Anonymous Daily Adventure

I'm back! College has been insanely busy and I don't even have enough time just to touch my books let alone updating my blog. So I'm glad today is Saturday and Winnie from Lemonade Reads tag me to do this Book Tag. Let's do this!

What are your top three book pet hates?
1. Books with actual people on the cover. I just hate it. For me, it makes the book look so cheesy and cheap. Well, I'm that person who judge the book by its cover. #sorryfornotbeingsorry
2. Too much romance. I know lots of people enjoy romance and kisses in a book, but I dislike it. I love action packed and fast pacing book. This is the main reason why it was hard for me to get into The Mortal Instruments and Shatter Me Trilogy.
3. Small books. I'm not a big fan of small mass market paperback. I prefer big and tall books.

Describe your perfect reading spot.
Anywhere quiet and indoor. I find outdoor places are distracting. Not sure why.

Tell us three book confessions
1. I like The Selection trilogy. I find this embarrassing since I'm a guy and this series is so girly.
2. I was devastated when I finished The Fault in Our Stars. It was a freaking sad book, okay!
3.  (Does this count as two confessions?)

When was the last time you cried during a book?
Never. I'm a strong proud male reader. I will never cry during reading. 

How many books are on your bedside table?
I don't have bedside table, so none.

What is your favorite snack whilst your reading?
I don't like eating while reading. It's really distracting and I won't risk getting my books spilled with foods.

Name three books you would recommend to everyone.



Show us a picture of your favorite bookshelf on your bookcase.
Picture Pending

Write how much books mean to you in just three word.
Books Equal Happiness

What is your biggest reading secret?
Sometimes I have a mental conversation with fictional characters that I hate or I'm frustrated with. Sometimes I even yell and complain to everyone that cares. I'm such a freak and not ashamed of it. DONE!

Since I have no book blogger friends, I tag you who read this post! 

It's not a secret that buying imported books in Indonesia is quite hard and expensive.

There are several bookstores that have imported books collection on their shelves around the country but most of their collections aren't satisfying.

I've been wanting to make this post since I first started this blog. Hopefully it would help you to find the perfect bookstore including online bookstore to buy your new books. The bookstores I listed down below are the ones that located in Jakarta. Some of them have their branches in other city as well. You can check their website which I will link it for you. Here we go!


1. Books Kinokuniya

Books Kinokuniya is a bookstore originally from Japan. It has lots of branches around the world and we're quite lucky to have it in Jakarta.

There are three Kinokuniya in Jakarta which all located at big mall: Grand Indonesia, Plaza Senayan and Pondok Indah Mall.

Kinokuniya Plaza Senayan has the biggest store with the most complete collections. You can find new releases books here. It also has lots of hardcover books which really hard to find in Indonesia. If you're a fan of Young Adult Fiction, Kinokuniya will be your heaven. It has all the newest YA Fiction in paperback form. Unfortunately, the price is crazy here. Most of the paperbacks start from 130.000 IDR. Some of the books are ridiculously expensive, twice (sometimes triple) the original price in US. If you're looking for classic literature, Kinokuniya has a really great collections including the Penguin Classic Edition.
Not only English literature, it also has collection of Japanese and Chinese literature.I recommend Kinokuniya if you want to go bookshopping and feeling satisfied with the collection, but brace your wallet because it won't be cheap.

Contact:
Twitter @kinokuniya_indo


2. Periplus

Periplus is one of my favorite bookstore. The collection isn't as complete as Kinokuniya, but it has a great collection as well.

The price is so much cheaper than Kinokuniya. It has lots of Mass Market Paperback collections, so if you're a fan of MMP, this is a perfect store for you.

Periplus has lots of branches around Jakarta and other cities. My favorite store are the ones that located at Plaza Indonesia and Plaza Senayan. I got most of my books from Periplus, especially the online store.
Periplus.com has been established since last year (if I'm not mistaken). It's currently developing its online store. Periplus.com is so far the best imported books online store in the country! You can order any kind of books on the website and it will ship the book directly from US. The biggest advantage is you don't have to pay the shipping cost from US to Indonesia. You only have to pay the shipping cost from its office to your home. Isn't it great? I bought some of my hardcover books from the website and it's satisfying. The service is fast and excellent, though the customer service is really bad sometime. Also some of the books are in wrong category. I bought two hardcovers which turned out to be paperbacks. It was really disappointing sometime, but I'll still recommend Periplus.com. Periplus is so far the best bookstore. It has the best price and discount.

