Sunday 17 July 2016

Simon vs. The homo sapiens agenda by Becky Albertalli



Sixteen-year-old and not-so-openly gay Simon Spier prefers to save his drama for the school musical. But when an email falls into the wrong hands, his secret is at risk of being thrust into the spotlight. Now Simon is actually being blackmailed: if he doesn’t play wingman for class clown Martin, his sexual identity will become everyone’s business. Worse, the privacy of Blue, the pen name of the boy he’s been emailing, will be compromised. With some messy dynamics emerging in his once tight-knit group of friends, and his email correspondence with Blue growing more flirtatious every day, Simon’s junior year has suddenly gotten all kinds of complicated. Now, change-averse Simon has to find a way to step out of his comfort zone before he’s pushed out—without alienating his friends, compromising himself, or fumbling a shot at happiness with the most confusing, adorable guy he’s never met.

Thursday 2 June 2016

Book challenge : Day 04 : Favourite book of your favourite series


Day 4 of the book challenge. I know I didn't exactly posted everyday, but I want to finish this book challenge by the way. It was fun talking about books every time.

Okay! 
My favourite book in Harry Potter series is...


This is the fourth book of the Harry Potter series. This one is my favourite because I think the Triwizard Tournament was super interesting. The book was fast paced and full with actions, magic and surprises although the ending was quite heartbreaking. Harry wasn't as oblivious as he was in earlier books. And I can see spark of romances among the characters.


The summer holidays are dragging on and Harry Potter can't wait for the start of the school year. It is his fourth year at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry and there are spells to be learnt and (unluckily) Potions and Divination lessons to be attended. But Harry can't know that the atmosphere is darkening around him, and his worst enemy is preparing a fate that it seems will be inescapable ...With characteristic wit, fast-paced humour and marvellous emotional depth, J.K. Rowling has proved herself yet again to be a master story-teller

Wednesday 1 June 2016

Book review : The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern


The circus arrives without warning. No announcements precede it, no paper notices plastered on lampposts and billboards. It is simply there, when yesterday it was not. Within these nocturnal black-and-white striped tents awaits an utterly unique, a feast for the senses, where one can get lost in a maze of clouds, meander through a lush garden made of ice, stare in wonderment as the tattooed contortionist folds herself into a small glass box, and become deliciously tipsy from the scents of caramel and cinnamon that waft through the air. 

Beyond the smoke and mirrors, however, a fierce competition is under way--a contest between two young illusionists, Celia and Marco, who have been trained since childhood to compete in a "game" to which they have been irrevocably bound by their mercurial masters. Unbeknownst to the players, this is a game in which only one can be left standing, and the circus is but the stage for a remarkable battle of imagination and will. 

As the circus travels around the world, the feats of magic gain fantastical new heights with every stop. The game is well under way and the lives of all those involved--the eccentric circus owner, the elusive contortionist, the mystical fortune-teller, and a pair of red-headed twins born backstage among them--are swept up in a wake of spells and charms. 

But when Celia discovers that Marco is her adversary, they begin to think of the game not as a competition but as a wonderful collaboration. With no knowledge of how the game must end, they innocently tumble headfirst into love. A deep, passionate, and magical love that makes the lights flicker and the room grow warm whenever they so much as brush hands. Their masters still pull the strings, however, and this unforeseen occurrence forces them to intervene with dangerous consequences, leaving the lives of everyone from the performers to the patrons hanging in the balance.

*****

Welcome to Le Cirque des Rêves. 

It took me quite some time to finish this book. But don't get me wrong, I love The Night Circus so much. This was not a fast-paced and plot driven book. It was a character driven book. Some might like it, some might find it boring and too slow. As I said, it was a character driven book. The writer focus on the characters and their stories rather than on the plot. I think every characters in this book play a significant role for the main plot, they existed in the book for a purpose and not just a side character. All were memorable and important characters. 

I like the romance between Marco and Celia although I pitied Isobel. I like the friendship between Poppet, Bailey and Widget and how Bailey became a very important character at the end of the book. I like how the author constructs the circus and I like the way she wrote the book that makes me feel like I was experiencing the circus myself. Every characters in this book was very likable. 

The book was quite thick and the cover was extremely pretty. The book kinda gave me a magical feeling that the circus was real. The story took place in various places and times so it might be confusing a little bit. Overall I really like The Night Circus.

This book deserves 5 stars from me.

