| Anonymous Daily Adventure

Birthday & January Book Haul

Like I've said on my previous post, I wasn't buying anything last year since my last book haul. But there were few books that I got as my birthday gift (which was on October, by the way)

So here's my book haul of this month including the books I got from my Birthday.

1. Allegiant By Veronica Roth

Special credit to both of my beautiful friends, Hana & Lisa for buying me this book! I just love the Hardcover of Allegiant. I haven't finished reading this, because I think this book is kind of boring... Such a disappointment for me. But I'm planning to read this someday.. not sure when.

2. Percy Jackson & The Olympians #5: The Last Olympian By Rick Riordan

So I bought this from Periplus website. This is the last book of The Percy Jackson series. There was a special discount for this one. It was only 40.000 IDR. I haven't bought the rest of the series. I only have Sea Of Monsters. But since I'm planning on finishing this series, I thought why not buying the last book anyway. It's cheap.

3. Looking For Alaska By John Green

So one of my mission was read all John Green's book. I got an 50.000 IDR E-Voucher from Periplus. I got it by exchanging my points from buying books. So I used it to buy two John Green's book and this is one of them. I've read this one and to be honest, I didn't think it was good enough. It was okay. I liked it. But the book was too predictable and the plot was kind of flat.

4. Paper Town By John Green

This is the other John Green I was talking about. Paper Towns. I've read the first hundred pages and just like Looking For Alaska, I don't really like it so far. It's boring. It started really great and funny then when it reached page 80, the storyline just got flat and boring. I don't really think I'd like any other John Green's books except The Fault in Our Stars. This might piss you off if you're a John Green's fan, but I'm not planning to read his previous books before TFiOS.

5. THE HUNGER GAMES TRILOGY HARDCOVER BOX SET

Especially bought online from USA by my friend; Here it is people, the amazing The Hunger Games Hardcover Box Set! This is literally the best gift in my entire life! The box set is beautiful. I really love it. I got this a week before Catching Fire was released in Indonesia which gave me time to reread Catching Fire - the beautiful Hardcover Catching Fire. This is going to be the box set that I will let pass through my generation. To my children, my grandchildren, my grand-grandchildren and the list keep going........

Done!

I'm going to post my February Book Haul as soon as possible. And there are lots - by lots I mean A LOT books that I've purchased this month. I can't wait to show it to you guys.....

P.S: When I say a lot of books, I mean like 5-10 books.. I'm not as rich as the booktubers who buy like 30 books a month.

2014 Reading Resolution

1 Comment »

Well okay.. It's already February, the second month of the year 2014 and it's a little bit late to write my 2014 Reading Resolution. But it's fun, so I'm just gonna do it anyway.

So, last year was a disaster. I was stuck in a reading slump and didn't even try to get back on reading.

But not this time! 2014's been good so far and I've been loving it so far. I bought lots of books (book haul is coming right after this one), I read in total 6 books in the month of January; which is a huge amount considering my reading slump last year.

I want to enjoy 2014 with lots of books and experiencing literature even deeper. So, here's my reading resolution this year.

1. From Young Adult to Adult.

I've been reading a lot of Young Adult Fiction; dystopian, some contemporary and fantasy. The thing about YA Fiction, everything is practically the same. Same concept, different author and different characters. Sometimes even the plot is similar. That's why I'm going to read more Adult Fiction this year. I've read few: Dan Brown's novels and J.K Rowling's The Casual Vacancy, but I crave for some more.

2. More classic and 80's / 90's books.

Back when I wasn't even existed, there were lots of brilliant author publishing their masterpieces. And I have the urgency to read all of them. I know my english skill isn't that good, that's why I want to challenge myself with reading classic and books that published before 2000's. Some classic that I've been planning to read: The Great Gatsby, Lord of The Flies, To Kill A Mocking Bird and The Giver. Also I'll be trying to read A Game of Thrones.

