tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-67796453828052812392024-03-15T15:35:22.916+07:00Fanda's Book Shelf"A room without books is like a body without a soul" ~Marcus Tullius CiceroFanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.comBlogger283125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-68343215908316175022015-12-23T16:31:00.002+07:002015-12-23T16:31:37.568+07:00The Ringmaster’s Daughter<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzDiEIj_D7U/Vnpp4Kq1OLI/AAAAAAAARrY/1aPR9J3-ehY/s1600/ringmasters-daughter.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-JzDiEIj_D7U/Vnpp4Kq1OLI/AAAAAAAARrY/1aPR9J3-ehY/s320/ringmasters-daughter.jpg" width="207" /></a></div>
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I would say
it again… Jostein Gaarder is the master of storytelling! Not only that he
crafted a puzzling frame story for this book, but he also “deceived” us on the
title. The Ringmaster’s Daughter is NOT at all about the daughter of a circus
owner—which for some years made me mistaking this book as a bit childish. It is
far away from childish. The Ringmaster’s Daughter is about how traumatic childhood
experience can hugely change someone’s life.</div>
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Petter “The
Spider” was leaving a book expo in haste because he thought his life was in
danger. So, we know that he is a bookish man, who has done something that makes
other literary people from the expo wanting to kill him. After he arrived safely
at a secluded hotel, he forced himself to write his story—as usual with
Gaarder: story within story.</div>
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Little
Petter lived with his mother—his dad has left the house—and he had a unique
ability to create stories from…well…everything! His brain is hyperactive, and
he couldn’t stop it from inventing plots of stories. Connecting that with the
book expo, he should be an over-productive writer, right? But no, Petter doesn’t
like to be famous, and he don’t have patience to write novels. He just created
plots—a lot of them! Later when his mother died, and he was on his own, he
founded Writers Aid, a corporation that helps writers around the world get
brilliant plots for their next novels. Suddenly Norway—where The Spider lives—was
flooded with new novels; not only that, literary world suddenly getting a
booming; all because of this one man, the ghostwriter, Petter. Oh and he got
rich from it. But then... as in all things that are built over falsity, the bubble
is threatening to blow out.</div>
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From there I
know there’s something wrong with Petter, but what? And what about the little
man with green hat who at first dwells inside Petter’s head, but then becomes
real although only Petter can see him? And of course there’s Panina Manina the
ringmaster’s daughter who didn’t know his father until it’s too late, which
seems to be Petter’s favorite story. Not until the end though, did I get the
meaning of them all. Here’s a spoiler…. Petter turns out to have traumatic
experience when he’s a kid. Right after that he likes to have those active
thinking. It’s just his mechanism to shut his brain from remembering the
traumatic thing. So I guess the little man with green hat is his consciousness.
At first he’s just a boy with active imagination, and so the little man only
appears inside his imagery world. But when he’s grown up and brings the imagery
world into reality (Writer’s Aid), the little man too must do his job in the
real world. Mystery solved!</div>
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As always,
Gaarder crafted the story amazingly. I also loved the plots and stories created
by Petter. Hey, it feels like reading Italo Calvino’s If a Traveler’s…. stories
in a story! Two things that I just realized after reading this are: our
existence in the universe (Gaarder taught philosophy for high school anyway),
and his love of oranges. Yeah… I think I read about oranges in several of
Gaarder’s books; he must love oranges very much! <span style="font-family: Wingdings; mso-ascii-font-family: Calibri; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-char-type: symbol; mso-hansi-font-family: Calibri; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-symbol-font-family: Wingdings;">J</span></div>
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For all that….
Four stars for The Ringmaster’s Daughter.</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-89924135340653145562015-12-09T13:18:00.000+07:002015-12-09T13:18:09.593+07:00My Life in Books: A Book Tag<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Thanks to
<a href="http://surgabukuku.com/2015/12/04/book-tag-my-life-in-books/">Melisa</a>, I will have something to post in this blog, finally! If you are
wondering why I have abandoned this blog since… early this year (X_X), I have
explained all in <a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.co.id/2015/12/im-back.html">this post</a>. Hopefully this book tag will return my blogging spirit!</div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">1. Find a book for each of your initials</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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I picked two
of my favorites for this year.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPDj7v4mxZs/VmfDQQSVctI/AAAAAAAARok/GuT6q98lF7o/s1600/far-from-madding-crowd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-bPDj7v4mxZs/VmfDQQSVctI/AAAAAAAARok/GuT6q98lF7o/s320/far-from-madding-crowd.jpg" width="213" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">F</span>ar from
a Madding Crowd</b> by Thomas Hardy</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gvx5Af6YiDk/VmfDd3JgYNI/AAAAAAAARos/95XAgtmtwNc/s1600/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Gvx5Af6YiDk/VmfDd3JgYNI/AAAAAAAARos/95XAgtmtwNc/s320/the-agony-and-the-ecstasy.jpg" width="187" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>The <span style="color: #cc0000; font-size: large;">A</span>gony
and the Ecstasy</b> by Irving Stone</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">2. Count your age along your book shelf:
What book is it?</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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Goodreads
made it easier than counting along my actual book shelf; so here is the 44<sup>th</sup>
book from my “own-shelf” shelf:</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dU9N9oqxcjI/VmfDtovcFCI/AAAAAAAARo0/9xvcI45nO9U/s1600/the-racketeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-dU9N9oqxcjI/VmfDtovcFCI/AAAAAAAARo0/9xvcI45nO9U/s320/the-racketeer.jpg" width="195" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>The Racketeer</b>
by John Grisham</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">3. Pick a book set in your
city/state/country</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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There are
not many Indonesian books in my wishlist, but one of them is:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0asJ8J6q7E/VmfEUKPAnCI/AAAAAAAARo8/dS7xdYT1C-w/s1600/maz-havelaar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-h0asJ8J6q7E/VmfEUKPAnCI/AAAAAAAARo8/dS7xdYT1C-w/s320/maz-havelaar.jpg" width="218" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>Max Havelaar</b>
by Multatuli</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">4. Pick a book that represents a
destination you would like to travel to</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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I love Paris
too much to not wanting to travel there again….someday….</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UdfWdezmb1c/VmfEwfy0cWI/AAAAAAAARpE/Uspdo2sMWME/s1600/the-paris-wife.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-UdfWdezmb1c/VmfEwfy0cWI/AAAAAAAARpE/Uspdo2sMWME/s320/the-paris-wife.jpg" width="209" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>The Paris
Wife</b> by Paula McLain</div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">5. Pick a book that is your favorite color</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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One of my favorite
books in my favorite color: <span style="color: #cc0000;">Red</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBuuJawwv-w/VmfFx_YfC3I/AAAAAAAARpQ/yyEQq-RX8_s/s1600/the-house-of-mirth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-qBuuJawwv-w/VmfFx_YfC3I/AAAAAAAARpQ/yyEQq-RX8_s/s320/the-house-of-mirth.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>The House of
Mirth</b> by Edith Wharton</div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">6. Which
book do you have the fondest memory of?</span></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p>I don't know about this. Maybe I don't have one in particular, but this book has set me to be Zola's fan.</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gv1-oAlow8/VmfG-ikfy9I/AAAAAAAARpc/9TFx3jwfbVw/s1600/lassommoir.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-8gv1-oAlow8/VmfG-ikfy9I/AAAAAAAARpc/9TFx3jwfbVw/s320/lassommoir.jpg" width="210" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><b>L'Assommoir</b> by Emile Zola</o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">7. Which book did you have the most
difficulty reading?</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fG2mW8RW2ys/VmfHQb_A-0I/AAAAAAAARpk/0kp9Av1DLOk/s1600/notes-from-underground.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-fG2mW8RW2ys/VmfHQb_A-0I/AAAAAAAARpk/0kp9Av1DLOk/s320/notes-from-underground.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<b>Notes from
Underground</b> by Fyodor Dostoyevsky</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b><span style="color: #990000;">8. Which book in your TBR pile will give
you the biggest sense of achievement?</span><o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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Couldn’t
read this book this year, hopefully next year!</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPo9UyVrOb0/VmfHd2ZT8pI/AAAAAAAARps/V5qdVzKgh_s/s1600/bleak-house.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-YPo9UyVrOb0/VmfHd2ZT8pI/AAAAAAAARps/V5qdVzKgh_s/s320/bleak-house.jpg" width="208" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<b>Bleak House</b>
by Charles Dickens</div>
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If you want
to do it, you’re free to tag yourself! ;)</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-56751630389340532352015-02-03T16:47:00.000+07:002015-02-05T07:47:07.986+07:00Vita Brevis: A Letter to Saint Augustine<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUWIUtO1FW4/VNCYSeGJaEI/AAAAAAAARXU/QSWjjnsNjMo/s1600/vita-brevis.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-yUWIUtO1FW4/VNCYSeGJaEI/AAAAAAAARXU/QSWjjnsNjMo/s1600/vita-brevis.jpg" height="320" width="204" /></a></div>
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In one of
his trips in 1995, Jostein Gaarder accidentally found an old manuscript in a
secondhand bookshop in Buenos Aires. It was a letter in Latin from a woman
signed herself as Floria Aemilia, addressed to Aurelius Augustinus, Bishop of
Hippo. Gaarder bought it, and after examining it, became strongly believed
(although no authority could yet confirm) that it was being originally written
by St. Augustine’s mistress, whose identity he has concealed in <i><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2015/01/the-confessions-of-st-augustine-by-st.html">The Confessions</a></i>, but Augustine did mentioned
the woman as his mistress quite a lot. I read this book right after finishing <i>The Confessions</i>, in order to judge it
more contextually. My copy (translated to Bahasa Indonesia) contains only 150
pages, yet it was a thought-provoking reading. </div>
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Floria was
an intellectual woman; she met Augustine for the first time when they were both
pupils in rhetoric school. And through her letter, she quoted a lot from great philosophers
like Cicero or Horace. The main purpose of the letter was to criticize
Augustine for abandoning her for God, and to question his thoughts in <i>The Confessions</i> which she happened to
read, perhaps not long after it was published. For some people, Vita Brevis—the
Latin words of ‘Life is Short’—was perhaps a touching love story of an
abandoned woman, but I regarded it as a mere ungrounded jealousy of a woman who
could not accept being defeated by a “philosophy”. She bitterly and desperately
wanted to tell the world that Augustine was all wrong.</div>
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I felt sorry
for Floria because, though she was intellectual, she was so selfish and narrow-minded
that she could not see beyond herself. She kept accusing Monica (Augustine’s
mother, the Saint) for breaking their relationship to make way to Augustine’s
marriage with a young girl. Well, dear Floria, think about this, by whatever standard
you valued yourself, you were just a mistress, never Augustine’s legal wife. So
how could you claim your rights to own him? Any mother who is intimate with God
would react the same as Monica to any woman who seduces her son to live in sin.
Then you criticized Augustine’s struggles to purify himself by staying away
from earthly beauty as blasphemy to God. It only proved your ignorance and
narrow-mindedness. Why couldn’t you be happy that your beloved man was reaching
towards his real call, which is God? Why couldn’t you just support what he was
fighting for? If you loved him as much as you kept boasting, you should!
Instead of asking the same question over and over again: “<i>Do you remember how sweet our love was, Aurel?</i>”</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
And in the
attempt to pour your anger to your Aurel, perhaps, you have done just the same
thing as you criticized Augustine for. You accused him of cutting the whole
context of bible text: 1Cor. But in the attempt, you yourself cut the whole
context of Augustine’s <i>Confessions</i>. It
was only proof that you could not really understand the deeper meanings of <i>Confessions</i>. Well, for that I could not
scold you, because this whole thing is just about two persons who have loved
each other in the past, then one of them completely changed, while the other
stayed the same. Thus there lied a wide gap that separated them, as wide as the
gap between earthly and spiritually lives.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
See? This
book is for me more tiring than touching. I just can’t sympathize with women
who think life is just about love, lust, and romance. It’s rather surprising,
in Floria’s case, because she was a learned woman, and she was then even a catechumen.