Contact:
http://www.periplus.com
Twitter @periplus_store

3. Aksara 

This is like the coolest bookstore ever! Well, technically it's not a bookstore, but there are some books here. You can find indie band CDs and lots of cute and weird stuff. Most of the books here are classic.

I'd say this store is dedicated for fellow hipsters and also rich South Jakarta citizens. The price is insanely expensive. I never bought anything here.
Aksara is located at Plaza Indonesia and also Kemang district. Go check this cool store if you happen to be at the area!

Contact:
http://www.aksara.com/

4. Gramedia

As you know Gramedia is the biggest bookstore in Indonesia. There are literally Gramedia at every mall in Indonesia. Most of the books are local books but if you're lucky you can find imported books as well.

Most of Gramedia that have imported books are the ones that located in South and Central area of Jakarta. Grand Indonesia, Pondok Indah Mall, Central Park are few that has imported books.

The price is so much expensive than Periplus, but it's cheaper than Aksara and Kinokuniya.


5. Books & Beyond

It was known as Times Bookstore until it changed its name into Books & Beyond.

There are only few Books & Beyond stores around Jakarta: Plaza Senayan, Pluit Village, Pacific Place.
The biggest store is the one at UPH karawaci.

It has a really cheap book compare to other books store, but it has the smallest store and also only few interesting collections.
If you happen to have the member card of Books & Beyond, you have a really great privilege. Not only you get 10% discount for every purchase without minimum payment, you also get special discount for its monthly promo starting from 20% off discount.

It's now developing an online bookstore as well. The price is cheaper and for member card holder will also get 10% discount for every purchase online. Not only that, for every purchase more than 100.000 IDR you get free shipping (For Jakarta area only). Great, isn't it? I've been buying my books from Books & Beyond this April and I'm satisfied. The process is really fast. You order the book, you pay it and confirm your payment. In about few hours, you will get an email, informing you that your item is now ready to ship. Everything happen in one freaking day! I highly recommend the online bookstore.
Oh yeah, as for the collection on the website isn't that satisfying but it's quite good. I'm hoping for more collections in the future.

Contact
http://www.booksbeyond.co.id

I hope this can help you to decide which bookstore is the perfect one to fulfill your book buying needs. If you have any question, feel free to leave a comment down below. I'd happy to answer it.

Go get your books, bookworms!

I haven't done this for a really long time!
2014 is a bright year for me. Lots of amazing books are being released this year and I just can't wait to get my hands all over them. I'm gonna make a list of the most anticipated Young Adult books of May 2014. I will also include the books that I'm planning to get next month which released before May.


1. The Mortal Instruments #6: City of Heavenly Fire by Cassandra Clare

You must be kidding me if you don't know about this series! The Mortal Instruments is a series about Nephilim that well known as Shadowhunters. They're basically the army of heaven who fight evil and demons around the world. The story is revolving around Clary and Jace's adventure fighting demons, war between Nephilim and demons. Those kind of stuff.
I'm so happy that this book is coming later next month! The previous one, City of Fallen Angels isn't the best of the series. So I'm hoping the last book will be so much better.
There are already lots of snippets and rumors about this book. The most devastating rumor that has been confirmed is true by the author is there will be lots of death and we'll see important and our loved ones in the book die. I don't think I'm ready for that!

Release Date: May 27th, 2014



2. The Selection #3: The One by Kiera Cass


Time to put an end to the fans misery. Who's America gonna choose at last? Is it Maxon or Aspen?
Team Maxon and Team Aspen has been created since the first book and they're keep arguing whether America should end up with whom.
For me, Maxon should be the one. If he isn't the one America chooses, what's the point of the whole Selection at the first place?