3. Completing series instead of starting a new ones.

I have this bad habbit. I buy the first book in the series and buy the following books of the series on the next year.. Sometimes not at all, which left me hanging with so much unfinished series. So far, I've finished few series: Harry Potter, The Infernal Devices, The Hunger Games and soon The Mortal Instruments and Legend Trilogy. This year I'm planning to finish The Percy Jackson series, Heroes of Olympus, Caster series, Eon duology and hopefully series by Patrick Ness and Scott Westerfeld.

4. Read 4 books a month and complete my Goodreads challenge.

There are 4 weeks in a month, which mean each week I have to finish at least one book. Why? Well, because I want - wait, no - HAVE to complete my Goodreads challenge this year, which is to read in total 40 books. And 18% done and 3 books ahead. This is a good sign, isn't it?

5. Read more Non-Fiction books.

Self-enrichment and motivational books would be great or maybe I'll just but Wreck-This-Journal by Kerri Smith.

6. Complete my Harry Potter collection.

I have complete series of Harry Potter but it's in Bahasa. So this means I'm going to replace all my Harry Potter books with the new ones! There are like million different covers of the series but I've decided to collect the ones that Periplus selling... The adult version from Bloomsburry which were published during Harry Potter's anniversary.

The covers and the spines are gorgeous! Can't wait to get my hands all over these books!

... And that's a wrap! These are all my reading resolution this year. Hopefully, by the end of the year I could accomplish all of them.

What's your resolution this year?

BOOK REVIEW: Prodigy By Marie Lu

No Comments »

So I bought this book a year ago. Read first few pages and then just left it there on my bookshelves with no intention to continue reading it. I remember buying the sequel because the cover was so cool and it's hardcover!
Then couple months later, I decided to give it a try again and read more pages and gave up again because I was in my worst reading slump ever. Until now... To be exactly two days ago.

Prodigy.
Written by Marie Lu, the author of the famous dystopian trilogy; Legend. I loved the first book, Legend. My reaction for the first book was like, "This is a really good book. Better than The Hunger Games. I guess I'm gonna read the next book.". Well, guess what my reaction after finished reading Prodigy was like, "OH MY FUCKING GOODNESS THIS BOOK IS GOOD I NEED THE NEXT ONE RIGHT NOW!".
Swear to God, I almost got myself changed and went to the nearest bookstore that has Champion - the last book of the trilogy - and buy it. But then I realized it was crazy because it was 5 in the morning.
Yes people. This book is that good.

If you haven't read the first book, you have to! Don't waste your precious time doubting yourselves whether to buy it or not. Believe me you won't regret reading it.

Prodigy continues with June and Day attempts to find Day's brother and move themselves to the Colonies; hoping there's a better future there. But with Day's wounded legs, they have no chance. Desperate; they go to the Last Vegas - the military state of Republic - to find Patriots and ask them for help. Later they discover the death of Elector Primo and that Patriots don't do charity by giving them free helps. In exchange, Day and June have to do the mission Patriots is currently working on; Kill the new Elector Primo who non other than the former Elector's son which will lead them to the revolution; Republic and Colonies become one just like the old days. Well, at least that's what they being told.

The first thing you notice when you read Prodigy is the writing. It's really good. I think it's even better than Divergent or The Hunger Games. Correct me is I'm wrong but I think it is.
There are like tons of surprises waiting ahead in each pages. Reading this book is like experiencing a roller coaster that not only goes up, but surely goes down in a high speed which will make your heart stopped and scream out of frustration. (Wait until you find the shocking truth about Metias and Thomas!)

There are few new characters here but they don't really have roles in this book. They just pass by like any other supporting actors or actresses in a really good movie. You see them, you either love or hate them and then you just sort of forget who they are and what they're doing in this book.

The pacing.
God, it's so fast. It's like I'm actually there when Kaede flies the Colonies's military jet and do her best split-S! The last thing you'll realize is that you've been reading all night and you've reached the last page.

