and surreal. Just like </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="https://www.blogger.com/#" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target="_blank"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Ten love of Mr. Nishino,</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> the central story is not the protagonist, but what's happened to surround her/him. Sometimes, feel normal neighbor, or sometimes, it's outrageous.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But her forte is the beautiful prose that delivers a funny and warm feeling. She writes about our heart, our myth, and how the earth shifts slowly and clouds our mood. One story that I think is hilarious; Pigeonitis. A disease that suddenly comes to the neighbor and changes the sick person into a pigeon-like, slowly.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yet, I don't understand some (or many?) her surreal stories. It is very peculiar that escaping my understanding, completely. It's okay though, I think many persons didn't understand also but we can enjoy the prose. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There are 36 short stories in the book and enough to satisfy our thirst to read the renowned work of Kawakami-san! </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText13544251731620334021"><br /></span></p><p><i><span id="freeText13544251731620334021"> </span></i></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-66095867255639987872022-01-03T13:27:00.008+07:002022-01-10T13:53:44.239+07:00One of Us is Next by Karen M. Mc.Manus<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix-9VD7t6-MEIqfC8RWxUXmHnxNZlF-tC6VDwSZ_t5TY-9-BRn7tKS-824aDQt3FjiWpMWb1hN6mp3FgXPQSeHKHr7nX_cc5QZfGKVpRZwzjIN88QiM0aN2J6SsSnymaUZ6cNqOJo572V6V3W5s56LFUuzKY7BfVeNx11hHzbt9pNIe4773_lfT3Oqrg=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEix-9VD7t6-MEIqfC8RWxUXmHnxNZlF-tC6VDwSZ_t5TY-9-BRn7tKS-824aDQt3FjiWpMWb1hN6mp3FgXPQSeHKHr7nX_cc5QZfGKVpRZwzjIN88QiM0aN2J6SsSnymaUZ6cNqOJo572V6V3W5s56LFUuzKY7BfVeNx11hHzbt9pNIe4773_lfT3Oqrg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback edition</td></tr></tbody></table><br /><p></p><p></p><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111;">Come on, Bayview, you know you've missed this.</span></i></div><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">A ton of copycat gossip apps have popped up since Simon died, but in the year since the Bayview four were cleared of his shocking death, no one's been able to fill the gossip void quite like he could. The problem is no one has the facts. </i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">Until now. </i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">This time it's not an app, though—it's a game. </i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Truth or Dare.</span></i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic; font-weight: 700;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><span style="box-sizing: border-box;">Phoebe</span>'s the first target. If you choose not to play, it's a truth. And hers is dark. </i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">Then comes <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Maeve</span> and she should know better—always choose the dare. </i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: white; color: #0f1111; font-style: italic;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">But by the time <span style="box-sizing: border-box; font-weight: 700;">Knox</span> is about to be tagged, things have gotten dangerous. The dares have become deadly, and if Maeve learned anything from Bronwyn last year, it's that they can't count on the police for help. Or protection.</i></div></span><div style="font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><span face=""Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111;"><br /></span></div><span style="background-color: white;"><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">Simon's gone, but someone's determined to keep his legacy at Bayview High alive. And the rules have changed.</i></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;"><br /></i></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; font-style: italic; text-align: center;"><i style="background-color: transparent;">***</i></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">One of Us is Next (One of Us is Lying #2)</div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Author : Karen M. Mcmanus</div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;">Published year : 2020</div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span face="Amazon Ember, Arial, sans-serif" style="color: #0f1111; text-align: left;">Publisher : </span><span face="Lato, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; text-align: left;">Delacorte Press for Young readers</span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span face="Lato, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; text-align: left;">Language : English</span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span face="Lato, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; text-align: left;">Genre : Thriller </span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: center;"><span face="Lato, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div><div style="color: #0f1111; font-family: "Amazon Ember", Arial, sans-serif; text-align: justify;"><span face="Lato, Helvetica Neue, Helvetica, sans-serif" style="color: #333333; text-align: left;"><br /></span></div></span><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Karen M. Mcmanus is the established name of thriller author for young readers. Well known for her brilliant work, </span><a class="editor-rtfLink" href="http://theflybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2018/06/one-of-us-lying.html" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;" target=""><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #4a6ee0; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One of Us is Lying</span></a><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><a href="http://theflybirdsnest.blogspot.com/2018/06/one-of-us-lying.html"> </a>back in 2017. I have a good time reading her previous works but I have a doubtful question, Is it really necessary to make a sequel? The ending One of Us was good and no cliffhangers need to be continued.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But then, I found myself browsing the sequel in the bookstore's alley. I even ordered it when it was available at other stores. So, here I am, read the book and back to my very question, Is it really necessary?</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One of us is Next continuing the story of Bayview High School students. The story is told from three different points of view, Maeve-sister of Browynn (former protagonist), Knox- Maeve's platonic love, and Phoebe. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The former heroes of Bayview have gone to their next phase in life. Bronwyn to Yale, her boyfriend Nate works at the local construction company, Cooper as a famous college athlete, and Addy dedicated her life to pursuing her dream. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Their case has been popular, some people have tried to reinstate Simon's terror but never succeeded. Until one day, there are texts to challenge the selected student to take a dare or the sender will reveal her/his ugly truth.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Maeve- has been succeeded in helping her sister, tracking down Simon's case. Maeve's life has been not easy. She has been torn apart from choosing the right college for her. Living like a shadow of Browyn's reputation, and her complicated relationship with Knox.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Knox has always been Maeve's best friend. They tried to be a lover but didn't work out. Meanwhile, at home, his cold relationship with his father, keep him edgy. He never mans enough in front of his father's eyes just because he cannot work at his father's company. So, he chose to work as an intern in Eli's law firm, and love to be there. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Phoebe, after losing his father, her relationship with her sister, Emma, falls apart. Their house is shrinking, so she was escaping her feeling dating the school's jock/asshole, Brandon. Phoebe is the hot one, wearing hips attire every day. Phoebe work at Luis's father's restaurant as a part-timer. There, she met Maeve and Knox who always hang out, almost every day. One day, a random text challenge her to choose between Truth or dare. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Saw the challenge message, Phoebe ignore it. On the next day, the ugly truth has been revealed that makes her relationship with her sister fall apart. She tried to apologize and explain everything, yet Emma refuse it. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Meanwhile, has monitored Simon's previous portal site, Maeve feels unnerving. She guessed someone has been tried to reinstate Simon's game and Phoebe is the next target. The problem is Bayview students love to gossip and they are willing to join the game voluntarily.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The next target is Sean. Another Bayview asshole. But he chose the dare over the truth.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And then it comes to Maeve's turn. Maeve didn't want to take it apart so she ignore the text. And the next day, a truth revealed that hurt her relationship with Knox. Sadly, Maeve has another battle to fight. She used to have cancer for a long time, and there are signs that it may come again.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Been the victims, Maeve and Phoebe get closer, as well as Phoebe and Knox. Finally, after another tragedy costs someone's life, Maeve, Pheobe, and Knox join forces to solve the mystery- who is the actor behind all of this scheme?</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Their investigations turn to the unexpected suspect, and get dangerous!</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">One thing that I love about YA thrillers, we can finish them in just one go. I finished it in several hours can move on to another book. One of Us is next also like that.