World's Book Day Mini Book Haul

As a bookworm, I consider myself lucky because my birthday is on the World's Book Day (April 23). How neat can that be? Now you can ignore those sentences because who cares about my birthday, anyway. I am not talking about it, so let's talk about books instead as we usually do.

That morning, I got this email from Scoop (an app where you can buy books, newspaper, magazines) offering for discounts to celebrate World's Book Day. I love discounts and what I love the most about it is many the books become dirt cheap. At least the ones I selected were. And gosh, the books which I have been coveted for years were available too!

So, I bought a half dozen of them. They're not my typical go-to books, but I lately I crave for something different. It has been a long time since I last read Indonesian literary fiction and I am so ready to have a happy reunion with it. Here they are, don't ask me what they're about because I haven't read them yet *scoffs*

Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas (Eka Kurniawan)

Currently reading it. I fell in love with Eka Kurniawan's Cantik Itu Luka and I want to read all of his works. His witty and often vulgar writing style was a little unusual for Indonesian literature but, yeah, I am an offical fan. Let's see if I am still a fan-girl after I read this one.

Authors I Want to Read More of

I thought being a bookworms means impossible to have a favorite author. See, "most favorite book" is the most despised question ever, so a favorite author must be a similar thing, right? Fortunately, no. Well, as am omnivorous reader, I read almost any genre (except for what I am not comfortable of, actually), but just like eating food, of course you will have your favorite, too!

If you check my profile on Goodreads, you will see the names listed below are on my favorite author list. I can say that I want to read every book written by them and I pray that they will continue writing for as long as possible. And of course, I wish that they get the attention they deserve because, gosh! They're too good to ignore. Let me introduce to them (yeah, as if they're not famous already!)

Tracy Chevalier

If you're a fan of historical fiction, you must be familiar with this name. She has written 9 books so far which some I have read and I am always satisfied. It didn't take me long to add her into my favorite author list and gosh! Chevalier is so underrated. The Hollywood so far only has made one movie out of her books. Can you believe that? One! (start with : The Virgin Blue, The Girl with a Pearl Earring).

Favorite Books I Read in 2016

So, the year 2016 was a unfortunate when it comes to blogging. However, I managed to read more books compared to the previous year, so yay! This is not something worth bragging about, I know, since many bookworms out there even tackle hundreds of books a year. It's a skill I am very envious of. I finished 35 books last year, the very number I input on Goodreads. I usually only able to finished more or less 25 books. The audio books helps, and I am glad I discovered them. Don't ask me why it never crossed my mind to try them in the past, because I don't have the answer but my own silliness.

Out of those 35, two were DNFs. I just could not continue because they were so not my taste. Below are my top 3 favorite. Please do let me know in the comment section your version of 2016 top books!

A Memory of Violets by Hazel Gaynor (Review)

This is my #1 favorite a.k.a the best book I read in 2016. It is the kind of books that I called "toys with your emotion" and it successfully made me cry like like it's the end of the world.

Audio Books I'd Been Listening To

Happy new year everyone! Great to see you again. As I have mentioned before, I am so very new to audio books. They caught my attention because I was tired of listening to music (which I usually do whenever I need to chase the bad mood away). See, many people of my age are not that up to date when it comes to recent music, so we listen to songs from our teenage days over and over. Most of our favorite artists have stopped performing because they get too old to be on stage or something like that. It's boring you know, listening to the same album over and over *shrugs*

But thanks to audio books, I don't have to deal with it anymore. I can listen to books, how wonderful is that? They're too long to memorize, they're impossible to sing along to, but still they kick ass. The saying that bookworms rarely get bored is accurate. We always find a way to devour books. Now here are some audio books I listened to:

The Woman in Cabin 10 by Ruth Ware. A nautical thriller set in Scandinavian sea. This is the first audio book I tried and I enjoy it, thanks to the wonderful narrator. The story itself was nothing special. I honestly dislike the main character because she was drunk all the time even while she was on medication. I just loathe characters that lack of self control. The ending is a bit rushed, still a decent thriller book, if you ask me.

So, I Tried Listening To Audio Book and This Is What I Think of It

I never thought I would give a try on audio book. I believed it is not the same as reading because you actually don't hold the book on your hands. See, I was naive and being a cow. So, after all these years I finally decided to try it and I am glad I did. There are some reasons that caused my hesitation, though. First, I am not a native English speaker. Although I can understand different accents, I am still not confident enough when it comes to dialects. What if the narrator has a heavy accents that is hard to understand?