This is not my favorite series but I've read the first two books, so I guess why not?
Anyway, all the covers in the series are so girly I'm so ashamed to have it on my shelf. This is my guilty pleasure. I love TV show and reading this series feels like I'm watching one. Get over it people, okay?
For the book trailer, click here

Release Date: May 6th, 2014


3. Reboot #2: Rebel by Amy Tintera


Another sequel is coming next month! I read the first book, Reboot, last year and I quite enjoyed it. I gave it 3 out of 5 stars. Mostly, because the characters developed badly throughout the book. I was disappointed how the main character turned into a really weak character once she found out she fell in love. Really? You were dead for 178 minutes for God's sake.

I was glad when I heard this is a duology, because I don't think I'm gonna continue with the series if it's a trilogy or even worse, a long six books series.
The cover is really simple and I like the blue color. Hopefully this one is going to be better than the first one. I have high expectation for the sequel.

Release Date: May 13th, 2014



4. Scan by Walter Jury & Sarah Fine


Tate and his father don't exactly get along. His father always expect him to be the best on everything, literally.
One day, he steals his father odd-tech invention and mercenaries ambush the school. His father is killed in the process and Tate is running away from alien that look exactly like human.
With no skill to fight and help from his mom and girlfriend, Tate is on running to get away from the alien attack and keeping his father's invention safe. He soon unravel the secret behind the invention and why there are people dying to get it.

The premise looks interesting and awesome. I hate the book cover, but I can deal with it. I have high expectation for the upcoming new series by Walter Jury and Sarah Fine.
I hope this won't end up like The Lorien Legacies by Pittacus Lore. I'm not saying it's bad, I just don't really like it. Finger crossed for Scan! Release Date: May 1st, 2014


The next two books are the ones that were released long time before.

5. Gone Girl by Gillian Flynn


I've been wanting to read mystery and thriller books for a really long time. Gone Girl is on top of my list next to The Cuckoo's Calling by Robert Galbraith (*cough* J.K Rowling *cough*)
I love the "Am I crazy? Am I not? Did I kill her or not?" happening in this book, well at least I assume there's a moment like that in this book.

The movie is coming soon this October with Ben Affleck as the main character *sigh*
He's an academy award winner for directing "Argo". As an actor, I'm not sure. I don't really like him in a movie. Finger crossed for the movie though, as well for the book. So excited to get this!









6. A Game of Thrones by George R.R Martin


How can I live my life without ever trying to read Mr. Martin's works? This is a very well known series. The TV show is such a hit nowadays. I'm kinda terrified with the writing, the epic fantasy, the characters and also the plot line. Lots of people telling me it's really hard to get along with the story since there are so many characters and the different plot line for every chapters. What really terrify me is the epic fantasy thing. I'm not sure my English skill is sufficient for reading this kind of book, but I'm so curious with this book.

People claim this as the best Fantasy series of all time. Doesn't it sound tempting?

Definitely gonna check this one as soon as possible. Hopefully next month. If I was lucky enough, I could get the box set!




7. The 5th Wave by Rick Yancey


It's about time!
I've been dying to read this one and getting on with the series. The second book, The Infinite Sea is going to be released later this September.

The paperback price is insanely expensive and the hardcover is even more expensive. That's the main reason I've been reluctant to buy it and instead buying other books.

There's no more turning back this time. I'll definitely getting this book either next month or maybe on June (Since I have to get City of Heavenly Fire and The One, I don't think I'll have enough money to buy this anymore)

This is on my top to-be-read list.



That's a wrap! I have lots of books waiting to be read on my shelves. I can't wait to read all of them and get new books next month.
Tell me what's your most anticipated books. Simply leave a comment on the comment section below. I'd love to hear your thought!

Thanks for reading.

Chloë Grace Moretz, an actress that is well known for her role in Kick-Ass and Carrie, is coming back again for the upcoming book to movie adaptation, The 5th Wave.
The 5th Wave is a book written by Rick Yancey. The book community has been raving about this book for so long and I haven't yet read it!

Moretz will be playing as Cassie, the main character in the book. There hasn't yet any news about other cast but having Moretz on board is already exciting for everyone.