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Trying to re-ignite the sparks by bringing the old characters back to the town occasionally, but still, I don't feel the suspense as thrill as the first book. Maeve is too Browyn, Phoebe is too Addy- well actually American protagonist is a typical nerdy vs popular girl. So no biggie. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Then, the placing hint of the suspicious character, who does what is still obvious, that reader can guess easily this time. One of Us Lying is more difficult to guess.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Yet, I like Karen always bringing the themes of the family stand out this time. Different families have different reactions toward one tragedy. The platonic love between Maeve and Knox is special that we can relate somehow back to our high school days.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There is also, a splash of the old character's present future in the book. About Nate and Bronwyn especially. And of course, it feels like we enter Bayview world once again thru this book.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">So, in conclusion. It is still a good read, the first one sparks more joy than the second sequel. And answering my previous question, do we need to the sequel? </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Honestly, no. It is like an independent book, and we can read it without the first one. If you miss the Bayview, you can read it. If you look for a suspense thriller book, you can skip it!</span></p><span style="background-color: white;"></span><p><br /></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-71035572605997017742021-12-24T10:32:00.006+07:002021-12-24T10:32:50.495+07:00I'll Go to You When the Weather is Nice<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRf30q08AuJZgp6ds3Mog7bPfZskOM9ixHPvQupFcpHJLwqLXTGIeVe_BTWMyK82o5ahbSUOQelncujdzZ9EatYA94kvoScM21pj58DhU4Np8uBjajDYn2fqXj4TghoYt7SHqo2sbFibCUQOfflRqqkZ8HyiH2uxCycrEpVfVqasn_zM2dxlEsGUDfzA=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEiRf30q08AuJZgp6ds3Mog7bPfZskOM9ixHPvQupFcpHJLwqLXTGIeVe_BTWMyK82o5ahbSUOQelncujdzZ9EatYA94kvoScM21pj58DhU4Np8uBjajDYn2fqXj4TghoYt7SHqo2sbFibCUQOfflRqqkZ8HyiH2uxCycrEpVfVqasn_zM2dxlEsGUDfzA=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Versi Bahasa Indonesia<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">Haewon kembali ke
kampong halamannya pada suatu musim dingin. Gadis itu terkejut melihat
sebuah rumah tua di desa tersebut sekarang berubah menjadi sebuah toko
buku independen baru bernama Good Night. Ternyata, pemiliknya adalah
Eunseob, teman sekolahnya.<br /><br />Berawal dari toko buku itu, Haewon
menjalin hubungan baru dengan orang-orang di kota itu, termasuk dengan
Eunseob. Ada banyak hal yang terjadi, bahkan sebuah rahasia yang selama
ini tersimpan rapat akhirnya terbongkar.<br /><br />Akankah desa itu membuat Haewon tetap tinggal? Dan bagaimana hubungan Haewon dan Eunsob akan berakhir?</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText14808248784294062750"> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">I'll Go to You when the Weather is Nice</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">Author : Lee Do Woo</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">Published year : 2020</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">Penerbit : Haru Media</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">Bahasa : Indonesia</span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750"> </span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750">Sejak dramanya tayang di televisi di awal tahun 2020, saya sudah penasaran mencari bukunya di segala macam toko buku internasional maupun online shop, sayangnya saya hanya menemukan buku tersebut dalam bahasa Korea </span>"날씨가 좋으면 찾아가겠어요". Dan akhirnya saya kembali ke Indonesia, dan tidak sengaja menemukan buku ini dalam versi bahasa Indonesia di Shopee. Di situ juga saya menemukan banyak buku bahasa korea yang di translasi ke bahasa Indonesia. Daebak!</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Alasannya sederhana, saya seneng banget saat nonton dramanya, dan menduga, mungkin versi novelnya jauh lebih <i>nyastra, </i>mengingat referensi sastra yang disebutkan dalam drama bertaburan di tiap episode.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"><i> </i>Protagonist dalam buku ini adalah Haewon, seorang guru menggambar di Seoul yang memutuskan untuk break sejenak dari hidupnya untuk kembali ke rumah yang pernah Ia tinggali bersama Bibi dan Neneknya. Rumah itu berada di Desa Bukhyeon, sebuah desa terpencil di kaki gunung dimana ketika musim dingin tiba, desa tersebut diselimuti salju dan ditiup angin dari Kutub Utara.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Rumah itu merupakan sebuah Pension-sebutan untuk hostel yang dikelola oleh orang lokal. Namun Pension itu sudah lama tidak beroperasi lagi. Rumah itu menua dan tidak terurus, hingga di suatu malam, pemanas dan saluran air nya tidak bekerja lagi, Rumah itu berselimut es.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Saat Haewon tiba di desa itu, membawa koper besar menuju ke arah rumah Bibinya, Eunsop, laki-laki yang pernah bersekolah bersama Haewon, menatapnya dengan penuh arti. Di dalam hatinya, ia bergembira karena akhirnya bisa melihat gadis yang hanya datang tiap musim dingin tiba.