Monday 30 May 2016

Book challenge : Day 03 : Your favourite series


Day 3 of my 30 Day Book Challenge. 

My favourite series of all time is.....


I started reading Harry Potter when I was 15. I borrowed Harry Potter and The Prisoner of Azkaban from a friend and I loved it. Afterwards, I bought my very own Harry Potter collection with my pocket money and I could say that Harry Potter was the trigger for my books obsession. 

Sunday 29 May 2016

Book challenge : Day 02 : A book that you've read more than 3 times


Well well well...

I will read this book every year without fail.


Bila Hilman dapat bertemu dengan anaknya Jeslina di New York setelah berbelas tahun terpisah, mereka berasa begitu bahagia. Namun, keriangan mereka diragut bila kereta yang mereka naiki terlibat dengan satu kemalangan jalan raya. Jeslina koma sementara Hilman pula dituduh memandu dalam keadaan mabuk. Dalam situasi genting itu, muncul Mia Sara, seorang petugas di Kedutaan Malaysia, Washington D.C. Melalui bantuannya, Hilman dinasihatkan ke mahkamah untuk mendapat keadilan. Namun, bila satu konspirasi untuk menutup kemalangan itu diketahui oleh Hilman, dia mengambil keputusan untuk mencari kebenaran dengan caranya. Sebagai seorang penembak tepat dalam pasukan Polis diRaja Malaysia, survival adalah mainan hidupnya. Siasatannya terhadap konspirasi kemalangan itu akhirnya membawa beliau ke pintu White House! Dan, Hilman tidak sekali-kali terpaku di hadapan pintu itu...


I read Malay books too, okay!

Thursday 26 May 2016

Book Challenge : Day 01 : Best book you read last year


I didn't read plenty of books last year. I was too busy with my job, my life, moving to a new home and planning my backpack trip to Japan last year, I couldn't focus on reading so much. But I remember some of the books that I read were so good.

The best book I read last year was SIX SUSPECTS by Vikas Swarup. This is a unique whodunit mystery book as it was written based on the POV of six persons, all of them were the suspects of a murder. The deceased was the son of the Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh. I like this book as I like this genre. Whodunit mysteries always excites me and I feel that this book is different because there is no detective in it. The book was divided in different sections, all written neatly in the POV of the suspects respectively.


Seven years ago, Vivek 'Vicky' Rai, the playboy son of the Home Minister of Uttar Pradesh, murdered Ruby Gill at a trendy restaurant in New Delhi simply because she refused to serve him a drink. Now Vicky Rai is dead, killed at his farmhouse at a party he had thrown to celebrate his acquittal. The police search each and every guest. Six of them are discovered with guns in their possession. In this elaborate murder mystery we join Arun Advani, India's best-known investigative journalist, as the lives of these six suspects unravel before our eyes: a corrupt bureaucrat; an American tourist; a stone-age tribesman; a Bollywood sex symbol; a mobile phone thief; and an ambitious politician. Each is equally likely to have pulled the trigger. Inspired by actual events, Vikas Swarup's eagerly awaited second novel is both a riveting page turner and an insightful peek into the heart and soul of contemporary India.

Wednesday 18 May 2016

30-Day Book Challenge

Hello fellow bibliophiles.

I followed quite a few Malaysian and international book tubers and bloggers. I was inspired to write my own blog about books after reading their beautifully written reviews. I wish I could write like them. I saw people doing this 30-day book challenge in Instagram and Books Amino so I decided to join them. Below are the questions that I have to answer every single day for my Book Challenge. I wonder if I should write in English or Bahasa Melayu?

Book review : Asylum by Madeleine Roux



For sixteen-year-old Dan Crawford, New Hampshire College Prep is more than a summer program—it's a lifeline. An outcast at his high school, Dan is excited to finally make some friends in his last summer before college. But when he arrives at the program, Dan learns that his dorm for the summer used to be a sanatorium, more commonly known as an asylum. And not just any asylum—a last resort for the criminally insane. As Dan and his new friends, Abby and Jordan, explore the hidden recesses of their creepy summer home, they soon discover it's no coincidence that the three of them ended up here. Because the asylum holds the key to a terrifying past. And there are some secrets that refuse to stay buried.


*****
I am a big fan of horror and paranormal books (and TV series) although I would usually read horror books when I am not alone at home. But this is the first horror book that I read in 2016 as I was preoccupied with fantasy and LGBT YA books this year. This book was not as scary as it looks. Its about a teenager named Dan attended a summer program and had to live in an old building used to be an asylum. He discovered secrets about the asylum together with his two new friends, and later questioned his mental state as well when he started seeing things and strange events occurred around him.