I can understand how hurt for her to be abandoned by the man she’d loved, but doesn’t
it happen to many women? She criticized that God or the Catholic Church has
acted injustice by hindering a man from loving a woman. But it does not apply to
every man, only whom He calls, and Augustine was among them. And it’s not because men shouldn’t love women,
if so, why then God created us as man and woman? It’s because, in this case,
Augustine’s sexual passion over Floria has barred him from seeing the Light of
God.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
In the end, I
was disappointed by this book. I have expected Floria as somehow in the same level
with Augustine in theology and philosophy, as she has dared to answer the
Bishop’s <i>Confessions</i>. Or at least, I
have expected a bit about feminism. But in the end, it’s just about the rage of
a woman over romances problem.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
I guess two
and a half stars are even too good for Floria, but at least it made me
understand and appreciate <i>The Confessions</i>
more than my original reading of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
I read Indonesian translation by Jalasutra Publishing</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>This book is counted as:</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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2<sup>nd</sup> book for <a href="https://perpuskecil.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/lucky-no-15-reading-challenge/">Lucky No. 15 Reading Challenge: Bargain All the Way</a></div>
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<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-9525552927560445222015-01-30T09:00:00.000+07:002015-01-30T10:26:24.156+07:00Anna (Dunia Anna) by Jostein Gaarder<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--euO0RJCco4/VMg7M3JdRMI/AAAAAAAARWI/1lVCTkCQPfo/s1600/dunia-anna.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/--euO0RJCco4/VMg7M3JdRMI/AAAAAAAARWI/1lVCTkCQPfo/s1600/dunia-anna.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Jostein
Gaarder, one of my favorite contemporary writers, is a remarkable storyteller. He
could weave serious issues into an entertaining novel that it doesn’t feel like
patronizing. Most (or all?) of his books are addressed to young readers, but
adults can also enjoy his thoughts. <i>Anna</i>
(translated to Bahasa Indonesia as Dunia Anna) is his latest novel, and it discusses
about climate change and earth damage.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Anna would
turn sixteen on 12 December 2012, and she gets an ancient ruby ring. For several
nights, she has been dreaming about herself in the body of another girl of her
age, even stays in the same house, named Nova. The difference is that Nova
lives in 2082, when the face of our earth has completely changed. Temperature
is going down, and many plants and animals are extinct, in consequence of
human’s mismanagement of their nature. It turns out that Nova is Anna’s great-granddaughter,
and now Nova is demanding her great-grandmother to restore the damaged earth to
its early shape—that is before people from Anna’s generation spoiled it. And
Anna sees it all in her dreams.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Now together
with her boyfriend Jonas, Anna is going to work her best to prevent the earth
damage. It is an almost impossible thing to do, but she apparently knows that
the earth has gotten a second chance, and it’s up to her whether Nova her
great-granddaughter must witness the damaged earth or can live happily as she
is now.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
As a young
adult novel, Anna might be an engaging novel which entertaining as well as
inspiring young people to act more responsibly towards their environment. But
for adult readers, I think it lacks <i>Sophie’s
World </i>or <i>Maya</i>’s deep reflection. It
is in the story itself; it’s too short and a bit forced. When Anna needs a
solution to save 1001 animals and plants, then voila!... Jonas produced it the
day after, as he has just written it for school task. Too easy? And how about
Aladdin’s magic ring which still had one request to be fulfilled, which is now
belonged to Anna—the precious ruby ring? It’s a bit too childish, don’t you
think? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
But overall,
Gaarder’s idea is good, and perhaps with this book, he wants to encourage young
people to start thinking about earth problems; and that this big project is not
impossible as long as we have courage and determination to start it. As is with
his other books, Gaarder asks us to view outside ourselves; that we are part of
a bigger existence, and we have equal responsibility to protect what God has
trusted in our management.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in;">
Three and a
half stars for <i>Anna</i>! And special thanks to my #secretsanta for giving me this.<br />
<br />
Buat Santa: mampir <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2015/01/secretsantawho-are-you-bbi2014.html">ke sini</a> ya...</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I read Indonesian translation from Mizan publishing group</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>This book is counted as:</i></div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
1<sup>st</sup> book for <a href="https://perpuskecil.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/lucky-no-15-reading-challenge/">Lucky No. 15 Reading Challenge:Freebies Time</a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://blogbukuindonesia.com/blog/2014/12/08/tema-baca-dan-opini-bareng-2015/">Baca Bareng BBI 2015: January-Book from Secret Santa</a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-2834508804187290772015-01-30T07:59:00.000+07:002015-01-30T10:15:06.805+07:00#SecretSanta….Who Are You? (#BBI2014)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxurWjYhefI/VMiS5-OspTI/AAAAAAAARWY/205geauByA4/s1600/SecretSanta2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-dxurWjYhefI/VMiS5-OspTI/AAAAAAAARWY/205geauByA4/s1600/SecretSanta2014.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Sejak 28
Desember 2014 lalu ketika <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2014/12/pamer-riddle-dari-secretsanta-bbi-2014.html">posting riddle dari Santa</a>, aku hanya sempat beberapa
kali saja mencoba menelusuri identitas Santa. Sayangnya akhir Desember hingga
hari ini (dan sampai awal April nanti) aku luar biasa sibuk, sehingga meski
sudah diberi clue oleh beberapa teman BBI, aku tetap tak bisa berpikir jernih
dan menemukan identitas Santaku. Maaf ya Santa….. aku terpaksa nyerah deh! T_T.
Mungkin ini jadi pelajaran buat tahun depan, seharusnya aku gak perlu ikut
event ini lagi, karena tahun depan rasanya sih bakal sama sibuknya kayak tahun
ini.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Sebelum
liburan, aku sempat punya beberapa ‘tertuduh’ dari riddle Santa yang panjaaang
ini. Tapi mereka adalah member BBI lama yang aku sudah kenal, dan masing-masing
tidak dapat memenuhi semua kriteria di riddle itu (menurut penelusuranku sih…).
Jadi kemungkinan besar Santaku yang baik hati memberiku 2 hadiah ini adalah
member BBI angkatan baru, benarkah Santa? :D</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Jadi….karena
terbukti aku tidak layak sama sekali buat melamar menjadi asistennya Cormoran
Strike #eh, maka beribu maaf buat Santaku, kalo aku gagal menemukan
identitasmu, hiks… Semoga kau cukup terhibur bahwa aku senang banget mendapat
<i><a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2015/01/anna-dunia-anna-by-jostein-gaarder.html">Dunia Anna</a></i> yang jadi incaranku, dan berhasil kubaca dan kureview. Terima kasih
banget sudah memberiku 2 buku ya, Santa! Buka dong topengmu…. :P</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com15tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-25163685665868742612015-01-16T15:35:00.000+07:002015-01-28T14:21:00.947+07:00Lucky No. 15 Reading Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g07aSkunEJs/VLjIaOw2g7I/AAAAAAAARUU/L1GDDN3P3SA/s1600/lucky-no15-challenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-g07aSkunEJs/VLjIaOw2g7I/AAAAAAAARUU/L1GDDN3P3SA/s1600/lucky-no15-challenge.jpg" height="400" width="290" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
I know I
know!….I should have stopped signing up to more reading challenges (I have entered 5,
although my first intention was only 3, and it’s not included my own challenge!).
But this one is irresistible! <a href="https://perpuskecil.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/lucky-no-15-reading-challenge/">Astrid</a> is hosting it for second round (I have
missed the first one), so I think I would try my luck this year! (and 15 is my
birth date... :D).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
This
challenge will require you to read <b>15 books</b> (or more) from <b>15
categories </b>below:</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Chunky Brick</span></b>: Grab that book with more
than 500 pages that you’d always been afraid to tackle. You know you can do it!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>The Blind Assassin</b> by Margaret Atwood (637 pages)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Something New</span></b>: Just purchased a book
lately? Don’t let it buried in your stacks, read it now!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>The Dreyfus Affair</b><i>:
J’Accuse and Other Writings</i> by Émile Zola</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Something Borrowed</span></b>: Read a book that
you borrowed from someone else. Don’t make the owner waiting forever for you to
finish it. (Books borrowed from friends, libraries, or even rental places, are
allowed)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s
Nest </b>by Ken Kessey (will borrow from Melisa)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">It’s Been There Forever</span></b>: Dig your TBR
pile and read a book that has been there more than a year. It’s time for you to
appreciate it :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>True History of the Kelly
Gang</b> by Peter Carey</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Freebies Time</span></b>: What’s the LAST free
book you’ve got? Whether it’s from giveaway, a birthday gift or a surprise from
someone special, don’t hold back any longer. Open the book and start reading it
now :D</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Dunia Anna (Anna)</b> by Jostein Gaarder (it’s a gift from my secret
Santa—whom I have not uncovered the identity yet! :P)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Bargain All The Way</span></b>: Ever buying a book
because it’s so cheap you don’t really care about the content? Now it’s time to
open the book and find out whether it’s really worth your cents.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Vita Brevis</b> by Jostein Gaarder (I never buy books without being
certain I would like to read the content, but this book was really cheap—about $1.5
perhaps—and hopefully the content worth more than ithe price.)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Favorite Color</span></b>: Pick a book from your
shelf which has your favorite color for its cover! Is it pink, red or black?
You decide.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Empress</b> by
Shan Sa (Red is my favorite color, and I love this book's wine-red color)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">First Initial</span></b>: Read a book that has
been written by an author whose first initial is the same with you (Example: My
name is Astrid, and I can read anything written by Agatha Christie, Aesop,
Arthur Conan Doyle, etc)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Crime and Punishment</b> by
Fyodor Dostoyevsky</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Super Series</span></b>: Read one (or more!) books
that belong in a series, it can be trilogy, or tetralogy, or anything.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>The Moor</b> by Laurie R. King (#4 of Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes
series)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Opposites Attract</span></b>: Read a book that’s
been written by a writer whose gender is different from your own.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>The Walden</b> by Henry
David Thoreau (this is the easiest category so far!)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Randomly Picked</span></b>: Ask someone else (a
friend, your spouse, even your kids!) to randomly pick a book from your TBR
pile. Don’t complain whatever they choose for you, just read it :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>The Golden Bowl</b> by Henry
James (I asked Mr. Random to pick it for me from this pic—bottom to top, and he
picked no. 12, which is on the top :D)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PAKifqV-Y2I/VLjLSH5adZI/AAAAAAAARUg/871azFC5LrU/s1600/random.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-PAKifqV-Y2I/VLjLSH5adZI/AAAAAAAARUg/871azFC5LrU/s1600/random.jpg" /></a><a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhCK6Lsj3Dc/VLjMzfMSX4I/AAAAAAAARUs/xgPbXoLZIfI/s1600/my-tbr.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IhCK6Lsj3Dc/VLjMzfMSX4I/AAAAAAAARUs/xgPbXoLZIfI/s1600/my-tbr.jpg" height="200" width="200" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Cover Lust</span></b>: Grab a book from your shelf
that you bought because you fell in love with the cover. Is the content as good
as the cover?</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Far From A Madding Crowd</b> by
Thomas Hardy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Who Are You Again?</span></b>: You’ve never read a
book from this author, maybe you haven’t even heard his/her name before. But
who knows? Maybe he/she will become your new favorite author!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Pere Goriot </b>by
Honore de Balzac</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">One Word Only!</span></b>: Read a book that only
has one word for its title (number is allowed as long as it’s only consisted of
one word, e.g: 1, 2, 11).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b>Ivanhoe</b> by Sir
Walter Scott</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<b><span style="color: purple;">Dream Destination</span></b>: Read a book that has
setting in a place you’ve never visited before – but would like to if you have
a chance. Could be real places or even fictional!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<i>My pick</i>: <b> Bleak House</b> by
Charles Dickens (because I’d really love to visit London if I had chance… someday…
hopefully… ).</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
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If you’re
interested in joining, just visit <a href="https://perpuskecil.wordpress.com/2015/01/15/lucky-no-15-reading-challenge/">Astrid’s blog</a>.</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-27223175013977639942015-01-14T13:26:00.001+07:002015-01-14T13:26:56.425+07:00A Letter of Mary: Mary Russell-Sherlock Holmes Series # 3<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c5JKzoi79Rg/VLYL4MjrTVI/AAAAAAAARSI/aqTCy9ZH2kY/s1600/a-letter-of-mary.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-c5JKzoi79Rg/VLYL4MjrTVI/AAAAAAAARSI/aqTCy9ZH2kY/s1600/a-letter-of-mary.jpg" height="400" width="258" /></a></div>
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What would
you think if you have lived in London in the 1920s, and heard news that the
famous retired detective Sherlock Holmes has just married? ‘Awkward’ would be
the first word pop up in my head. But interestingly, in <i>A Letter of Mary</i>, King has written it such that it seems
normal—interesting but normal. </div>
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A female
archeologist, Russell’s friend, visited the Holmes’ residence, and placed a
small box containing an old papyrus under Russell’s care. It is believed to be
a letter from the first century written by Mary Magdalene. Yep, it’s THE Mary
Magdalene, the Saint. Few days later the Holmes found out that Ms. Ruskin has
died in a hit-and-run accident in London. It turned out, of course, to be a
murder. King develops several leads of suspects, including a sexist colonel who
was disappointed that the archeologist he was about to sponsor was a woman; a
Palestinian man who have visited Ruskin; and her nephew who would have had
benefit from her death. Then a group of men ransacked Holmes and Russell’s
house, and most probably wanted to get to the old papyrus. So Russell
translated it (originally written in Hebrew), and found in it that Mary
Magdalene has called herself the apostle of Jesus, which, if the letter was
published in today’s world, would have huge impact, both historically and
theologically.</div>
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[spoiler] Actually,
the papyrus would have been an interesting point to dig on, and I have imagined
some journeys to the east, tracing over historical facts, etc; but apparently
King had another plan. In the end, it was just a usual lust-of-money kind of
crime. [spoiler end] Again, there is the feminist theme all over the book (Mary
Magdalene as Jesus’ apostle, Dorothy Ruskin the female archeologist among her
male colleagues, and the misogyny Colonel and his son). However, concerning our
detectives, King made Holmes won over Russell in solving this mystery. Maybe it
was meant to be a balancing aspect against the feminism topic? And what about Russell’s
feeling over the Colonel, considering his misogyny ideas? I think here in this
story, Russell has fully grown up as a woman—she sees feminism not only as
ideology, but the way a woman sees her opposite sex.</div>
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Speaking
about feminism, one of the most interesting parts of this third book of Mary
Russell-Holmes series is Russell-Holmes relationship—now as husband and wife.