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Karakter Haewon digambarkan berambut panjang tebal, introvert dan independen. Saat melihat rumah dalam keadaan buruk, Haewon langsung membeli peralatan sendiri dan memperbaiki rumahnya. Karena kejadian saat SMA, Haewon tidak merasa dekat dengan siapapun, dan memilih untuk menutup dirinya. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sementara Eunsop, pemuda di sebelah rumah yang juga sedang membuka toko buku Good Night, digambarkan berbeda dari dulu saat mereka SMA. Eunsop yang dulu juga sangat tertutup, namun Haewon tidak punya energi untuk mengetahui apa yang terjadi dengan Eunsop. Eunsop juga pemuda baik yang selalu membantu semua orang.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Melihat Eunsop berbeda, Haewon mulai menjalin komunikasi dengannya, mana toko buku yang dimilikinya terlihat nyaman. Haewon pun menawarkan dirinya untuk bekerja sebagai part-timer di toko buku Good Night. Seperti mimpi, Eunsop menerima nya dengan senang hati.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Dari interaksi di toko buku, dan berkali-kali Eunsop membantunya, mereka menjadi dekat. Tidak hanya itu, Toko Buku Good Night punya klub buku yang beranggotakan berbagai macam orang dari segala usia yang tinggal di Bukhyeon. Beberapa malam, mereka saling mendiskusikan puisi, buku atau sekedar bercengkrama. Dari situ, Haewon juga mengenal mereka bahkan dekat. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Namun keduanya memiliki trauma masa lalu. Eunsop bukanlah tipe yang terbuka pada masa lalunya tidak peduli sedekat apapun Ia dengan Haewon. Sementara Haewon sudah memiliki banyak masalah dalam hidupnya dan berusaha untuk menyembuhkan dirinya. Namun keduanya tidak bisa mengingkari ketertarikannya. Haewon merasa Eunsop adalah orang yang bisa ia percaya, dan bagaimana ia memperlakukan Haewon sangat baik.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">I'll go to you when the weather is nice merupakan sebuah Idiom yang digunakan oleh orang-orang di sana. Saat bertemu dengan orang lain yang tidak kita harapkan, dan membuat berjanji bertemu. Janji kosong.Seperti jika di Indonesia, "kita ketemu ya kapan-kapan!" tapi hanya wacana belaka.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Namun dalam kasus Haewon, dia mencoba memperbaiki hidupnya, menghadapi ketakutannya, dan dalam prosesnya, Ia jatuh cinta dengan pemuda yang bahkan menyimpan masa lalunya di bukit paling dalam. </p><p style="text-align: justify;">Sebagian besar jalan ceritanya memang mirip dengan Dramanya, walau sekitar 25% yang lain berbeda. Dari jenis pekerjaan Haewon, struktur keluarga Eunsop dan adegan-adegan dalam membangun klimaks. Namun inti dari buku ini adalah self healing, dimana ketika hidup terasa sudah di bawah, maka saatnya menghadapi ketakutanmu, dan bangkit.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Mungkin karena dramanya begitu bagus, saya merasa hangat kembali membaca bukunya. Perasaan Haewon dan Eunsop sudah tereksplor dengan baik di drama, jadi saya tidak merasa buku lebih baik. Mungkin itu juga menjadi alasan mengapa Dramanya sangat slow pace untuk membangun emosi antar kedua protagonis. <br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;">Masalahnya hanyalah, jenis font yang berubah-berubah dalam buku dan paragraf yang tiba-tiba fast forward ke beberapa hari dan saya tidak menyadarinya. Jadi harus membaca ulang paragrafnya.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Terjemahan Haru Book ini memang terasa formal namun masih nyaman untuk diikuti.</p><p style="text-align: justify;">Seandainya Penerbit Haru mencetak ulang buku ini, harapan saya adalah merapikan kembali font-font terutama catatan harian Eunsop agar lebih konsisten.</p><p style="text-align: justify;"> It is a good book, pelengkap jika anda sangat menyukai dramanya!<br /></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText14808248784294062750"></span><i><span id="freeText14808248784294062750"></span></i></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-18998070485042472822021-12-17T10:59:00.003+07:002021-12-17T11:04:03.726+07:005 Centimeters per Second : one more time by Makoto Shinkai<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrKAmex8XNzuFIJXMH9-iK66Nmc1ygDWfo4p-eaOJ94V3mzBiKNqlz5wJz5cCv7vBA10YyFU4MJ9vaDIKAO9XDbO_lVzK2DS_p5iOslDhiJnWaE43g1U4Aok-GYWfxvI4pVTRxKJTA7hCreBIgnLPhbJIwJsMAXYStIIKx6bcOD-bbkJIR2dhRpcJ2qg=s4032" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEjrKAmex8XNzuFIJXMH9-iK66Nmc1ygDWfo4p-eaOJ94V3mzBiKNqlz5wJz5cCv7vBA10YyFU4MJ9vaDIKAO9XDbO_lVzK2DS_p5iOslDhiJnWaE43g1U4Aok-GYWfxvI4pVTRxKJTA7hCreBIgnLPhbJIwJsMAXYStIIKx6bcOD-bbkJIR2dhRpcJ2qg=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Soft Cover Edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><br /></p><p><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">A contemporary classic, 5
Centimeters per Second won animator Makoto Shinkai international renown
as a rare talent. Indeed, he just might be one of the most powerful
bards of romantic longing and thwarted love working today in any medium.