The romance. This is the one thing I really love from this book. Romance? Fuck it. There's a little bit touch of Romance in this book but not too much. Just the enough amount that a dystopian book needs. I hate it when an author writes a dystopian book, with this promising premise but when I read it, it's all about the protagonist characters love story, including the triangle love, sometimes a rectangle love and I'm like, "Go write some romance novels! Don't ruin my precious dystopian!". Yes, I'm not a big fan of romance.
I just love how June keeps saying things like, "We just know each other for less than a month. How could I fall in love with this guy?" which makes here kind of resist saying that she loves Day. It does make sense you know. Romance in young adult dystopian book is sometimes forced. Move to fast that you find it doesn't make any sense.
It goes like: "Hey, I just met you yesterday. You seem hot. Let's make out! I will betray everyone and leave what I have for no reason. Well, I think pretty much because I 'love' you."
Totally not happening in Legend trilogy. Everything happens for a reason and the romance just so good that I find myself loving it.

Marie Lu is a kick ass. She succeeded with the two point-of-view. She took advantage with this writing style to explain lots of stuff. Put all the characters emotions. Making us, the readers, so related with June and Day. Most of writers just failed taking advantage from the first person POV, but not Marie Lu. She nailed it!

If you've done reading Legend, go ahead buy Prodigy and read it immediately! This is so much better than the first book.

I rate this five out of five stars. (DUH!)
Prodigy is the second book I read on 2014 after The Fault in Our Stars by John Green, which was a reread and I gave it five out of five stars as well. I'm happy that I'm starting 2014 with amazing books. A good start, yeah?
I've ordered Paper Town and Looking For Alaska, both by the same author, John Green from Periplus online and I'm gonna get Champion, the last book of the Legend trilogy, around next week. So yeah, I'm officially out of my reading slump and currently enjoying my holiday with good books.
Book Haul and more reviews are coming!

BOOK REVIEW: The Fault in Our Stars

No Comments »

(source: pittsburghmagazine.com)

This is a really late review, I know. The Fault in Our Stars by the famous author, John Green; winner of lots of awards. This book was really famous back then on 2012 and won the Best Young Adult Fiction on Goodreads Choice Awards 2012.

I'd originally read this book last year and didn't really like it. I didn't know what was wrong, until I found out this year. The main reason the book wasn't that 'good' for me because I didn't put my attention on this book because it was a busy week when I read this for the first time. Since the movie is coming out later this year on June, I thought 'Well, gotta give this book a second chance and this time no more distraction.'

On my second read, this book is just..... AMAZING! I love this book and I have to say this: the best book I've ever read so far (Let's pretend Harry Potter doesn't exist here).

Yes people this kind of thing happens sometimes. No kidding.

The Fault in Our Stars is a book about a young teenager named Hazel Grace who has terminal thyroid cancer and shitty lungs because like everyone knows, cancer likes to make colonies all over your body once it's caught you.

Her life changes when she meets young Augustus Waters, hot boy in the Support Group for cancer kids that not only has the magnificent blue eyes but also has only one human leg while the other is a fake leg. Why? Well - cancer.

Long story short, they fall in love. And there are a lot more coming. I won't tell you anything more than this because you have to read it by yourselves!

The first thing that I really love about this book is the characters. Hazel Grace is funny, awkward and incredibly smart especially in literature. Guess what, she loves to read which make me feel related to her.

Augustus Waters is just charming and also funny. Funnier than Hazel Grace. Weird in someways but still, cool guy that I wish I could have as my brother or best friend. Well, I know I couldn't since he's.. *CENSORED*

The writing is just amazing. Not too hard for me the poor skilled in English guy. You will laugh, smile, mad, furious, upset, sob and cry. There are lots of emotion in this book that I can't even explain in word.

The plot is as amazing as any other things in this book. The story just moves so fast and caught my breath in so many ways. This book makes cancer teenagers falling in love sounds new and not mainstream.

The thing about book with romance in it, sometimes it gets too romantic. Too much saliva being exchanged (read: making out). Too much dramatic scenes. But not this book. It doesn't mean that this book isn't romantic at all. It is, but it just has the right amount of romantic scenes and the perfect amount of saliva being exchanged. So yeah, it's not the book for those girls who gets excited whenever Isabella Swan making out with either Edward Cullen or Jacob Black. This is a book for people who admires beautifully written book with the love story that you wish you could have; well minus the cancer part.

Thank God there's no love triangle in this book because I've had it enough with Young Adult Fiction's cheesy love triangle! (The Mortal Instruments, The Infernal Devices, The Hunger Games - you name it!)