Russell said to Holmes that she thought they are not a romantic couple. But I
disagree; I think they are romantic…in their own way. I think romantic isn’t
about flowers, candle-lit dinner, etc. Romantic is when you know details about
your partners; their habits, their likes and dislikes, their feelings and reaction
over something; things you only share with your partners. And above all, they
respect each other. Russell and Holmes are like this. I think the marriage life
of two genius detectives with acute pride and high ego would be just like
Russell and Holmes’s. </div>
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And
sometimes there are indeed several ‘romantic’ scenes throughout the story. My
favorite is when Holmes must leave Russell to her undercover at the Colonel’s
house; and at the door before he left, he stopped, looked at Russell with
unread expression, and said: “I feels like Abraham…”. This he refers to
Abraham, when he took his family to Egypt, and told Sarah—his beautiful wife—to
lie to Pharaoh that she was his sister, lest Pharaoh will kill him to take her
as his wife. Isn’t it sweet? Or when Holmes confessed to Russell that now his
heart controlled his mind (he was worried about Russell); to me that’s romantic—romantic
in Sherlock Holmes style! :)</div>
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In short,
this book might be my other favorite so far from the series, besides <i><a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/the-beekeepers-apprentice-mary-russell.html">The Beekeeper Apprentice</a></i>. Now, I can’t
wait to read the fourth book, <i>The Moor</i>,
which was set in Dartmoor, the setting of Doyle’s <i>The Hound of the Baskervilles</i>. Super interesting, eh? ;)</div>
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Four stars
for <i>A Letter of Mary</i>, I liked and
enjoyed the whole story. It’s been an oasis during the hectic month of December!</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-338514149253988652014-12-28T09:00:00.000+07:002014-12-28T09:00:01.398+07:00Pamer Riddle dari #SecretSanta BBI 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8MybfjNRA7w/VJjG4F5e3eI/AAAAAAAARQM/8u9rfi013dY/s1600/SecretSanta2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-8MybfjNRA7w/VJjG4F5e3eI/AAAAAAAARQM/8u9rfi013dY/s1600/SecretSanta2014.jpg" /></a></div>
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Salah satu
yang seru di akhir tahun <s>(selain ngebut nyelesaiin reading challenge)</s>
adalah event yang rutin diadakan oleh BBI (Blogger Buku Indonesia): Secret
Santa. Tahun ini, aku antara bahagia dan bingung setelah menerima kado dari
Santaku. Bahagia karena dapat dua buku dari wishlist-ku, tapi bingung mecahin
riddle-nya yang panjang dan serasa bertebar clue. Adakah yang bersedia
membantu?.....</div>
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Ini dua kado
yang kudapat dari Santa…</div>
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<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lqxv8ICNoqg/VJjIclKSZiI/AAAAAAAARQU/0JD4Xbmpets/s1600/kado-SS-2014%2B(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-Lqxv8ICNoqg/VJjIclKSZiI/AAAAAAAARQU/0JD4Xbmpets/s1600/kado-SS-2014%2B(1).jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Thanks a lot for my very generous Santa!! Whoever you are, you’ve made my Christmas! ^_^</div>
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Dan ini
riddle-nya. </div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqkGclK47ak/VJjJeApWp8I/AAAAAAAARQs/GDejwmr3_R4/s1600/riddle-SS-2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-wqkGclK47ak/VJjJeApWp8I/AAAAAAAARQs/GDejwmr3_R4/s1600/riddle-SS-2014.jpg" height="640" width="480" /></a></div>
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Kalau ada yang bisa memecahkan, tolong dong….kasih further clue aja
paling tidak… *pasang muka melas*. Sudah ada beberapa “tersangka” sih, tapi
belum ada yang memenuhi seluruh clue-nya, hanya cocok sebagian saja.</div>
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Semoga aku
bisa menebak Santaku dengan benar di akhir event ini, sementara itu, aku
siap-siap membaca Dunia Anna sepanjang liburanku <strike>dan mencoba melupakan misteri siapa santaku</strike>. Asyik! :) </div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-81048147543872518332014-11-24T13:32:00.000+07:002015-01-15T10:51:46.981+07:00The 2015 TBR Pile Challenge<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_EryoQFo8PM/VHLQGDLs2VI/AAAAAAAARHc/0zEJY9H12ys/s1600/tbrpile2015button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-_EryoQFo8PM/VHLQGDLs2VI/AAAAAAAARHc/0zEJY9H12ys/s1600/tbrpile2015button.jpg" height="212" width="320" /></a></div>
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This one
challenge has proved to be one of the most useful tools in my reading life. As
an organized reader, I usually created a reading list each year. Normally I
would diligently follow it, but now and then there would be a new published
book which is so enticing that I’d be tempted to kick out one or two books from
the list to give place for the new comer. And this is why <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/">Adam’s</a> TBR
Pile Challenge has been very helpful. It helps me to keep on track. It would be
hard to neglect a book that is listed in two challenges, as it means I would be
failed in both, right? </div>
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So, I’m
going to do this challenge again next year, and here is my list, complete with
the publication date of my copies: </div>
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<ul>
<li><b>The Last Dickens</b> – Matthew Pearl (2010)</li>
<li><b>True History of the Kelly Gang</b> – Peter
Carey (2006) – <i>Ind. translation</i></li>
<li><b>The Bleak House</b> – Charles Dickens
(1994)</li>
<li><b>The Ringmaster’s Daughter</b> – Jostein
Gaarder (2006) – <i>Ind. translation</i></li>
<li><b>The Confessions</b> – St. Augustine Hyppo
(2002)</li>
<li><b>Empress</b> – Shan Sa (2012) – <i>Ind. translation</i></li>
<li><b>Far from the Madding Crowd</b> – Thomas Hardy
(2012)</li>
<li><b>Crime and Punishment</b> – Fyodor
Dostoyevsky (2001)</li>
<li><b>The Fortune of Rougons</b> – Emile Zola (2012)</li>
<li><b>The Agony and the Ecstasy</b> – Irving
Stone (1987)</li>
<li><b>The Blind Assassin</b> – Margaret Atwood (2001)</li>
<li><b>The Golden Bowl</b> – Henry James (2000)</li>
</ul>
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<i>Alternates:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li><b>The Call of the Wild</b> – Jack London
(1992)</li>
<li><b>Siddhartha</b> – Herman Hesse (1999)</li>
</ul>
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Will you
participate too? Here’s the sign up page of <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/2014/11/24/announcing-the-official-2015-tbr-pile-challenge/">Roof Beam Reader’s Official 2015 TBR Pile Challenge</a>.</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com12tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-68730233539732710162014-11-18T07:16:00.000+07:002014-11-18T10:58:43.346+07:00Wishlist Secret Santa 2014<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbQEsVTWLeU/VGmSqYR-5zI/AAAAAAAARFg/DwsL6Ds9Bak/s1600/SecretSanta2014.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PbQEsVTWLeU/VGmSqYR-5zI/AAAAAAAARFg/DwsL6Ds9Bak/s1600/SecretSanta2014.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a></div>
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Thanks to
BBI, event Secret Santa kembali digelar tahun ini. Mungkin ini salah satu
kegiatan BBI yang paling asyik bagiku. Di event Baca Bareng aku jarang bisa
ikut karena biasanya aku sudah mengatur jadwal baca jauh-jauh hari, sedangkan
BBI baru mengeluarkan daftar Baca Bareng belakangan. Jadi gak nyambung semua
deh rencananya! :D</div>
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Tahun ini,
alih-alih ‘mengisi rak di Goodreads’, kita diwajibkan memposting di blog,
wishlist kita yang (semoga) akan dipenuhi salah satunya <s>(semoga dua!)</s> oleh
Secret Santa kita masing-masing. Karena gak ingin mempersulit Santaku, aku hanya
memasukkan 4 buku aja kok. *aslinya sih karena bacaanku kebanyakan English, dan
buku-buku impor harganya mayoritas di atas harga maks :(</div>
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Ini dia
daftarnya, diurutkan dari yang aku paling pengen… #kode</div>
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<a href="http://www.pengenbuku.net/2014/10/dunia-anna-sebuah-novel-filsafat.html">Dunia Anna (Jostein Gaarder)</a> = 38.250,-</div>
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<a href="http://mizanstore.com/detailproduct/22203-Max-Havelaar">Max Havelaar (Multatuli)</a> = 50.150,-</div>
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<a href="http://new.bukabuku.com/browses/product/9786022910176/the-name-of-the-rose.html">The Name of the Roses (Umberto Eco)</a> = 67.150,-</div>
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<a href="http://www.bukukita.com/Buku-Novel/Fiksi/121853-The-Negotiator.html">The Negotiator (Frederick Forsyth)</a> = 75.650,-</div>
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Dear my
Santa, aku pengen banget dapat Dunia Anna, karena aku mengkoleksi karya-karya
om Gaarder. Meski harganya dibawah batasan harga, gak pa pa kok…. Kalau mau
ditambah yang urutan ke 2 boleh jugaa…. Apalagi kalau digabung sama yang no. 3….