I wouldn't say this book is amazing, its not that scary as I thought it would be. I was attracted to read this book in the first place because of the cover and the title. This book featured some photos from real asylums, some were quite disturbing while others were just to make the book looks interesting. The plot and the characters were quite weak as it didn't leave any impression on me. It felt very unreal. The writer was trying to create a romance between Dan and one of his friend; Abby but I think it failed completely. But the ending was quite unexpected though. This is just the first book from Madeleine Roux, I might read the sequel later.

I give this book 3 stars.

Wednesday 11 May 2016

Books Amino app yang cool


Hi fellow bibliophiles,

Baru-baru ni, saya telah memuat turun aplikasi yang khusus untuk penggemar buku seluruh dunia iaitu Books Amino. Books Amino ni ialah seperti gabungan media sosial Instagram, Tumblr, Twitter, Pinterest, Google + dan blog yang mana pengguna boleh update dan kongsi gambar atau post atau status berkaitan buku, berinteraksi dengan pengguna-pengguna lain di seluruh dunia melalui public chat, baca review atau rating buku, fangirling tentang watak-watak kegemaran, kongsi gambar buku kegemaran atau rak buku di rumah dan banyak lagi ikut suka koranglah. Pengguna boleh sign up menggunakan email ataupun akaun Facebook dan boleh terus menjelajah komuniti buku online ni. Buku-buku yang menjadi discussion popular dalam app ni kebanyakannya ialah buku-buku English tapi kalau orang Malaysia ramai-ramai join app ni, boleh juga buat komuniti pembaca buku-buku Malaysia di sini. Boleh download di Google Play atau App store secara percuma.

Marilah sama-sama memartabatkan budaya membaca di Malaysia terutamanya. 

Pengguna boleh kongsi status, gambar atau kegemaran masing-masing tentang buku atau aktiviti berkaitan buku dan boleh komen atau Like status pengguna lain.


Login ke akaun Books Amino

Cari kawan baru penggemar buku dan chat

Berkongsi atau post apa-apa status di blog Books Amino yang nampak seperti instagram yang cool

Boleh cari kawan dari seluruh dunia




Tuesday 3 May 2016

The Runaway Princess : Bab 12

Katalina

Lima hari sudah pun berlalu sejak Anna kembali ke tempat asalnya. Tiada sesiapa pun yang bertanya kepadanya tentang gadis asing itu walaupun dia perasan Luc acapkali memandang ke arahnya seperti ingin berbicara sesuatu. Namun, dia sekadar buat tidak tahu terhadap lelaki itu dan meneruskan aktivitinya iaitu berburu di hutan seperti biasa. Dia dan Luc sudah lama tidak berbual, mungkin mereka tidak dapat berbual seperti biasa lagi. 

Dia dan Luc pernah bercinta untuk beberapa ketika. Pada masa itu, dia merasakan Luc ialah dunianya dan mereka kerap menghabiskan masa bersama-sama. Namun untuk beberapa ketika, dia sedar yang dia tidak menyintai lelaki itu seperti yang dia sangka. Perasaannya berubah sama sekali dan hubungan itu semakin hambar. Dia pernah cuba menanam semula benih cinta itu, namun dia tidak berjaya. Dia tidak mahu menipu hatinya lagi. Keterujaannya bersama-sama Luc semakin hilang hari demi hari hinggalah pada satu hari dia memberanikan diri memberitahu lelaki itu bahawa dia tidak lagi mempunyai perasaan terhadapnya.

Luc patah hati juga pada mulanya, namun lelaki yang paling kacak di kampung itu memang senang tergoda. Dalam tempoh yang singkat, dia mempunyai cinta baru dan seperti sengaja menunjuk-nunjuk kemesraan mereka kepada Katalina. Tetapi Katalina sekadar tersenyum dan menganggap Luc bersikap sangat kebudak-budakan. Mungkin pada masa itu usia mereka masih terlalu muda untuk bercinta.