There are lots of emotions in this book. I guarantee you will feel lost and hollow after you finish this book. You will craving for sequel but there will not be a next book. You have to accept this is a stand alone Contemporary Young Adult Fiction. (Does this one count as contemporary? I'm not really sure.)

Okay, maybe I sound a little overreacted but believe me people, I'm not. I love love love this book. The word 'Okay' won't be the same again for me.

If you haven't read it, go to your nearest book stores and buy this freakin' book and finish it in a day! Why? Because you have to! This book is so good, I'm not lying.

If you're Indonesian, please just please don't read the translated version. Why? I'll tell you why.

1. The cover suck!

2. You won't understand what I'm telling you about the writing.... well, because it's translated, duh!

3. It's sucked. Believe me it's sucked.

4. If you don't understand English... Well, there's never too late to learn something new, right? Yes, this book is so good that you need to take English course now just so you can read this amazing book.

Five stars out of Five.

No doubt.

Okay?

Okay.

It's about time for a book haul

1 Comment »

Hey, I'm back!
This is my first book haul after a long hiatus from blogging. These books were purchased between May to beginning of August.

From top to the bottom:
1. The Sea of Monsters By Rick Riordan
2. The Killables By Gemma Malley
3. The Perks of Being A Wallflower By Stephen Chbosky
4. Legend By Marie Lu
5. The Elite By Kiera Cass
6. Reboot By Amy Tintera
7. Prodigy By Marie Lu
8. Pure By Julianna Bagott

Well, I don't know what to say about my book haul. But as you can see, there are lots of dystopian books and I'm a big fan of dystopian.
I haven't read any of these books except for The Perks of Being A Wallflower which I loved so much. I'd read Legend By Marie Lu but it was the Indonesian version and I'm thinking to reread it again.

So yeah, not so many books were purchased.
I have a very long list for my next book haul. Hope I could get them all.

Most Wanted Books (May 2013)

2 Comments »

I need to be more consistent with my list. Couple of months ago I had lots of books on my Most Wanted Books list and I'd only bought one book from my list. It was terrible and wrong. This month, I'll only have four books in my list and I'll try to buy three of them..... hopefully I could buy all of them.

1. Sea of Monsters By Rick Riordan

The movie is coming on August and I need to read this book! I loved the first book, it was good. I loved Rick Riordan's writing. Though I wasn't a greek myth big fan, but I loved The Lightning Thief. It was good and I'm looking forward to read the second book.

2. Gone By Michael Grant

Been spying this book for a very long time. I have to start reading Michael Grant's work soon! By soon, I mean this month!

3. Prodigy By Marie Lu

I'm still waiting for the paperback version to be sold in Indonesia. I can't afford any hardcover books this month since I've spent so much money lately. Prodigy is definitely on my top TBR list.

4. Reboot By Amy Tintera

I've watched the book trailer and it was super cool! I think this will be one of my favorite book of this year. It will be released on May 7th. I can't wait to get this one!

Have you read either of these books? Please let me know your thought about it.

First Book on May

No Comments »

Hey, it's May already!
Went to Grand Indonesia today and got myself a new book. I hate myself for picking up this book. My worst decision ever.

My first book of May is:

Feed By M.T Anderson.

Lots of booktubers got this book for review from Book Depository. Most of them liked the book, so I thought, why not?

And as soon as I got this book, I cursed myself. I thought I'd like this book. I've read the first few chapters and I didn't really like it. This book has a new and fresh concept, but this is about a futuristic love story. And I need to tell you this, I hate romance book. Hate it really much that I could throw it into a dumpster. (Exception for The Fault in Our Stars & Silver Linings Playbook, and probably other books that are actually good.)

I thought this book was about Sci-Fi adventure thingy, but it's not.

I should've bought Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan instead.

What the hell was wrong with me?

Why the hell did I buy this book?

Anyway, I won't judge this book any further before I actually read it. Hopefully it's going to be good. Lots of good reviews coming from people on Goodreads. I hope I'll be one of those people.

What's your first book on May? Let me know, just leave your comment below.