*digetok Santa*</div>
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Semoga Santa
mengabulkan keinginanku! ^__^</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-79974096763668185902014-11-04T10:03:00.002+07:002014-11-04T10:03:54.178+07:00By The River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H5vnkVtISy4/VFhB3qxaj4I/AAAAAAAARB4/HI16q43j2Tg/s1600/by-the-river-piedra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-H5vnkVtISy4/VFhB3qxaj4I/AAAAAAAARB4/HI16q43j2Tg/s1600/by-the-river-piedra.jpg" height="320" width="218" /></a></div>
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This might
be the last book from Coelho which was still in my to-be-read pile. I have expected
it to be good, as I have read many good reviews about it, and even my father
recommended it to me. But it turned out to be a bit flat. It is the story of a Spanish
young woman, Pilar, an independent woman who was searching for a greater life
than hers at present, as a college student. One day a letter came from her
childhood friend—on whom she had had a crush when they were at school—asking
her to meet him. Eager to add sparks to her dull life, she decided to accept
the invitation.</div>
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Pilar then learned
that he has become a famous spiritual teacher who could perform curing
miracles. He told her that he never stopped loving her; in fact he has entered
a seminary, and now was in the middle of making an important decision, of to whom
he should give his life for: the Church, or the woman he loved most. Pilar at
first trusted her logical sense that he was just a childhood crush; that
falling in love with him would ruin her perfectly-organized life. But this time
her heart betrayed her sense, and she was soon falling in love with him. One
only problem: he was going to be a priest; what must she do to keep him for
herself?</div>
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While
accompanying him for several days, Pilar—who had been cold towards God and her
Catholic faith—started to learn his spiritual ideas about the feminine side of
God. This part was where this book twisted to an unexpected theme, theology;
and suddenly the atmosphere became slightly thicker. I am a conservative Catholic,
and I am not sympathizing with Charismatic movement. Of course it is just my
principle, and I can’t blame the author—any author—to have different branch of
faith from mine; but in course of reading a book, this difference would make me
uncomfortable, and it affects my whole view of the book. It cannot be justified,
perhaps, but I just can’t help it. </div>
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On the last
chapters, I just could not wait to finish this book. I just wanted to know,
will he continue to become a priest or will he marry Pilar. After reading this,
I feel that my taste is no longer with Coelho’s works, and I don’t think I
would ever read his next books. His prose is still beautiful, but I believe it
is me who has changed. Now I prefer books which are more down to earth;
reflecting real life, and not just idea. With this book, I cannot relate my
emotion or thoughts with the characters; they are too surreal and too far for
me.</div>
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For all
that, I granted three stars for <i>By The
River Piedra I Sat Down and Wept</i>. </div>
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~~~~~~~~~</div>
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I
read Indonesian translation, published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama<o:p></o:p></div>
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<i>This book
is counted as:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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12<sup>th</sup> book for <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/">2014 TBR Pile Challenge</a></div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-33488202694473253032014-10-01T11:41:00.000+07:002014-10-02T08:09:28.186+07:00The Giver by Lois Lowry<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-bqS7Y9FH4/VCuFIZV7tWI/AAAAAAAAQ_o/aXklHWVTaYg/s1600/the-giver.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-Q-bqS7Y9FH4/VCuFIZV7tWI/AAAAAAAAQ_o/aXklHWVTaYg/s1600/the-giver.jpg" height="320" width="194" /></a></div>
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Reading this
dystopian book, reminded me of the lyric of a popular song, <i>Imagine</i>:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Imagine there's no
countries<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>It isn't hard to do<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Nothing to kill or die
for<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>And no religion too<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Imagine all the people<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Living life in
peace...<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Imagine no possessions<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>I wonder if you can<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>No need for greed or
hunger<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>A brotherhood of man<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Imagine all the people<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Sharing all the
world...<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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In the song
which was released in 1988, John Lennon was imagining a world entirely
different from ours. He was presupposing that if we eliminate all painful and
restrained elements from life, the world would be a better place to live in. In
<i>The Giver</i>, Lois Lowry challenged its modern
young readers to question themselves whether a dystopian world as John Lennon
has—and perhaps many people have too—imagined would make us happier. So, she
created the “Community” where our heroes live.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Community is
set by eliminating worldly struggles and uncomfortable things in daily life.
Women are exempt from painful laboring by giving the task to some appointed
women; and a family can receive a new child from Community (they can ask for
exchange if they are not satisfied with the current child!). Elderly are
separated from the family—obviously to eliminate the inconveniences of treating
them—and when they are too old, the Community will ‘release’ them. They are
given medicines to eliminate pains; and a committee will monitor their daily
activities to decide what profession are the best for them. And there are so
many regulations for all their routines; every aspect of their lives are
guarded and controlled, so that all they have to do is just living it
comfortably, and finally leaving it quietly. To achieve this, the Community erases
their memory of the past, and lets only one person to bear all the
memories—including the pains—so that he can act as advisor. This person is
called The Giver.</div>
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When Jonas
becomes 12 he realizes that HE is chosen for the next Giver. For about a year
he takes ‘training’ from the present Giver. It means that the Giver little by
little transfers his memory to his successor. From the flashes of the memory,
we came to understand that our world has once been torn by a terrible war.
Jonas must get through pains and sufferings; something he never gets in the
Community. However, he also gets beautiful things he has never felt before:
warm love of family, beauty of colors, etc. In the end Jonas believes that,
notwithstanding the pain and suffering, the former world is worth to live in,
compared to the Community. This realization, plus the fact he has revealed
about the ‘release’ he often heard of, sets his mind to set up a dangerous plan
with the Giver.</div>
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People have
been praising this book; I have heard a lot of positive reviews of it, and
that’s why I decided to read a book from two genres—which usually does not meet
my taste—dystopian and young adult. In the end, I liked this book, because it
teaches us to accept life as a whole. Life has never been a series of happiness
and comforts; it contains struggles and pains too. Without sorrows, we would never
know the meaning of happiness; before feeling hungry, you would never realize
the value of food. It is after the pain of laboring and raising child, after
the struggle in living with your spouse, can you feel the warmth of love and
family. Life—however wretched it is—is always worth living.</div>
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<br /></div>
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It is good
of Lowry to promote philosophy of life to young adults; a reminder to respect
life, and to appreciate the beauty of it. It’s pity that the last part ended
too abruptly. I wished Lowry would have dug deeper than that. But considering this
book as a YA, it is acceptable.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I can only
grant four stars; it’s really good, but it’s not quite shaking my emotion (I
think I have read too much Zola’s lately!).</div>
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<br /></div>
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~~~~~~~~~</div>
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<br /></div>
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I read Indonesian translation from Gramedia Pustaka Utama</div>
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(I did not put the original cover of the copy I read, as I
was annoyed by its childish image—sorry, I just can’t bear it…)</div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-72751183418221220842014-09-08T07:33:00.000+07:002014-09-08T07:48:32.850+07:00[Puisi] Ekaristi by Mario F. Lawi<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NEwLq7XfiDI/VAmDUGF0HSI/AAAAAAAAQ-E/7rIzqED__1Q/s1600/ekaristi.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-NEwLq7XfiDI/VAmDUGF0HSI/AAAAAAAAQ-E/7rIzqED__1Q/s1600/ekaristi.jpg" height="320" width="223" /></a></div>
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Ini mungkin
pertama kalinya aku membaca buku kumpulan puisi. Yang membuatku tertarik adalah
temanya; aku kurang suka puisi-puisi tentang cinta yang, yah…begitu-begitu
saja. Sebaliknya, puisi-puisi karya Mario F. Lawi ini sangat berbobot [baca:
membuatku berpikir keras secara logika maupun secara iman]. Ya, seperti nampak
pada judulnya, puisi ini bernuansa biblis <i>[(Sakramen)
Ekaristi adalah salah satu sakramen yang ditetapkan oleh Yesus Kristus menurut
Alkitab—wikipedia</i>]. Ekaristi juga biasa disebut Perjamuan Kudus.
Sebenarnya, tidak semua puisi di sini bernuansa biblis, karena Mario memasukkan
juga unsur budaya Sabu, Nusa Tenggara, darimana Mario berasal. Sebagian bahkan terasa
sangat hangat dan personal karena mengisahkan kehidupan ayah-ibu Lawi sendiri.</div>
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Total ada
sekitar 68 puisi, sebagian panjang, sebagian hanya sependek dua sampai empat
baris, semuanya dikemas apik ke dalam 90 halaman buku ini. Dari cover depannya
pun, buku ini sudah terasa puitis sekaligus bernuansa ekaristi, dengan bintang
cemerlang di langit berwarna biru malam. Ternyata bila cover depan bernuansa
putih dibuka, barulah kau akan menemukan ‘harta’ yang sebenarnya, yaitu sebuah
sibori [piala tempat hosti suci dalam Gereja Katolik] bertatahkan emas dan
permata. Seolah-olah ingin mengatakan tidak semua orang dapat menemukan
Kristus; hanya mereka yang mau menghampiri bintang itu dan mau dituntun olehnyalah
yang lalu akan dibawa kepada harta yang sesungguhnya. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Ada banyak
puisi yang menggugah dan indah, aku akan ulas beberapa yang menjadi favoritku. Puisi
<i>Nazarenus, 2</i> (bahasa Latin dari ‘orang
Nazaret’?) ini adalah yang paling kusukai…</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>Nazarenus, 2<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Membungkus tubuhnya dengan udara,</i></div>
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<i>Ia pun berjalan ke Nazaret.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Wangi rerempah masih</i></div>
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<i>Membayang di belakangnya.</i></div>
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<i>Luka bermekaran di tubuhnya</i></div>
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<i>Seperti roti yang dipecah-pecahkannya</i></div>
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<i>Beberapa malam sebelum.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Dengan tangan yang koyak, ia usap guratan</i></div>
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<i>Lapang meja kayu yang tak sempat diberi kaki</i></div>
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<i>Karena ia lebih dahulu diburu kesunyian</i></div>
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<i>Dan menyingkir ke Getsemani.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Ia menatap ke dalam bilik,</i></div>
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<i>Melihat Maria yang tersedu</i></div>
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<i>Sambil menutup wajah</i></div>
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<i>Dengan telapak tangannya.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Ia pun menangis,</i></div>
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<i>Sungguh sebagai manusia.</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<br /></div>
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Biasanya,
yang tak kusukai dari puisi adalah maknanya yang seringkali abstrak; kau harus
berpikir keras untuk memahami apa yang sedang disampaikan penulisnya. Tapi
tidak dengan puisi <i>Nazarenus, 2</i> ini.
Puisi ini menimbulkan kesan bak menonton adegan film. Aku langsung menangkap
bahwa settingnya adalah beberapa saat setelah Yesus bangkit; dan Ia pun mengunjungi
rumahNya di Nazaret. Ada rasa haru menyeruak saat ia mengusap meja buatannya
yang belum sempat diselesaikannya, juga saat ia mengintip IbuNya yang sedang
menangis sendirian di bilik. Puisi ini sangat menampakkan kemanusiawian Yesus.
Kali ini kita diajak melihat peristiwa sengsara dan salib Yesus dari sisi
manusiawi; Yesus yang tadinya tengah bekerja membuat sebuah meja, harus meninggalkannya
begitu saja (belum sempat diberi kaki); dan ada kesedihan menyeruak di hatiNya
(sebagai seorang anak) saat Ia harus menyaksikan IbuNya menangis sedih. Namun,
ada juga makna yang lebih dalam. Meja yang ditinggalkan sebelum selesai
digarap, seolah melambangkan ketaatan Yesus sepenuhnya pada Bapa, sehingga saat
waktunya telah tiba, ia pun meninggalkan segala yang Ia cintai (sebagai
manusia), untuk menunaikan tugasNya sebagai Putra Allah.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Puisi “Penunjuk
Jalan” juga menjadi favoritku, karena endingnya yang menyisakan perasaan… apa
ya? #jleb banget lah. Aku kutip paragraf terakhirnya (terlalu panjang kalau
semuanya):</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<b>Penunjuk Jalan<o:p></o:p></b></div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>(…) Sekelompok orang lalu datang dari Timur</i></div>
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<i>Memintaku menunjukkan jalan yang dilalui bintang.</i></div>
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<i>Kata mereka Tuhan akan lahir esok pagi.</i></div>
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<i>Kutunjukkan mereka jalan setapak,</i></div>
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<i>Yang dulu pernah dilalui angin</i></div>
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<i>Menuntun ibu dan ayah untuk saling menemukan.</i></div>
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<i>“Di ujung jalan itu ada padang,</i></div>
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<i>Sebuah bukit tempat kawanan dombaku bermain</i></div>
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<i>Juga tiga kayu palang yang masih meneteskan darah.”</i></div>
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<br /></div>
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Masih ada beberapa
puisi lagi yang istimewa bagiku: <i>Lembing
Dosa</i>, <i>Delapan Catatan Kecil Adventus</i>,
<i>Retina</i>, <i>Onytha, 3</i>, dan masih banyak lagi. Ada banyak bagian yang tak
kumengerti maksudnya, namun secara keseluruhan kumpulan puisi ini menawarkan
keindahan dan keagungan.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Empat bintang
untuk Ekaristi dan untuk Mario yang sudah mengajakku untuk berpuisi
dan ber-Ekaristi. Jujur, selain Kitab Mazmur, aku belum pernah membaca puisi.