Awal pagi itu, Katalina menyandarkan tubuhnya di sebatang pokok dan matanya merenung ke arah tebing sungai di mana dia menghantar Anna pulang menaiki sampan milik Marwin. Hatinya tertanya-tanya adakah gadis itu berjaya pulang ke Archeon. Adakah dia selamat dari serangan lanun-lanun sungai ataupun tentera Grandolia. Baginya, tentera ataupun lanun tiada bezanya. Selagi mereka masih tidak dianggap penduduk Grandolia dan dianggap seperti pendatang, selagi itu dia tidak akan mengaku dan tunduk pada raja kerajaan itu. Dia pernah mendengar dari ayahnya tentang Raja Nathan suatu ketika dulu, ketika perang masih berleluasa namun, setelah beberapa lama, ayahnya tidak lagi berbicara tentang raja Grandolia itu. Ayahnya ialah seorang yang sangat berpengaruh dahulu di perkampungan itu, namun setelah perang tamat, ayahnya memilih untuk bersendiri di pondok kecil mereka, Di pondok itulah, dia, ayahnya dan Marcus berteduh.

Matanya tiba-tiba terpandang riak-riak air di gigi sungai, seolah-olah ada sampan sedang menghampiri tebing. Dia bercadang untuk menunggu Marwin berlabuh di situ untuk bertanyakan tentang Anna. Sudah agak lama Marwin tidak mengunjungi daerah mereka, membuatkan Katalina sedikit risau.

Air di tebing semakin bergelora dan dengan pantas Katalina tunduk ke tanah. Kali ini bukan sampan kecil Marwin yang berlabuh pastinya. Jantungnya berdegup kencang apabila melihat beberapa sampan yang lebih besar dan berpuluh-puluh orang lelaki berpakain tentera Grandolia berada dalam sampan-sampan itu. Mereka semakin menghampiri tebing sungai dan Katalina dapat melihat seorang lelaki menjerit seperti memberi arahan supaya sampan berlabuh di tebing. Seorang dari setiap sampan melompat keluar ke tebing dan menarik sampan ke tepi dan mengikat tali sampan di dahan pokok sementara yang lainnya melompat keluar dari sampan satu persatu.

Tanpa berfikir panjang, Katalina bingkas bangkit dari persembunyiannya dan memecut laju masuk ke dalam hutan menuju ke kampung. Dia perlu memberi amaran kepada semua penduduk kampung. Tempat mereka akan diserang. Puak Grey akan diserang!

Katalina menjerit sebaik memasuki kawasan kampung itu. Beberapa petani yang sedang menanam sayur berdiri tegak mendengar jeritannya.

"TENTERA GRANDOLIA ADA DI SINI! KITA PERLU TINGGALKAN TEMPAT NI!"

"Kenapa? Apa yang berlaku?"

"Kenapa tentera ada di sini? Kita tak menceroboh kawasan mereka."

Penduduk kampung masih terpinga-pinga kehairanan. Pada masa itu, Katalina hanya mahu pulang ke rumahnya, mengejutkan ayah dan adiknya yang mungkin masih sedang tidur dan menyelamatkan diri. Sebelum sempat dia memecut ke rumahnya, tangannya direntap oleh seseorang membuatkan dia berkalih.

"Apa yang berlaku?" Luc bertanya.

"Aku nampak tentera berlabuh di tebing sana. Mereka datang berkumpulan dan bersenjata dan aku tak rasa mereka datang untuk berdamai."

Wajah Luc segera berubah. Dia melepaskan tangan Katalina perlahan-lahan. "Kenapa tiba-tiba saja-"

"Aku tak tahu. Aku mahu pulang ke rumahku. Ayah dan Marcus masih di rumah. Lebih baik kau minta kawan-kawan kau beritahu semua orang. Kita kena lari selamatkan diri."

Namun Luc masih tidak berganjak.

"Luc?" Katalina memanggil.

"Kau nak kita lari? Lari dari tanah kita sendiri? Kalau mereka nak serang kita, biarkan!"

"Kau dah gila? Kita mana ada kekuatan dan senjata untuk mempertahankan diri. Kebanyakan penduduk kita dah tua dan kanak-kanak. Takkan kau nak mereka berperang?" Katalina menyoal.

"Kalau kau nak lari, kau larilah, pengecut!" Luc menengking lalu berpusing menghadap penduduk kampung yang telah mula berkumpul di situ. Dia memandang ke arah ayahnya selaku ketua puak di situ dan mula mengerahkan semua lelaki mengumpulkan senjata yang ada temasuk tombak, panah dan pisau.

Katalina tidak mahu tunggu lama, lalu berlari laju ke rumahnya yang terletak agak jauh dari kampung itu. Dia termengah-mengah membuka pintu melihat ayahnya sedang duduk di kerusi di ruang hadapan.