The news was confirmed right after her new upcoming movie trailer, "If I Stay" was released.
I guess she's a book to movie adaptation diva now! After her brilliant acting in Carrie, which is adapted from the book with the same title by Stephen King, she's going back hitting the cinema in another book to movie adaptation this year, If I Stay, adapted from the book by Gayle Forman.




I love Moretz and the trailer for If I Stay looks absolutely beautiful. I can't wait to get my hand all over The 5th Wave. She will be magnificent in the movie. Let's have our finger crossed for another amazing cast for this movie and hopefully they won't ruin the movie like they did with City of Bones.

The second book of the series, The Infinite Sea will be released later in September this year. If you haven't read the book, just like me, we're better to get the book as soon as possible so we can rave about the movie with others who have.

While we're waiting for another news of The 5th Wave movie, go ahead watch the trailer of If I Stay.

PANIC
By: Lauren Oliver
Release Date: March, 4th 2014
Publisher: Harper Collins

Carp, a small city located in New York with only 12,000 people, is like a big cage for everyone.
It's summer and there's nothing to do. So there's Panic. No one really knows how it began.

Panic is a game where you put your life on the stake to win a pot worth $50,000 that can put an end to your miserable and boring life in Carp. This year, the price is bigger; $67,000 and the stake is even higher.

Heather is one of the contestant, alongside with her best friend, Nat. There's also this guy named Dodge. He's not the popular guy in high school, but he's determined to join Panic. He has purpose. He has his own secret and he's not planning on telling anyone or let the other contestants ruin his own plan to get into the final stage of Panic.

I guess that sums it up.
If you read the synopsis, you could misunderstood this book as the next The Hunger Games in contemporary version. Believe me, it's not.
Sure this is a book about a survival game with a huge prize, but it's no Hunger Games.

This is my first Lauren Oliver's book and need to admit, I'm impressed. Lots of saying that her writing style is good and I believe it's true. Panic is in third person writing style and divided into two plot lines. I really like the whole concept of the writing. It gives me different perspectives on the characters.

The premise of this book is really good. I love the feeling of the high school-ish in this book. Remind me everything sweet from my high school moments.
The fact that this is a stand alone novel, I got to say Lauren Oliver did a great job.

The pacing was okay. I find it neither slow nor fast. Just the right speed.
I really love how the game and the process of it described. It gave me the right amount of suspense and tension. Most of the time, I just couldn't stop moving because I felt so anxious. I was totally sucked into the story. I  was going all, "NO DON'T DO THAT DON'T!", "SHOOT! IS IT FOR REAL?", and "BE CAREFUL, HEATHER!"

What really disappointed me was the plot. The whole plot of this book was predictable. Every twist and turn in this book wasn't working really well. Lauren Oliver thought she was throwing a huge nuclear bomb but really it didn't affect anything. The explosion wasn't big enough.

What really bugged me was the characters. The whole characters in this book were all disappointing. They were all boring and cliche. I was expecting more from Lauren Oliver. I felt so disconnected from the characters.

The main character, Heather, is like this beautiful blonde girl who just got dumped by her boyfriend and becoming this whining little bitch. I feel totally disconnected from her. I kept expecting she would get better as the book went on, but though she was indeed getting better, I still had no empathy for her.

My top hated character goes to Nat. Is she taken from that antagonist character in a shitty teenager movie? Seriously..... Like why is she even in this book? She's so cliche and boring. Not to mention, a total bitch. Just a big no!

Among other characters, I was clinging to Dodge. He was okay. As a character, he was the most determined. Though sometimes he's acting a little bit annoying and I just wanted to punch him, he was the better one.

I don't want to start about how the love story goes. It sucked. Like the worst kind of suck love story. Period.

Overall, it was quite enjoyable. Not the best, but it was an easy and fast read. I won't really recommend this book if you're looking for something good, but give it a try for a simple and easy read.
If you've read it, tell me about how you feel about this book.
For me, it's only worth 3 out of 5 stars. Mostly because the dull characters. *sigh*

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

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 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!