Setelah ini mungkin aku akan mencoba lebih banyak mengapresiasi puisi, namun
tetap aku memilih topik rohani.</div>
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<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-16961829629758568652014-09-01T14:05:00.001+07:002014-09-01T14:05:47.799+07:00Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy by John le Carré<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ggAIOHdebsU/VAQZ8mk8AkI/AAAAAAAAQ7E/X9OHf6YeSbw/s1600/tinker-tailor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-ggAIOHdebsU/VAQZ8mk8AkI/AAAAAAAAQ7E/X9OHf6YeSbw/s1600/tinker-tailor.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
During the Cold
War—when Sovyet was building its influence in the world—‘Control’ was the head
of British intelligence called ‘Circus’. He suspected that there was a Sovyet’s
<i>mole</i> (enemy’s secret agent who
infiltrated intelligence) within the highest level of Circus. He secretly sent
an agent to buy information from a defected Czech General, but Sovyet blew the
operation, and the agent was shot on the back. The mole did exist!</div>
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<br /></div>
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About ten
years later, an eccentric teacher, Jim Prideaux, arrived at a prep school in the
suburban London. His body was military-built, and he liked to be alone. A
student named Bill Roach maintained a close relationship with Prideaux, who
praised him as a very good observer. One mysterious aspect which Bill observed from
his new teacher, was that Mr. Prideaux often sent letters to himself and one of
the teachers. He also saw Mr. Prideaux was maintaining a weapon which he hid
underground his caravan.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Far away
from the prep school, George Smiley—once a close assistant to Control, but was
suddenly forced into retirement—got a surprise visit from an old friend. Peter
Guillam, his ex-colleague in Circus brought him to a secret investigation of
their old adversary: the secret mole—code name: Gerald, which must have been
within the highest level of Circus. And so Smiley must take a thorough
interview and patient investigation from his former friends and colleagues,
whom he used to have personal relationship, and perhaps, even, whom he used to admire.</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy</i> turned out to
be a great-genius spy thriller! I love how Carré opened the book with the
school teacher Prideaux and Billy Roach; it made me wondering whether the spy
things would happen in a small prep school. Billy Roach might not have any
relation with the intelligence world, but his existence—and how he saw things
through his eyes—built a solid difference between the real world and
intelligence world, and it emphasized how smooth the spies work among us that
we won’t suspecting anything. It makes you think, are people who are close to
us all these times are really what they told us?</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="color: #cc0000;">*spoiler
alert*</span></div>
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One small
problem with <i>Tinker</i> is how we must be
groping in the dark for at least the first third of the book, before slowly beginning
to understand what was happening. It is because Carré ‘played’ with mystery,
and only after that lifted the veil little by little. But the final—and probably
the second most important mystery—was not revealed until the end of the book.
And we are left with big question mark: who murdered Haydon? When I came to
think it over, maybe the biggest mystery is not the identity of the mole
Gerald, but who has killed him; another enemy for Circus; another mole? </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
With puzzles
on my mind, I tried to do small research on the internet; and found analysis
which suggested that the murder was Jim Prideaux, to revenge the betrayal, and
maybe, the people he was working with in Czech—whom were all killed. If that
was true, then Carré has cleverly ended the book in an ironic-tragic-but genius
way. It was ended just like it has been started, with Jim Prideaux and Bill
Roach. It seemed so normal, but what about the gloomy atmosphere which Roach
observed on his teacher’s face after his return from “his mother’s-funeral-absent”?
Did it pointed out to his real feeling after murdering his best and closest friend?
Oh, if that was true, then it became more tragic. And really, Bill might think
he knew his teacher very well at the end, while actually there were much deeper
and darker secrets in him. What do we really know about people’s untold secret?
None…perhaps!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Four and a
half stars for such a brilliant story!</div>
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<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
I read Sceptre mass-market paperback edition</div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<i>This book is counted
as:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
8<sup>th</sup> book for <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/">2014 TBR Pile Challenge</a></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
75<sup>th</sup> book for <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2012/12/1001-books-you-must-read-before-you-die.html">1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die</a></div>
<br />
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-53650635173037366942014-08-14T07:30:00.000+07:002014-08-14T07:38:16.388+07:00The Silkworm: Cormoran Strike #2<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TylqH-OG9Ao/U-rgGRu891I/AAAAAAAAQ5I/5Rhrp6Otpic/s1600/the-silkworm.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-TylqH-OG9Ao/U-rgGRu891I/AAAAAAAAQ5I/5Rhrp6Otpic/s1600/the-silkworm.jpg" height="320" width="213" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
About one
year after finishing <i><a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2013/07/the-cuckoos-calling-cormoran-strike-1.html">The Cuckoo’s Calling</a></i>, I was once again taken by Robert Galbraith to the office of
C.B. Strike, the private detective. However, in contrast to the glittering
show-biz aspect of a model’s murder in the first book, this time Galbraith took
me to a grotesque macabre atmosphere of a writer’s mysterious death.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
One day in
his fatigue and lack-of-sleep condition, Cormoran has made a rush decision. He
has dumped a rich potential but arrogant client to make way to a poor afflicted
woman. Eleanor Quine asked his help to find his missing husband, a writer Owen
Quine, and to bring him home. Quine was missing right after finishing his
latest novel, which he boasted as his masterpiece: <i>Bombyx Mori</i> (the Latin words for ‘silkworm’). The manuscript has
been spreading all over the town before Quine’s agent, Elizabeth Tassel,
realized that many literary key people were pen-portrayed in this
mythical-gothic thriller, including Tassel herself, an editor, a publisher, and
Quine’s girlfriend (a writer); an element which stirred anger and, in some, fear
in the literary world. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Several days
later Cormoran found Quine’s death body in an empty house, tied, disemboweled,
and putrid. The murder was performed theatrically, neatly, and cold heartedly,
that the Police had no other lead to take than suspecting Leonora Quine of
killing her own husband. If Cormoran, at the murder of Quine, might regarded that
his job to locate the writer was done, now he took personal responsibility to
save the unjustly accused wife from being wrongly convicted. This is what I
love about Rowling aka Gailbraith. Her story is not just about crime and
detective, there is also a touch of humanity. Cormoran’s decision might not
always be wise or logical for a detective, but that is what made him
distinguished: he has heart. This single aspect warmed Rowling’s detective
story, which is usually cold.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Cormoran and
Robin’s personal struggles are also interesting. Although I feel the excessive
passages about Cormoran’s ex-fiancé is wasteful and boring; it is interesting
though to see how both Cormoran and Robin—logical and intelligent as they are—picked
the wrong partners for themselves. We can easily see that Charlotte and Matthew
are selfish and narrow-minded people who could never understand Cormoran and
Robin. But still, our detective and his assistant love them blindly. Well, maybe
love is, sadly, blind indeed…. Particularly for Robin, I still don’t understand
how a clever and sensible girl like her could have liked a guy like Matthew.
Sometimes, girls can be so foolish when it comes to boys. *sigh*</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Compared to <i>The Cuckoo’s Calling</i>, this one is less
engaging. The idea is brilliant (but very ‘Rowling’, in her fondness of
mythical elements), but it lacks the grotesque atmosphere around the murder. It
feels more like a staged act than grotesque. I liked the idea of hiding parts
of Cormoran’s actions when we were approaching the climax (and left us in the
dark of what was actually happening), which was a bit like Agatha Christie’s;
it made us groping and curious, which added the mystery. And I also liked how
Cormoran’s and Robin’s relationship developed further; she proved herself
capable of being Cormoran’s assistant. And of course, with Cormoran’s lack of
physical fitness, their collaboration would be much more interesting in the next
series. But apart from those aspects, the crime story itself is not prominent.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Three and a
half stars for The Silkworm.</div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-18965543487633076862014-06-02T13:29:00.001+07:002014-06-02T13:29:46.147+07:00Angel’s Cake (Baking Cakes in Kigali)<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f8JL7IaBeCM/U4wZm0FaM2I/AAAAAAAAQvc/3s5ZzSCMJXI/s1600/angels-cake.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-f8JL7IaBeCM/U4wZm0FaM2I/AAAAAAAAQvc/3s5ZzSCMJXI/s1600/angels-cake.jpg" height="320" width="208" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
On 1994
Rwanda has been torn by ethnic genocide. Now in 2000, six years after the
tragedy, the survivors are still in traumatic condition. Distrust and fear are
still thickly clouding their daily lives. In this condition, the Turangaza
family move in from Tanzania, and live in an apartment. Angel Tungaraza is a professional
cake baker, and through this business Angel spread to the neighborhood the
spirit of reconciliation. Reconciliation of the two ethnics that were fighting
in the genocide: the Tutsis and the Hutus, as well as personal reconciliation
with each of their pasts. </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
In Kigali,
seems that everyone has experienced the losing (at least) a family member.
Although coming from Tanzania (and did not experience the genocide), Angel and
her husband, Pius, are also victims of traumatic experience of losing their
children by death. AIDS, as we all know, is another deathly terror in Africa at
that time besides Rwandan genocide. The Tungarazas’ children have died of AIDS,
and now Angel and Pius must raise their grandchildren (five of them!) by
themselves. Fortunately, in the time of resurgent after the tragedy, there are
plenty of things to be celebrated. And, what is a celebration without a cake? </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Since the
best cake in Kigali is Angel’s, her business springs, and people from all
background come to her apartment to order cakes. Gaile Parkin described the
cakes to tiny details in every chapter, and that—apart from the people struggles—gives
the book its unique attraction. Each chapter portrays each cake, each event of
celebration, each individual, with each problem. Angel’s cakes are not only delicious
in taste, but they are also impressive in decoration. The cakes are rich in
colors (as the African like it) and they are tailor-made to the celebration
itself (or the person who is celebrating it). But Angel does not run the
business only for money, more than that, she helps her customers to regain
happiness in her own simple way.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
When customers
come, Angel would let them sit down, and gives them her portfolio for their
reference, while she is preparing her Tanzanian spiced tea, accompanied with
cupcakes. She never runs out of these cupcakes because she used to make them
from what’s left of the cakes she makes for customers. Over the tea and
cupcakes—and most of all, her friendly but professional manner—Angel would
drive her customers to tell their success—or bitter—stories of life. Being a
good listener with tender heart, Angel often brings hope—if not solution—to them.
And, as a bonus, she gets the order, plus the happiness of baking and
decorating beautiful cakes, which is her passion.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Her most
achievement is facilitating the marriage between Modeste, a guard in the
apartment complex, and Leocadie, a girl who opens a local store. Their marriage
symbolizes the reconciliation of the two hostile ethnic in the genocide: the
Hutus (Leocadie) and the Tutsi (Modeste). The event seems to express that the <i>Banyarwanda</i> (Rwandans) are now ready to
forget the past hostility, and begin a new life in peace, trust, and love. And
in the end, the spirit of reconciliation and new hope are not only for the
Rwandans, but it applies for all Africans (including Angel and Pius), and all
of us wherever we live, to reconcile with the dark past, and realize that God
offers us love and hope of a new life.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
For a debut,
Gaile Parkin has written a tremendous work. Angel’s Cake (Indonesian
translation of ‘Baking Cakes in Kigali’) is a sweet and pleasant reading which
bears a serious theme. It flows naturally and conveniently, offers sweetness
(from the cakes things), a bit of mystery (from Angel’s traumatic past), and a
lot of humanity aspects (love, racialism, freedom, etc.). I love it from the
beginning, and the book certainly made me craving for cupcakes! :)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Four and a
half stars for Angel’s Cake and Gaile Parkin!</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
I read the Indonesian translation from Qanita (Mizan
Publishing group)</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i>This book is counted
as:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
5<sup>th</sup> book for <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/">2014 TBR Pile Challenge</a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-39195477714612861892014-05-05T07:21:00.000+07:002014-05-05T07:21:00.124+07:00Contact<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BefJDCU82CQ/U2S7-bkgmtI/AAAAAAAAQlY/hL79DJ-szWI/s1600/contact.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-BefJDCU82CQ/U2S7-bkgmtI/AAAAAAAAQlY/hL79DJ-szWI/s1600/contact.jpg" height="320" width="198" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Many years
ago I have watched Contact’s movie adaptation without really knowing that is
was adapted from a book. Jodie Foster was the main reason we—me and my
father—watched it at that time on TV. I didn’t quite remember the story, but it
related with space journey and a touching reunion with Jodie’s father. However,
I remember vaguely my own feeling while and after watching it. I was touched
and amazed; touched by love and amazed by God’s creation. So naturally, when I
finally read the book, I expected to find a deeper feeling than the movie.
However, either I have a bad memory, or I have expected too much, this time I
must admit that I prefer the movie than the book.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Eleanor
Arroway grew up in the end of 20<sup>th</sup> century. She was a gifted child
and was interested in science since childhood. Her beloved dad died, and she
had trouble of accepting her step father. She had a good career as an
astronomer, and in her forties, she has become a respectable scientist and
Director of Project Argus, a project dedicated to “Search for Extra-Terrestrial
Intelligence (SETI) in New Mexico. One day the Argus received a set of codes of
prime numbers from a planet Vega which is about 26 light years away from Earth.