This official novelization narrates from the other side—for instance,
from the point-of-view of the girl rather than the boy in the legendary
first segment, “Cherry Blossoms”—to tell a story that is both deeply
engaging for first-timers and astonishingly fresh for fans of the film. <br /><br />The
author of fantasy novels based on the Shining videogame series, Arata
Kanoh is best known for his imaginative prose adaptations of the
masterpieces of Japan’s hottest animator. Most recently, his take on
Your Name was the #1 Kindle bestseller at Amazon Japan.</span></i></p><p><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622"> </span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">***</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">5 Centimeters per Second</span><span id="freeText769956495894907622"> : One More Time</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">Author: Makoto Shinkai</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">Published year:2019</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">Origin Language: Japanese<br /></span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622">Genre : Fiction, Romantic</span></i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622"> </span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">I was finishing my TBR list and this book is almost at the bottom of the stack. I haven't watched the movie, but I like Makoto Shinkai. Who doesn't know about Makoto Shinkai after the record-breaking movie, Your Name. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Thus, I have no expectation from this book since the blurbs don't explain at all, except a promise of delivering a powerful and romantic love story.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The story opener is the elementary student of Akari. She was the only child in the family that always in the move due to her father's job. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Consequently, Akari moves from one school to another and leaves her anxious every time. Akari hates changing school, not because she loves her previous school, but the adaptation was too overwhelming for her. The first day in the class, always the hardest part, and other children will laugh at her.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Until one day, she and her family moved to Tokyo. Her mother promised her, that would be their last time. On the first day, anxious and scared, someone whisper to her, that she will be okay. Amazingly, it becomes a spell, Akari straightens her posture and feels confident to introduce herself. Later, she realized that it was Kohno Takaki, who encouraged her.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Takaki is also the only child. Same as Akari, his family moved a lot, yet Takaki knew how to blend in, without being too flashy or modest. Not only that, for the first time, Akari finally finds someone who understands her and listens to her. They become best friends, spend the days together until the others tease him as a couple.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Against all odd, Takaki asked Akari to join him to get in the private school when they are into junior high school. Akari did so. She studied a lot for the preparation and both of them ace the tests.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">But, Akari's father needs to move to Togichi, a small city north of Tokyo. Heartbroken, Akari told Takaki and since then, their relationship is frozen, over the broken promise and the horror to be separated.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Starting in a new city, Akari felt nausea come again. She still speaks with Takaki, only in her mind. Akari encouraged herself to write a letter to Takaki, and not long they corresponded again, telling their daily life through letters. Until one day, Takaki should move to another city, far away from Tokyo or Togichi. Scared, Takaki decide to visit Akari, 11 months after Akari left. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In this segment, Cherry Blossom told from the perspective of the introverted Akari, is beautifully depth and captured the storyteller's melancholia perfectly. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The author explores what is inside Akari's mind and feeling, deeply. How scared she is for the world, and how dependent she is on Takaki, the only light in her dark tunnel of mind.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">In the Second segment, Cosmonaut is told from the perspective of Takaki. His new life is on an island, Tanegashima, the easternmost island in Japan. How he starts to build routines, explores the island, and is drawn to the hardworking girl, Kanae. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The transition between Akari and Takaki's point of view is drawn boldly. In Takaki's point of view, more masculine and bold. Even there are days that Takaki wandered the island looking for something, but the melancholic feeling is nonexistent. The sentences are more straightforward and exact.Takaki is aloof, yet distant.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> I love both points of view, even the difference between them. While the Cherry blossom segment, Akari finds courage and reason to be happy, the second segment is the search for himself. The search for what Akari wants in life. He seemed to want to escape from everything, but what did he look for? And what I love the most is how Takaki seems to search for the meaning of his random dream, like a sixth sense for him. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><i style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">"Every time I wrote them (the dream) down, I got frustrated and upset with myself for failing to reproduce even a glimpse of what I had seen"_p145.</span></i></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The third segment, 5 centimeters per second. This is told from the third point of view. This segment is how Akari and Takaki grew into adulthood. Their dilemma in the twenties and life goes on despite the hardships. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">To be honest, I give a perfect score for this book, since I never thought it will be this <strike>good </strike>great. This book is the type of book that I dreamed of writing someday. How the author cultivates both protagonists' feelings whilst transforming them into adulthood. He shows not tell the transformation. </span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And like any Makoto Shinkai's movies, the detailed description of how the sky, the mountain, the sea, and the movement of Cherry blossom petals, 5 cm per second, are captured beautifully, that I can feel to watch the movie whilst reading it.</span></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent none repeat scroll 0% 0%; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is the best book I ever read this year. Wonder what took me so long to read it.</span></p><p style="text-align: justify;"><span id="freeText769956495894907622"><br /></span></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i><span id="freeText769956495894907622"> <br /></span></i></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-79562318605918643412021-12-12T11:56:00.004+07:002021-12-12T11:56:55.080+07:00The Song of Achilles by Madeline Miller<p><em> </em></p><p><em> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-nJ7JUA2otN8AlxHlrGgIcIu1uNmrhQmYC9EzGgBXMXag0IYxlX-1u9Cs3tMN1_rKjx0S6ieZvrTxax_9M3FrcUVYZrtqbwjrFOpmAHg731JVinIzUyJv_yLEWiEb0Kva5WExKRrDQK2Oj4_y9YexMCClfrEK8uwUMqQHr9pWyff8dUHHD0hnjGO5DQ=s4032" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/a/AVvXsEh-nJ7JUA2otN8AlxHlrGgIcIu1uNmrhQmYC9EzGgBXMXag0IYxlX-1u9Cs3tMN1_rKjx0S6ieZvrTxax_9M3FrcUVYZrtqbwjrFOpmAHg731JVinIzUyJv_yLEWiEb0Kva5WExKRrDQK2Oj4_y9YexMCClfrEK8uwUMqQHr9pWyff8dUHHD0hnjGO5DQ=w300-h400" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Song of Achilles<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><br /></em></p><p><em> A tale of gods, kings, immortal fame, and the human heart, The Song of Achilles is a dazzling literary feat that brilliantly reimagines Homer’s enduring masterwork, The Iliad.