"Kenapa?" Ayahnya bertanya.

"Tentera Grandolia datang ke sini."

Ayahnya pantas bangkit dengan wajah yang pucat. "Panggil adikmu. Kita perlu bersembunyi."

Katalina masuk ke bilik dan mengejutkan Marcus yang masih berselimut hingga ke kepala. Dia bangun lalu mengesat-ngesat matanya masih dalam mengantuk. "Cepat bangun, ambil barang yang senang bawa. Kita perlu keluar dari rumah ni." Katalina memberi arahan sambil tangannya pantas mencapai barang berharga yang disimpan di bawah tilam. Marcus tidak banyak soal, lalu bangun dan mengikut arahan kakaknya dengan cepat.

"Kita nak bersembunyi di mana, ayah?" Katalina menyoal sambil tangannya menggenggam erat tangan Marcus sambil mengheret budak lelaki itu mengekori ayahnya ke dalam hutan. Ayahnya tidak menjawab sebaliknya hanya berjalan laju ke dalam hutan dalam keadaan senyap.

"Macam mana dengan orang kampung?" Katalina menyoal lagi lalu berpusing sekilas memandang ke belakangnya.

"Mereka patut lari." Ayahnya menjawab dengan ringkas dengan suara yang dalam dan agak ketakutan. Katalina terdiam lalu melajukan langkah mengekori ayahnya. Marcus juga berlari laju cuba mengejar mereka walaupun tangannya sedikit sakit kerana digenggam kuat oleh kakaknya.

Ayahnya berhenti di hadapan sebatang pokok yang tinggi dan menghela nafasnya sejenak. "Rasanya tempat ni..."

"Tempat apa?" Katalina menyoal.

Ayahnya tidak menghiraukan pertanyaan Katalina sebaliknya dia menghampiri poko itu lalu mula menyelak dahan-dahan kayu yang berjurai dari pokok yang tinggi itu. "Tolong ayah!" Dia memberikan arahan, lalu Katalina melepaskan tangan adiknya lalu membantu ayahnya menyelak kayu-kayu berjuntai yang agak lembap itu. Nampaknya, pokok itu menyerap air hujan di tanah dan menyimpan air di dalam dahannya. Selepas beberapa ketika, dahan berjuntai itu terselak dan Katalina terlopong melihat sebuah lubang berbentuk gua di sebalik juntaian dahan kayu itu.

"Apa ni?" Katalina bertanya.

"Tempat persembunyian kita. Cepat masuk ke dalam, Marcus." Ayahnya menjawab.

Kedua-dua beradik itu ragu-ragu hendak masuk ke dalam kerana dikhuatiri ada penghuni lain di dalam gua itu. Tidak mustahil ada ular atau kala jengking di dalamnya.

"Masuklah! Jangan bimbang, tak ada apa-apa dalam gua ni. Dalamnya luas juga walaupun pintu gua ni kecil. Cepat masuk, sebelum orang lain nampak kita."

Katalina masuk diekori oleh adiknya dan akhir sekali ayahnya. Mereka berdiri dalam kegelapan sebelum ayahnya menyalakan pelita yang seperti tersedia di dalam lubang gua itu. Katalina memandang sekeliling dan terlopong. Gua itu kelihatan seperti terowong yang dindingnya diperbuat daripada bata yang kering walaupun mulut gua itu kelihatan lembap dengan air yang diserap oleh pokok besar tadi. Gua itu seperti dibina oleh seseorang dan di dalamnya ada tikar, pelita, batu untuk untuk menghidupkan api, selonggok ranting, bekas air dan mangkuk dan kain selimut.

"Tempat apa ni, ayah?" Katalina menyoal.

"Ini tempat persembunyian yang ayah buat kalau-kalau perkara hari ni berlaku. Ayah tak sangka kita akan gunakan tempat ini juga."

"Ayah tahu kita akan diserang?" Marcus pula menyoal.

"Berehatlah dulu. Kalau kita senyap, takkan ada sesiapa pun tahu kita ada di sini." Ucap ayahnya lalu mula membentang tikar dan melabuhkan punggung.

Katalina turut duduk dan memeluk lututnya rapat-rapat. Hatinya berdoa semoga puak Grey akan selamat walaupun terdetik sedikit rasa curiga terhadap ayahnya yang seperti dapat menjangkakan perkara ini akan berlaku.