She suspected that the much more intelligent extraterrestrial life of the
planet was communicating with human being. This discovery got full attention of
the President (American first female President), and as the codes were sent to
the whole world, it then became a prime subject of human existence. The codes (later
on became ‘the Message’) were in fact a manual to build a space ship, a
technology which was still unknown to them. An international consortium was
created, and the whole world focused their attention to the building and the
dispatch of ‘the Machine’. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Ellie
involved in the whole process, during which she had many debates and discussions
with many different people. The main controversy was the eternal debate between
religious and scientists. Each accused the other of being skeptical. But
nevertheless, the Machine was finally ready to carry five selected scientists
from five countries—Ellie was among them—to planet Vega. They went through the
Galaxy and for about 24 hours each one had similar experience of meeting an
extraterrestrial who took a form of someone they loved most. In Ellie’s case,
she met her ‘father’. However upon returning, government officials took the
journey as a hoax; the scientists way of conspiring. Because from Earth point
of view, there were only 20 minutes elapsed when the Machine stopped abruptly,
before the scientists finally came out of it.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
If you are a
scientist or a mathematician, you would probably enjoy this book, more than I
did. I dislike mathematics, and was not impressed by the long explanation on
the prime numbers which occasionally appeared. My interest for this book,
instead, lies on the humanity aspect, especially the long debate of religious
vs scientific. In my opinion, both Ellie (scientist) and Palmer Joss (religious)
were too skeptical—reminded me to Pilate’s ‘what is truth?’—about the other’s
subject; and too proud of themselves and of their own subjects. I am often
grateful for not being born as a scientist like Ellie, who uses too much of her
brain than her heart, and thinks that everything must be explained with theory.
She cannot understand that we need love and affection much more than the
knowledge that there are some high intelligent creatures somewhere in the
galaxy. Joss was perhaps more opened to accept scientific things without
compromising his faith.</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
In the end, Sagan
portrayed how the nations and people as individual—for once—were brought to
unity as they were expecting these extraterrestrial beings. According to Sagan,
all human races could now regard themselves as a whole. The extraterrestrial
ideas germinated the power of humanity in us; the science caused sparks of
religious feelings, and reunified men with God. It would be an interesting
idea, maybe, but I still believe that we are God’s highest creation, not
because we have the most intelligent brain on the universe, but because He has
created us as His image. So, what we need is to pay more attention to Him and others;
we should not need extraterrestrial lives to make us more humane.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Although I did
not enjoy the book as much as I have expected, I still think Contact is a good
novel, and I must thank Sagan to remind me to think more about humanity.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Three and a
half stars for Contact.</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
~~~~~~~~~~~~</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
I read Indonesian translation by Gramedia Pustaka Utama<o:p></o:p></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<i>This book is counted
as:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
4<sup>th</sup> book for <a href="http://roofbeamreader.com/2013/11/27/announcing-the-2014-tbr-pile-challenge/">2014 TBR Pile Challenge</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
68<sup>th</sup> book for <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2012/12/1001-books-you-must-read-before-you-die.html">1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die</a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-53464760127300377812014-04-14T09:00:00.000+07:002014-04-14T16:09:27.400+07:00[Guest Post] Pengakuan Emak Alvina: Antara Baca, Ngeblog, dan Rutinitas<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PyMMQx3F_vc/U0ZSbywodhI/AAAAAAAAQWQ/wQ7VNv3e_8w/s1600/BBIguestposting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-PyMMQx3F_vc/U0ZSbywodhI/AAAAAAAAQWQ/wQ7VNv3e_8w/s1600/BBIguestposting.jpg" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Kali ini blog <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/">Fanda’s Book Shelf</a> kedatangan seorang
blogger tamu. Ini dalam rangka merayakan ulang tahun BBI (Blogger Buku
Indonesia) yang ke 3. Untuk saling mengakrabkan diri dengan sesama anggota,
kami saling ‘bertamu’ ke blog anggota yang lain sesuai undian. Kebetulan ‘tamu’
blog ini adalah Alvina, salah seorang anggota BBI yang sudah aku kenal sejak
awal bergabung, pemilik blog <a href="http://orybooks.blogspot.com/">Mari Ngomongin Buku</a>. Ia ingin berbagi tentang pengalaman membagi waktu antara
ngeblog dan menjadi ibu rumah tangga. Sebelumnya, yuk kenalan sedikit dengan
Alvina…</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<blockquote style="-moz-border-radius-bottomleft: 15px; -moz-border-radius-topleft: 15px; -moz-border-radius-topright: 15px; -webkit-border-bottom-left-radius: 15px; -webkit-border-top-left-radius: 15px; -webkit-border-top-right-radius: 8px; background-color: #f0b9c8; color: black; margin: 1em 40px; padding: 15px;">
<i>Nama saya Alvina
Ayuningtyas. Saya lahir di Jakarta pada suatu Sabtu di bulan Agustus. Selain
membaca, menonton film adalah salah satu hobi saya. Aktor favorit, Matt Bomer
dan Leonardo Di Caprio. Suka cokelat, nggak suka keju. Warna favorit biru,
cita-cita mau jadi astronot (silakan ketawa). Sekarang saya tinggal di Solo
bersama suami yang nyentrik dan dua anak yang imut. Selain menjadi ibu rumah tangga, saya juga
menulis beberapa buku nonfiksi bersama Tim dan sedang mengerjakan Tugas Akhir
kuliah (yang belum rampung rampung). Buat yang mau menghubungi saya, entah
untuk bertanya ukuran sepatu atau untuk menawarkan unicorn untuk saya pelihara,
bisa menghubungi saya di twitter @alvina13 :)</i></blockquote>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Dan inilah yang Alvina sampaikan tentang ngeblog
dalam hidupnya:<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
@@@@@@</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="line-height: 150%; margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: justify;">
Ngeblog buat saya adalah pelampiasan positif dari apa
yang ada di pikiran. Setidaknya dengan ngeblog saya merasa puas telah berbagi
sesuatu dengan dunia luar, meskipun jarang ada yang berkunjung ke blog saya,
tapi toh saya sudah bangga. (pede maks) XD</div>
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<br />
Sayangnya saya tidak selalu punya waktu lebih untuk ngeblog, meski sebenernya
ngeblog itu semacam 'wisata pikiran' buat saya yang kudu dilakukan minimal
seminggu sekali lah. <br />
Dengan dua anak, saya terbangun di pagi hari lalu mengikuti rutinitas :
mengantar anak sekolah, menyiapkan makan, mengurus bayi, membereskan rumah,
belum lagi kalau ada kerjaan yang harus dilakukan. Semacam koreksi draft,
mbahas soal buat naskah, lalu menjelang siang saya sudah harus menjemput si
kakak dari sekolah. </div>
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<br />
Dua bocah aktif jelas membuat saya memilih menemani mereka berdua bermain, dan
menyisihkan beban tugas kerjaan untuk dikerjakan malam hari setelah keduanya
pulas. Baru deh setelah malam, saya sempat mengerjakan tugas sesekali nyambi
blogwalking atau posting di blog sendiri.<br />
Terus kapan “me time” nya? Membaca buku, contohnya, salah satu “me time”
favorit saya, sering saya lakukan sebagai sambilan. Sambil menunggu jemput
anak, sambil meninabobokan si bayi, atau sambil makan xD. (Iya saya
multitasking banget yah?) Makanya saya selalu punya dua buku untuk dibaca, yang
satu buku cetak dan satu lagi e-book. Sepet sih kadang baca e-book, tapi
daripada nggak baca apa-apa, jadi mulai beralih ke e-book juga, meski ngga
sesering buku cetak untuk intensitasnya. Dulu sempat bermasalah dengan membaca
dua buku sekaligus, tapi kelamaan akan terbiasa kok. Ala bisa karena biasa. X)</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2tr1nj7kZI/U0ZVAf8quHI/AAAAAAAAQWc/zDCX5aY7YSc/s1600/alvina.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-_2tr1nj7kZI/U0ZVAf8quHI/AAAAAAAAQWc/zDCX5aY7YSc/s1600/alvina.jpg" height="320" width="235" /></a>Sesekali saya juga menemani anak-anak sambil membaca
buku, si kakak mengisi majalah kesukaannya dan si adek saya berikan buku kain.
Tapi buku cetak jauh lebih menggoda, rupanya, sampai-sampai tiap buku yang saya
baca selalu direbut oleh Si Adek. Lucu loh ngliatin anak bayi buka-buka buku
yang tebelnya 400-500 halaman, tapi kudu hati-hati juga. Soalnya tangan
lincahnya bisa merobek halaman-halaman di buku itu. Ada dua atau tiga buku saya
sudah jadi korban ‘rasa penasarannya’. :)</div>
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<br />
Nah, untuk ngeblog biasanya saya sering terganggu kalau sudah online depan
kompi. Yang ada malah Blogwalking atau buka FB atau twitteran atau tumblran
atau nyari jurnal buat revisian tugas akhir (iya ini bo’ong banget). Saya
menyiasatinya dengan menulis review buku yang telah saya baca, pertama-tama di
ponsel dengan aplikasi tertentu, ada “Writer” atau kadang langsung saya tulis
di gmail (untungnya di rumah pakai wifi). Setelah apa yang ada di pikiran saya
itu tertuliskan, baru saya simpan dan bisa saya kopi ke M.word (iya ke word
dulu) dicek hurufnya, ditambahin apa yang kurang, termasuk nambahin quote-quote
yang sebelumnya ngga sempat saya tulis lewat ponsel. Setelah itu baru deh
dikopi ke blog dan siap diposting. </div>
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<br />
Ribet yah? hahah.. Iya sih kalo diliat memang ribet, tapi ini membantu banget
terutama kalau saya lagi banyak kerjaan atau lagi males ngedeprok di depan
komputer. Ponsel sangat membantu saya dalam hal-hal kecil beginian,
sampai-sampai selama tiga tahun terakhir ini saya sudah menghabiskan dua batu
baterai untuk si ponsel. Mungkin kecapekan juga kalik ya karena sering saya
pake aplikasi ini itu XD</div>
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<br />
Ngeblog saya lakukan hanya sebentar-sebentar, sesekali saya curi waktu untuk
membuka dashboard untuk melihat kolom komentar, tapi seringnya kelupaan untuk
jawab komen x/ Ini masih belum kalau si kecil nangis tiba tiba, alhasil kerjaan belum selese,
ngeblog pun batal. Hahahha. Tapi dibawa enjoy aja kalau saya sih. Karena kan tujuan baca-ngeblog itu buat
senang-senang. Lagian saya juga nggak tiap hari sesibuk itu, jadi masih cukup
sering bisa berselancar di dunia maya lewat komputer. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Begitulah, saya ‘mengatur’ waktu saya untuk
membaca-ngeblog-dan menjalani hari. Hihi, terima kasih untuk Mbak Fanda yang
sudah berkenan menerima saya sebagai tamu di blognya. Terima kasih juga untuk
divisi event yang membuat saya punya kesempatan bertamu di rumah blogger buku
lain. :D</div>
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<br /></div>
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Saya Alvina, si empunya @alvina13. Paling suka
membaca buku bertema fantasi yang juga bermimpi bisa memelihara Naga dan
Unicorn, apalagi kalau mereka juga suka baca. XD Saya gabung di BBI pada bulan
Juni 2011, Kala itu masih newbie sekalee, dan masih ingat postingan baca bareng
pertama saya <i>The Day of The Jackal</i>, (bulan Juli) yang saking semangatnya
langsung saya buru di toko buku begitu judul baca barengnya telah ditetapkan.
Bergabung di BBI memiliki banyak input positif bagi saya, yang emang dasarnya
doyan baca dan nulis. Ritme tulisan saya jadi lebih teratur, hampir setiap saya
selesai membaca buku, selalu saya sempatkan menulis resensinya, jadi saya lebih
sering melatih kemampuan saya mengungkapkan suatu hal dalam bentuk kata-kata.