An action-packed adventure, an epic love story, a marvelously conceived
and executed page-turner, Miller’s monumental debut novel has already
earned resounding acclaim from some of contemporary fiction’s brightest
lights—and fans of Mary Renault, Bernard Cornwell, Steven Pressfield,
and Colleen McCullough’s Masters of Rome series will delight in this
unforgettable journey back to ancient Greece in the Age of Heroes.</em></p><p style="text-align: center;"><em>***</em></p><p style="text-align: center;">Book ID : The Song of Achilles</p><p style="text-align: center;">Author : Madeline Miller</p><p style="text-align: center;">Genre : Fiction, Historical Fiction</p><p style="text-align: center;">Pages : 352</p><p style="text-align: center;">Publisher : Bloomsbury Publishing</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p>Note: I am a stranger to Greek Mythology (except watched Hercules a long time ago), neither read Iliad- the original book of this mastery, nor watched Troy before.<br /> <br />The Song of Achilles is one of the highest rated-book in Goodreads, and the buzz is everywhere. millions of people like this book, so it is unavoidable, I have such high expectations when reading this.<br /><br />I didn't even read the blurbs, moreover, detail other's reviews. Once I picked up the book, I read it during my before-bed reading.<br /><br />Oh, this is about Achilles! I am familiar with Achilles's term as of health term. The Achilles tendon, but never thought that it is the name of the hero of the Trojan War. Ya, ya, I am the lack knowledge.<br /><br />Anyhow, Achilles is the son of God- a sea nymph- Thetis and king of Phtia, Peleus. Ever since he's born, a prophecy has come, Achilles is the greatest of all Greek Warrior. Knowing that the son will be a hero, Thetis strictly monitors Achilles' training and life. <br />Meanwhile, there is an awkward boy, Prince Patroclus. Because of an incident, he's been exiled to Peleus's kingdom. Many boys train in there, expecting to be Achilles's companion.<br /><br />But the awkward Patroclus has drawn Achilles's attention. Patroclus's loyalty and honesty, never seeking any attention are what Achilles like about him. Not long, they bond the relationship. Patroclus stayed at Achilles's chamber and they become inseparable.<br /><br />But Thetis saw the demise of Achilles from Patroclus. She tried so hard to separate them but it only make their bond grow stronger. Even when Achilles should train to the wisest centaur, Chiron, Patroclus follows him, running without thinking anything else.<br /><br />Even since Patroclus get close with Achilles, he knows he will let go of his life to save Achilles. The awkward Patroclus, couldn't stop to amaze whenever he saw Achilles. From the way he moves, speaks, acts even his innocent sleeping face. <br /><br />This is an unconventional love story. Patroclus and Achilles never said love each other, but it represents everything they do for each other. How Achilles always makes sure there is a place for Patroclus, or how Patroclus always know what the best for Achilles. And the prose is superbly beautiful. The Author has made the most beautiful love story without cringe-worthy and cliche.<br /><br />Maybe that's the focus of this book. The relationship between Achilles and Patroclus, that Troy director didn't even bother to explore. The thing is, I expect more. I expect a more detailed story about the war, Chiron's background, Odysseus's character, and many more.<br /><br />I know, it will take seven books to explore the detail of the Trojan war. But, please go long way, because I don't feel Patroclus's story developed more, instead of his insecurity and overflow love whenever he saw Achilles. It feels like a summary with detailed admiration toward the greatest greek warrior. <br /><br />Maybe I have too high expectations, or maybe it is because I have zero knowledge about Greek Mythology. But it becomes dilemmatic to like this book in my mind. I can say it is a romance story, not so much. Or Historical Fiction, not so much.</p><p><br />However, it is a great book when you want to know about mythology, or how the be swept off by the beautiful words. It is worth reading, of course. I just can say, it happened not my favorite book.<br /> <br /><em></em></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3744382080051514992.post-762387666407149562021-11-21T09:27:00.002+07:002021-11-21T09:27:55.031+07:00People We Meet on Vacation by Emily Henry<p> </p><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJlSAy-ExIBnQ5TtgLUvhTEQ9hlabkwaiJJjlAnk-9GfQ39U2naCkTSEA30UEz3nPs2FDLe2mZQzoXhvOucEpO46yOSAbbYOaLR_GldWCKsq737dvLjPFSFYKG_6NveIeePmCPdxBaXwR/s4032/IMG_6702.HEIC" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" data-original-height="4032" data-original-width="3024" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEguJlSAy-ExIBnQ5TtgLUvhTEQ9hlabkwaiJJjlAnk-9GfQ39U2naCkTSEA30UEz3nPs2FDLe2mZQzoXhvOucEpO46yOSAbbYOaLR_GldWCKsq737dvLjPFSFYKG_6NveIeePmCPdxBaXwR/w300-h400/IMG_6702.HEIC" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Paperback edition<br /></td></tr></tbody></table><p></p><p><i>Poppy and Alex. Alex and Poppy. They have nothing in common. She’s a
wild child; he wears khakis. She has insatiable wanderlust; he prefers
to stay home with a book. And somehow, ever since a fateful car share
home from college many years ago, they are the very best of friends. For
most of the year they live far apart—she’s in New York City, and he’s
in their small hometown—but every summer, for a decade, they have taken
one glorious week of vacation together. <br /> <br />Until two years ago, when they ruined everything. They haven't spoken since. <br /> <br />Poppy
has everything she should want, but she’s stuck in a rut. When someone
asks when she was last truly happy, she knows, without a doubt, it was