(Iya sih kadang ngeresensinya juga ngasal jadi. Etapi kan yang penting nulis :p)
Dari BBI saya jadi punya banyaaak daftar buku yang ingin dibaca, daftar
belanjaan buku yang ingin dibeli, dan daftar timbunan yang menuh-menuhin lemari
x_x. Semoga tiga tahun ini membuat anggota BBI makin solid, makin berkontribusi
terhadap dunia sastra di Indonesia, dan makin berwarna bahasannya. :)</div>
<br />
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@@@@@@</div>
<br />
Terima kasih untuk Alvina yang mau bertamu di blog ini, semoga makin giat membaca dan ngeblog meski dengan segudang kesibukan ya! Selamat Ulang Tahun juga untuk BBI yang ke 3, semoga makin dewasa usiamu, semakin banyak manfaat yang kami rasakan dengan bergabung denganmu! :)<br />
<br />
Guest posts lainnya bisa dilihat di sini:<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
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<!-- end InLinkz script -->Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-1127259568774563522014-04-04T12:51:00.000+07:002014-04-04T12:52:55.905+07:00Never Let Me Go<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUZ_cnjpqKc/Uz5HYBui2_I/AAAAAAAAQTM/nv57hctxS1Q/s1600/never-let-me-go.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-yUZ_cnjpqKc/Uz5HYBui2_I/AAAAAAAAQTM/nv57hctxS1Q/s1600/never-let-me-go.jpg" height="320" width="220" /></a></div>
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What is the
meaning of life? Why do we live? If someday we are meant to die, then, what are
we supposed to live for? These questions were swirling in my head right after I
closed the last page of Kazuo Ishiguro’s <i>Never
Let Me Go</i>. This novel is a dystopian story about human cloning, where the
cloned kids are brought up nicely only to donate their organs for sick people
when they have grown up. In this novel Ishiguro is criticizing how, in the era
of technology fast advances, human gets bolder in imitating God, by cloning His
masterpiece: human beings. But on the other hand, he also brings us to reflect
our own humanity, of the true value and meaning of being a human.</div>
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<br /></div>
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This novel
is told from the first point of view of Kathy H., one of the cloned kids, when
she is 31. All the cloned characters do not have family name, only a character
following their first names. Kathy reflects her world and her life as a cloned
kid, starting from (and especially about) her happy years in Hailsham, an
English boarding school specially designed for the cloning project. Hailsham is
the whole world for the cloned kids. They grow up, receive fine education, and
socialize with their kinds, all inside Hailsham. Although never been introduced
to the outside world, they are brought up as normal as possible like any
children on the outside world.</div>
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<br /></div>
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The central
figures of this novel are Kathy—a kind and principled girl, Ruth—Kathy’s best
friend; a bossy girl, and Tommy—a hot-tempered boy who is often bullied by
other students. Kathy is the only one who stands for him while he is bullied,
and they become close friends. However, it is Ruth who later on become Tommy’s
girlfriend. From the very beginning, they know—or rather have instinct—that
they are not normal. Here and there lay mysteries, hinted by the teachers (whom
they called ‘guardians’). They are encouraged to create as much and as best art
works as possible, and the best ones would be picked by a mysterious woman they
called ‘Madame’. Another mystery….</div>
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On their 16
years of age, they are ‘graduated’ Hailsham, and move to a closed resident
called ‘The Cottages’, where they are introduced to the outside world. They are
encouraged to live as normal people, having love and sexual relationship—even
though they could not have children, and having a career as nurses—nursing the
donors to get through every donation. However they also know that these are
only formal preparations before entering life as donors—their main purpose of
life (the ‘completion’). Whenever they are ready, they can register themselves
as donors, and they would perform ‘donation’ after donation, until the process
takes their life eventually. It is in her career as nurse, just before she
decides to be a donor, that Kathy reflects her life and tells us the story.</div>
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<br /></div>
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I remember
when I was reading <i>Remains of the Day</i>,
I was amazed by Ishiguro’s narrative style. It was rather slow-paced, but very
thoughtful and deep. And the same aspect comes again in <i>Never Let Me Go</i>. Several of my friends said that in their first attempt,
they were stuck at the middle of the book, could not make it to the end. I was
worried at fist that this would be slower than <i>Remain s of the Day</i>. However, as I started first chapter, I just
knew that I was going to like it. It is even little smoother than <i>Remains</i>, and the moral and humanity
theme make it more intense. Now I am grateful, I have swapped one of my books
(I forget which one) with this book!</div>
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<br /></div>
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In the end, I
came to two reflections: First, that human cloning is totally immoral. Only God
can create human, and as creations, we cannot even imagine to be equal with our
Creator. Ironically, my second reflection came from thinking about the
human-cloning; from the lives of Kathy, Ruth, Tommy, and their kind. Even they are all the same kind (human-cloning), they have different opinion of their
lives. My favorite here is Kathy. I think Kathy is the most positive of her
friends. Instead of worrying her grim future and—like her friends—registering
to be donor as soon as possible to end it; or—like Ruth—trying to hide the fact
and pretend to be innocent until it’s time to ‘complete’ her life, Kathy
accepts the nature of her fate and enjoys her works as a nurse. In short, she
takes what life gives her, and does her best to fill it until it’s time for her
to ‘complete’ it. </div>
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Then I had
my reflection….isn’t Kathy’s life quite similar to us? I mean, besides our
different origins, we all know that someday we would also ‘complete’ our life
when we die. We do have freewill—unlike the cloned—but basically we are all
mortal, and cannot change that. If the cloned—and the guardians—think their
life is kind of doomed, poor, useless; that they were brought up only to donate
their organs and die, how do WE see our lives? Is life really worth living, if
we know for certain that we are going to die? If the cloned had lived only for
donating their organs, what are WE living for? Through Kathy, I was reminded of
how grateful I am to be God’s child; to be His special creation, and to have
been living as myself. If Kathy the cloned can move on and make the best of her
life, confound us if we waste ours that are so precious!</div>
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Thank you Ishiguro
for writing this novel; I am really grateful to have decided to read this book.
Please, therefore, accept my four stars for <i>Never
Let Me Go</i>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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~~~~~~~~~</div>
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<br /></div>
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I read Indonesian translation from Gramedia Pustaka Utama</div>
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<br /></div>
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<i>This book is counted
as:<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Q7-xtHRA33Q/UMgggoN5jvI/AAAAAAAAKGE/EecyRIqReWg/s280/1001-books-challenge.jpg">1001 Books You Must Read Before You Die</a></div>
<br />
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<br /></div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-73411351898502879022014-02-26T12:43:00.001+07:002014-02-26T12:43:34.346+07:00Wishful Wednesday (25)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Saat Rupiah
makin menguat terhadap dollar, hasrat belanja buku mendadak terbit lagi…
*sebenarnya meski dollar lagi menguat pun, tetap saja belanja sih…*. Dari
sekian banyak isi wishlist, minggu ini ada beberapa buku yang pengen banget segera
kubawa pulang…..</div>
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<a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Sorrows-Young-Werther-Selected-Writings-Johann-Wolfgang-von-Goethe/9780451418555"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Sorrows of Young Werther</b></span></a></div>
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By Goethe</div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZLVoNLVKgY/Uw1-A48UvsI/AAAAAAAAP6Q/h4UA9D954HM/s1600/sorrows-of-young-werther.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-nZLVoNLVKgY/Uw1-A48UvsI/AAAAAAAAP6Q/h4UA9D954HM/s1600/sorrows-of-young-werther.jpg" height="320" width="297" /></a></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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<br /></div>
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Aku belum
pernah baca karya Goethe, dan belum bisa membayangkan apa yang bakal kudapat,
tapi aku tetap pengen merasakan karya beliau. Jadi, dari sekian banyak pilihan, kenapa aku memilih buku ini
untuk Wishful Wednesday minggu ini? Karena covernya paling menggoda!... :P</div>
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Buku kedua
yang juga sangat aku inginkan saat ini adalah:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.bookdepository.co.uk/Plays-Christopher-Marlowe/9781840221305"><b>The Plays</b></a></span></div>
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By Christopher Marlowe</div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6PodLpmHiA/Uw1-IG9mM9I/AAAAAAAAP6Y/P4VjFj-YzMw/s1600/marlowe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-u6PodLpmHiA/Uw1-IG9mM9I/AAAAAAAAP6Y/P4VjFj-YzMw/s1600/marlowe.jpg" height="320" width="297" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
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Gara-gara
menantang diri sendiri untuk membaca plays (drama) tahun lalu, aku jadi
keranjingan membaca play (terutama yang non-Shakespeare). Salah satunya adalah
Doctor Faustus-nya Marlowe. Kebetulan aku menemukan kumpulan play beliau yang
lengkap (setelah konsultasi ke Listra @museforesaken) dengan harga lumayan
murah.</div>
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<br /></div>
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Lanjut….sebetulnya
buku ini sudah pernah masuk ke Wishful Wednesday, tapi karena sampai sekarang
belum terpenuhi, maka aku masukin lagi deh…. *sambil komat-kamit baca mantra*</div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><a href="http://www.bukabuku.com/browse/bookdetail/2010000128497/antony-cleopatra.html">Antony & Cleopatra</a></b></span></div>
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By Colleen McCullough</div>
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<o:p><br /></o:p></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjoTmjlKcgI/Uw1-VZh-_1I/AAAAAAAAP6g/fP7ZRSG053o/s1600/antony-cleopatra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-SjoTmjlKcgI/Uw1-VZh-_1I/AAAAAAAAP6g/fP7ZRSG053o/s1600/antony-cleopatra.jpg" height="320" width="212" /></a></div>
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<br /></div>
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Rasanya
sudah jelas sih mengapa aku pengen banget buku ini, karena minat dan
kecintaanku yang cukup besar pada sejarah Romawi. Aku sudah baca versi
Shakespeare, lalu Plutarch (biografi Antony), dan udah punya biografi Cleopatra
(versi Stacy Schiff). Jadi, rasanya bagaimana pun juga kudu punya buku ini!</div>
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Maka, aku
berharap sangat, Astrid (and the infamous Monsieur Random) bersedia mengabulkan
salah satu keinginanku itu minggu ini! ;)</div>
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<br /></div>
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Tentang
Wishful Wednesday:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Silakan
follow blog <a href="http://perpuskecil.wordpress.com/">Books To Share</a> – atau tambahkan di blogroll/link blogmu =)</li>
<li><span style="text-align: justify;">Buat posting
mengenai buku-buku (boleh lebih dari 1) yang jadi inceran kalian minggu ini,
mulai dari yang bakal segera dibeli, sampai yang paling mustahil dan hanya
sebatas mimpi. Oya, sertakan juga alasan kenapa buku itu masuk dalam wishlist
kalian ya!</span></li>
<li>Tinggalkan
link postingan Wishful Wednesday kalian di Mr. Linky (klik saja tombol Mr.
Linky di bagian bawah post). Kalau mau, silakan tambahkan button Wishful
Wednesday di posting kalian.</li>
<li>Mari saling
berkunjung ke sesama blogger yang sudah ikut share wishlistnya di hari Rabu =)</li>
</ul>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-63355247114661957142014-02-10T16:39:00.001+07:002014-02-10T16:39:23.020+07:00Read Big Reading Challenge! Wrap Up<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
This is a
challenge of reading bulky books of more than 500 pages, hosted by <a href="http://ngidambuku.blogspot.com/2013/02/are-you-strong-enough-to-read-big.html">Dessy</a>. Here
are books I have read for the challenge, from February 2013 to January 2014.</div>
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Level:
<b>Heavyweight</b></div>
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Books I have
read: <b>10 books</b>, but unfortunately I was late to submit the last review. Well…anyway,
here they are:</div>
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Feb: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/02/little-dorrit.html">Little Dorrit</a></b> – Charles Dickens</div>
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Mar: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/03/the-three-musketeers-re-read.html">The Three Musketeers</a></b> - Alexandre Dumas</div>
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Apr: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/04/the-mill-on-floss.html">The Mill on the Floss</a></b> - George Elliot</div>
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Jun: <b><a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2013/06/harry-potter-and-half-blood-prince-re.html">Harry Potter & the Half Blood Prince</a></b> (re-read)</div>
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Jul: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/war-and-peace.html">War and Peace</a></b> - Leo Tolstoy -- <i>Incredible Bulk!</i></div>
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<b><a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2013/08/harry-potter-and-deathly-hallows-re-read.html">Harry Potter & the Deathly Hollows</a></b> (re-read)</div>
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Aug: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/10/a-tree-grows-in-brooklyn.html">A Tree Grows in Brooklyn</a></b> - Betty Smith</div>
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Oct: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/12/moby-dick-final-review.html">Moby Dick</a></b> - Herman Melville</div>
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Dec: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2013/12/david-copperfield.html">David Copperfield</a></b> - Charles Dickens</div>
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Jan: <b><a href="http://klasikfanda.blogspot.com/2014/02/roman-lives-final-review.html">Roman Lives</a></b> - Plutarch</div>
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Thanks to
Dessy to host it! ;)</div>
Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-36590818977641906282014-02-03T11:36:00.000+07:002014-02-03T11:36:00.131+07:00Buying Monday #1<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Ini pertama
kalinya aku post meme yang dihost oleh <a href="http://theblackinthebooks.blogspot.com/">Aul</a>. Sebelumnya belanjaanku gak terlalu
banyak, dan gak pernah inget buat foto-foto… Nah, bulan ini entah gimana,
tiba-tiba aku sudah belanja di sana-sini >,<” Akhirnya aku kumpulin
foto-foto hasil belanjaan, dan kuniatkan untuk post Buying Monday, sekalian
mengingatkan diri sendiri untuk puasa belanja buku bulan Februari & Maret!