on that ill-fated, final trip with Alex. And so, she decides to convince
her best friend to take one more vacation together—lay everything on
the table, make it all right. Miraculously, he agrees. <br /> <br />Now she
has a week to fix everything. If only she can get around the one big
truth that has always stood quietly in the middle of their seemingly
perfect relationship. What could possibly go wrong? </i></p><p style="text-align: center;"><i>****</i></p><p style="text-align: center;">Title : People We Meet on Vacation</p><p style="text-align: center;">Author : Emily Henry</p><p style="text-align: center;">Pages: 364<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Publisher: Berkley<br /></p><p style="text-align: center;">Genre : Romantic Comedy</p><p style="text-align: center;"> </p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Whoa!!! This book has been recommended as a beach read that is supposedly light and fun. Yet, it is fun, fluffy, and full of filling like melted chocolate in a bun. I'll tell you why.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Poppy and Alex were college friends. Met randomly in a carpool when they came back from college to their hometown Ohio during a college break. They are polar opposite. Poppy is bubbly, disorganized, and didn't want to be tied in a routine. Alex is neat, organized, and a family man. Poppy is small and bouncy. Alex is tall and build.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> They never thought they will click and be a best friend, then they make a promise to always spend a summer vacation together. Throughout their adulthood, their life branched off. Poppy dropped out and work at a prestige travel magazine, R+R. Meanwhile, Alex comes back to their hometown, working as a Highschool teacher.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Recently, Poppy and Alex are no longer talking because of what happened on their last holiday two years ago. Present-day, Poppy feels her life is not happy. She gave everything, her dream comes true but missed a goal. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">As the chapter progress, the plot is forward and backward. After the chapter of summer this year, the next chapter is summer 10 years ago and so on until we know what happen in their last holiday that made them as cold as Siberia.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Well, I don't quite sure, when the plot is backward, Poppy's point of view is now or that year. Because it seems that I know from their first summer, Poppy is so much in love and adore Alex very much. Since Poppy felt their friendship is platonic, but it's clear like a crystal said otherwise.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Alex's character is like any protagonist in Romcom's book. He's so perfect and dreamy. Typical a good boy who will do anything for the person he loved, but so unlucky in love. He has a complicated relationship with Sarah, a longtime crush. He also adores his best friend very much, since he can release his character in front of her.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Meanwhile, Poppy's character is bubbly yet deep down she has sorrow from her past. During middle school, she's subject to bullying and that, made her want to run away from her hometown. She loves her family so much but her family is so eccentric that she wants to protect it from the outside world. Some of her past lovers, judge her by her family.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Two years without communicating so much with Alex made Poppy's heart as empty as the vast ocean. After late-night cold texting, Poppy and Alex decide to have a summer holiday several days before Alex's brother's wedding.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Poppy determines to resolve her feeling and mend their relationship, without knowing Alex's latest state so much.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">What I love from this book, aside from butterflies on my stomach whenever Alex is a gentleman, but also that both characters are lovable. They are relatable people and relationships. But the big score is how deep the author tries to disentangle Poppy's trauma, what made who she is right now. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">The revelation in a subway station, where Poppy met her first 'boyfriend', was one of the pivotal moments, in my opinion. </span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">This, I realize, is what I've been waiting for for years. The moment when I finally know I've won: I got out. I made something of myself. I found a place I belonged. I proved I wasn't broken while the person who was cruelest to me stayed stuck in crappy little Linfield.</span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">Except that's not how I feel. Because Jason doesn't seem stuck, and he certainly isn't being cruel. He's here, in this dis, in a nice white shirt, being genuinely kind.</span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">There's a stinging in my eyes, a hot feeling in the back of my throat. </span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><em style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"> </span></em></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">And later, the end part of the book, the emotional Poppy confesses to Alex, is one hell of the most emotional rom-com I ever read.</span></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span data-preserver-spaces="true" style="background: transparent; color: #0e101a; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;">It is a good read! I enjoyed it very much and maybe read it much time more.</span></p>theflybirdhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10753704424258723744noreply@blogger.com0