*semoga bisa…*</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mo-wMmYDb8Y/UuoaSw6naPI/AAAAAAAAPrs/dijevU8Jywg/s1600/buying-monday-button.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-Mo-wMmYDb8Y/UuoaSw6naPI/AAAAAAAAPrs/dijevU8Jywg/s1600/buying-monday-button.jpg" /></a></div>
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Jadi inilah
tamu-tamu baru di timbunanku:</div>
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Beli di @Balibooks</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jCSfPvISPyE/UuocBqW1svI/AAAAAAAAPsI/sfjFf5RZPjA/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-jCSfPvISPyE/UuocBqW1svI/AAAAAAAAPsI/sfjFf5RZPjA/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-1.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Beli di
@BukuSecond_Bdg</div>
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<a href="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mHSJspvHV4U/UuocmU-FTkI/AAAAAAAAPsY/lAnMLI8Q5P4/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://2.bp.blogspot.com/-mHSJspvHV4U/UuocmU-FTkI/AAAAAAAAPsY/lAnMLI8Q5P4/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-2.jpg" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Beli di
Bukumoo</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s6O8DwMObZk/UuocuMFntqI/AAAAAAAAPsg/kL4ZVxoTTV8/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-s6O8DwMObZk/UuocuMFntqI/AAAAAAAAPsg/kL4ZVxoTTV8/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-3.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Dan yang
terakhir datang…..jauh-jauh dari The Book Depository</div>
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<a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ictAxem22UU/Uuoc1ZblJrI/AAAAAAAAPso/UkqKtCJlj1Q/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-ictAxem22UU/Uuoc1ZblJrI/AAAAAAAAPso/UkqKtCJlj1Q/s1600/buying-monday-jan14-4.jpg" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
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Sebenarnya
masih ada 1 buku lagi yang masih PO di TBD, datangnya baru Februari. Lalu ada 1
buku lagi hasil kalap di Maria (Hobby Buku) yang belum sempat terkirim.
*berusaha gak ngitung total belanja bulan lalu*</div>
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Apa Buying
Monday-mu bulan ini? :)</div>
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</div>
<ul>
<li>Follow <a href="http://theblackinthebooks.blogspot.com/">The Black in The Books</a> melalui email atau bloglovin'</li>
<li>Buat post
tentang buku-buku apa saja yang dibeli selama bulan itu, publish setiap hari
Senin pertama di bulan berikutnya.</li>
<li>Masukan link
post tersebut di linky yang disediakan.</li>
<li>Linky akan
dibuka selama 8 hari.</li>
<li>Bila ada
yang memasukan link tentang book haul bulan berikutnya (bukan bulan yang
ditentukan), maka link itu akan dihapus dari linky.</li>
<li>Jangan lupa
melihat-lihat book haul peserta lain! :D</li>
</ul>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-47397813936082370292014-01-30T09:01:00.000+07:002014-01-30T09:01:53.375+07:00The Racketeer<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tw17mW8659c/Ut44gGbZ6NI/AAAAAAAAPnM/nHoLdPwMxbw/s1600/the-racketeer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-tw17mW8659c/Ut44gGbZ6NI/AAAAAAAAPnM/nHoLdPwMxbw/s1600/the-racketeer.jpg" height="320" width="195" /></a></div>
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[rack-e-teer]
is <i>one who obtains money illegally, as by
fraud, extortion, etc</i>. From the beginning I’ve been curious, who the
racketeer is. The story is told from two point-of-views; the first is from Malcolm
Bannister’s—an African-American lawyer who has involved in a case which turned
out to be a crime, and got imprisoned under RICO (Racketeer Influenced and
Corrupt Organizations) Act. The second is from third point of view, the
narrator. Malcolm must serve ten years in prison for a crime he was not guilty
of; losing his career, his family, his future—in short, he is ruined. When five
years has elapsed, a Federal judge is murdered, and Malcolm proposes to FBI to
swap his knowledge of the murderer, with his freedom and immunity.</div>
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As the FBI doesn’t
have any clue about the murder, they give Malcolm freedom and immunity after he
gives them the name of the murderer: Quinn Rucker, his ex-friend in jail.
Malcolm changes his appearance and gets new name and new life, as well as the
money prize as the informant; while Quinn is imprisoned after his
under-pressured confession. However, FBI still could not find any solid
evidence to indict Quinn; while Max—the new Malcolm—manages to slip away from
their surveillance, and begins to busy himself with some strange things. The
FBI is now restless, and we—the readers—start asking these questions: Is
Malcolm the poor victim or the ruthless villain? If Quinn is not the murderer,
who is?</div>
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One thing
that I love mostly from Grisham, is the variation of his styles. One time he
would make a struggling lawyer heroically fighting a huge law firm; another
time he would highlight a victim of corrupted judicial system. But once or
twice he might make the villain triumphantly outdo the law. In fact, it is
sometimes difficult to differentiate the protagonist from the antagonist. But
whichever way Grisham takes you, you wouldn’t be able to resist his masterful
style of narrating his stories.</div>
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This book
looks promising on the earlier few chapters, but it gets rather slow after Malcolm
is easily freed from jail, and we already got the murderer. Well….in cases like
this, we know that the story isn’t over, and things might get twisted to a
surprising ending. And so I go on reading, and yes, it gets more and more
thrilling, and I was so excited to know the outcome…and the real killer! I
thought first that this is about corrupted system, which was punishing an
innocent victim, but of course, I was wrong—at least half wrong… :)</div>
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Four stars
for The Racketeer, another unusual law thriller from Grisham. Love it!</div>
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~~~~~~~~</div>
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I read Dell Mass Market Export edition</div>
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<i>Buku ini adalah hadiah
dari Secret Santa #BBI 2013 -- thanks Santa!<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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<i>Siapa Secret Santaku?
Aku buka kedoknya <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2014/01/membuka-kedok-secret-santa.html">di sini</a>… :D<o:p></o:p></i></div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-41400107434956108652014-01-30T09:00:00.000+07:002014-01-30T09:02:37.489+07:00Membuka Kedok Secret Santa!<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Tibalah hari
untuk membuka kedok Secret Santa—sebuah event yang diadakan #BBI (Blogger Buku
Indonesia) setiap akhir tahun, di mana kita sebagai Santa memberi hadiah sambil
menyembunyikan identitas kita (ya iyalah..namanya juga Secret :D) kepada si X
(penerima hadiah). Nah bedanya, di event ini kita memberikan riddle atau
petunjuk tentang jatidiri kita, lalu di akhir event si X harus menebak siapa
Santanya.</div>
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Dan
beginilah kronologi kisah penemuan jatidiri Santaku yang baik hati….. :)</div>
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Begitu
menerima paket dari kurir J*E yang tak bernama pengirim, aku langsung tahu
pasti bahwa ini adalah kado Santaku. Yang pertama-tama kuamati adalah resinya.
Dan meski tak ada nama, tapi langsung ketahuan bahwa paket itu dikirim dari
Surabaya (dari ongkirnya, hihihi…). Naah…itu menjadikan ruang bidik ‘tertuduh’
Santaku jadi jauh lebih sempit. Sambil membuka paket, otakku langsung berputar
pada teman-teman BBI-ers Surabaya yang tahun ini ikut Secret Santa.</div>
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Lalu
petunjuk berikut ada di riddle-nya yang sudah pernah ku-post <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2013/12/bbis-secret-santa-2013-riddle.html">di sini</a>.</div>
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Yang paling
menarik perhatian adalah nama lengkap yang terdiri dari 3 kata itu, karena
BBI-ers Surabaya jarang yang namanya 3 kata. Tapi yang paling unik adalah clue
“putri Kaisar Rusia” itu. Untunglah aku tahu nama itu. Buat yang belum
tahu…putri Kaisar Rusia namanya <b>Anastasia</b>
:) Dan lalu….samar-samar aku jadi teringat ada seseorang yang bernama asli
Anastasia, tapi nama itu gak beken di dunia maya. Maka akupun segera ubek-ubek
data anggota BBI (No. Member BBI), cari para BBI-ers Surabaya yang namanya 3
kata. Awalnya hampir curiga sama Winda, eh tapi <i>Anggraiena</i> kan bukan nama Rusia yah… </div>
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Aku scroll
down terus listnya….dan ketemulah <i>Sang
Putri Anastasia</i> di no. urut 53….ini diaaa…</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G03TFofhlZQ/Ut8VZc7DulI/AAAAAAAAPnk/zQI4yNy2PPI/s1600/secret-santa.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-G03TFofhlZQ/Ut8VZc7DulI/AAAAAAAAPnk/zQI4yNy2PPI/s1600/secret-santa.jpg" height="365" width="400" /></a></div>
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Lalu untuk
meyakinkan, aku cocokkan 2 clue lainnya: nama yang berkaitan dengan bulan:
Yoeliana = Juli, lalu yang banyak ditemui di hiasan pohon Natal adalah angel =
Angelina. Tak cukup dengan itu, sang Santa, atau yang sekarang sudah boleh kusebut
namanya ya, <b>Inge</b>….membubuhkan clue
lagi di tanda tangannya, yang bikin jawaban riddlenya makin tak terbantahkan:</div>
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Btw, salam dari <b>2 malaikatku
– ZZ</b></div>
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Makasih
yaa…Ziandra dan Zianka, buat salam ZZ-nya! ^^</div>
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Maka
demikianlah proses deduksi memecahkan kode Santa, yang ternyata gampang banget.
Makasih Inge…..udah dikasih buku incaran, syal cantik, riddle yang gampang
lagi. *peluk-peluk Inge* *sekalian sama Zianka & Ziandra* ;)</div>
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P.S. Review buku hadiah Santa Inge: <a href="http://bukubukufanda.blogspot.com/2014/01/the-racketeer.html">The Racketeer</a></div>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com51tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-6779645382805281239.post-22816680297484434762014-01-22T07:19:00.000+07:002014-01-22T07:19:00.549+07:00Wishful Wednesday (24)<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 0.0001pt; text-align: justify;">
Awal tahun
yang seharusnya sedikit ‘diet’ karena akhir tahun udah belanja buku gila-gilaan,
ternyata sama saja…. Dalam arti, godaan pun tetap saja datang dari mana-mana.
Kemarin pagi saat ngecek TL Twitter, tiba-tiba pandanganku tertumbuk pada
tweet-nya Riffle Books yang mengabarkan seputar buku-buku klasik yang baru
terbit awal tahun ini. Penasaran, link ku-klik, daaan….godaan pun bertebaran! T__T</div>
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Dari antara
beberapa godaan (ehm ehm…) ada satu yang paling bikin mupeng, dan inilah dia
Wishful Wednesday-ku yang pertama tahun ini:</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b>Dickens
& the Workhouse</b></span></div>
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By Ruth
Richardson</div>
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<a href="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Z8eXeoAZas/Ut4P4t_DJ3I/AAAAAAAAPmo/wsVSCuhKocI/s1600/dickens-n-the-workhouse.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-6Z8eXeoAZas/Ut4P4t_DJ3I/AAAAAAAAPmo/wsVSCuhKocI/s1600/dickens-n-the-workhouse.jpg" height="320" width="297" /></a></div>
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[<a href="https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/13490345-dickens-and-the-workhouse?ac=1">Synopsis</a>] </div>
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Yang bikin
buku sejarah ini jadi makin menarik adalah keterangan ini: “<i>This book offers a colorful portrait of
London in Dickens' time, looking at life in the streets and in the workhouse
itself. Illustrated with maps, documents, photos, and illustrations.</i>..”
Aaaak….bikin mupeng kaaan? @_@</div>
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Berhubung
ini udah deket ultahku, adakah yang mau berbaik hati menghadiahkan buku ini
buatku? *nyengir lebar sambil ngarep*</div>
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~~~~~~~~~</div>
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Tentang
Wishful Wednesday:</div>
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<ul>
<li>Silakan
follow blog <a href="http://perpuskecil.wordpress.com/">Books To Share</a> – atau tambahkan di blogroll/link blogmu =)</li>
<li>Buat posting
mengenai buku-buku (boleh lebih dari 1) yang jadi inceran kalian minggu ini,
mulai dari yang bakal segera dibeli, sampai yang paling mustahil dan hanya
sebatas mimpi. Oya, sertakan juga alasan kenapa buku itu masuk dalam wishlist
kalian ya!</li>
<li>Tinggalkan
link postingan Wishful Wednesday kalian di Mr. Linky (klik saja tombol Mr.
Linky di bagian bawah post). Kalau mau, silakan tambahkan button Wishful
Wednesday di posting kalian.</li>
<li>Mari saling
berkunjung ke sesama blogger yang sudah ikut share wishlistnya di hari Rabu =)</li>
</ul>
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Fanda Classiclithttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07642429343958941266noreply@blogger.com6