Now that I have given audio books a try, I realized that it's actually a stupid reason. Why? Because I found out that audio book narrators are carefully selected people, many of them are even real actors/actresses, they know what they're doing. It's very unlikely that they narrate it with some weird accents nobody can understand. Narrating a story also means that they also have to read dialogues between two or more people, and as an actor/actresses, it's like their daily meal. The narration is the monologue, the dialogue is the... well, dialogue. 

Second, I am into quotes. Audio book doesn't allow me to highlight a sentence to quote it later. Maybe this is the minus of audio books, but I learned to deal with it. Nothing is perfect, but it has a different way to compensate it, by being extremely convenient. What I love about audio books is you can read listen to them while you're doing your daily activity. In my case, I listen to it while at work, doing my task. Mind you, my task doesn't demand full concentration, so having my attention divided between work and book is not really a problem. This might not work if you are trying to solve a math problem or something like that.

Gosh, This Is Awkward! : Identical Book Covers

I am a fan... nope, I am a sucker for pretty covers. Many books I added to my to-read list is because I think the cover is lovely. I also have this weird hobby of window-shopping around the web (a.k.a. Goodreads) for book covers hoping to refresh my eyes. I am sure I am not the only one with this habit, but hey, who doesn't love lovely art on their books?

For this particular post, I'd like to highlight some lovely books that actually have identical twins. Yup, different books, same covers. I think it's somehow unavoidable especially if you're using stock images to decorate your book. Some photographers are extremely talented, they consistently take great pictures it only makes sense that many people will fall in love with their work.

Why I Love Reading Historical Fiction

For those of you who visit this blog often, you might know that I have soft spot for historical fiction. Before my blogging days, I definitely didn't really know it was a huge thing. A friend of mine introduced me to Tracy Chevalier's work and I was hooked. She also actually helped in releasing my inner bookish side. After I read my first historical fiction book, I felt that it was nice actually nice to read something from outside your world without involving magic or dragons and the likes (a.k.a. the kind of book I was obsessed with back then).

So, next I tried to read more and more. Some were set in China, others in 17th century of England, most of them are wonderful reading experience. But, let me tell you my secrets, people. I sucked at history in school. I sucked big time. Well, my last day in high school was13 years ago now, I was young and foolish. I was also overwhelmed and I have no idea who is to blame for this. All I remember is that the teachers strongly encourage us on science and maths, while history, not so much. Like them, I used to believe that history is not a very important subject. Got good marks for history? Great! Suck at it? No big deal. 

So, I was taught about history once a week. It was a very boring class and I fought with all my strength and soul not to fall asleep. During my boredom, I'd flipped up our text book and I discovered that this subject was actually pretty cool. It's such a shame that a subject as interesting as this wasn't admired by some people (teacher and students especially).

What I Learned About Reading and Fasting on Ramadan

Hello folks, great to see you again. Ramadan has just ended, Eid had come and now I'm back with my usual activity (a lot of them are boring routines, mind you). So, fasting doesn't really affect my overall activity nor significantly lower my stamina. I did my work task as usual, took care of the kids as and everything, I can't say it made me weaker. 

I also read during Ramadan, but this one, my friends, is a different story. I only managed to finish 2 books the whole month. This is lesser than usual, because I finish about 4 or 5 books on average in a month. Why? Because fasting makes me sleepier. I could read book for about 10 minutes and then... snooze. Quite funny because I didn't feel sleepy at work and it turned out that my task were easier than reading since no concentration nor comprehension needed. Oh, how I believe that reading is one of the easiest hobby ever, but I was wrong.

So, what I did instead? I watched tons of movies, which is actually very unlikely of me, because I couldn't stand watching many movies before and what makes binge watching so fun is beyond me. Don't get me wrong, I love movies however the thoughts of staring at the screen all day long doesn't interest me. So, since I couldn't entertain myself effectively with books while fasting, I asked my husband to take me to the cinema and when I was home, I continued to watch more movies. See, I wasn't being myself!

Favorite Books in 2016 (First Half-Year)

Gee, I cannot believe it is June already. New year celebration still feels like yesterday. There are many things happened this half year. My oldest will attend elementary school soon. I'm excited as I can be, but on the other hand quite sad because the lovely time in kindergarten is finally over. Oh, if only those children know how precious childhood is!

As for reading, so far things go well. I am on 43% of my Goodreads reading challenge. Hopefully I can make it this year considering there is no fat tomes on my to-read list. Here's a detail about my bookish (very small) accomplishment:

 

I managed to finish 3 series (The Art of Hearing Heartbeats, Kane Chronicles and Ireland). I am quite satisfied because I can say that I am suck series. Only one more book of Faiyland, and it'd be 4 series I finish this year. Yay!

My Problems with Classic Fairy Tales

As much as I love fantasy stories, I've never been a fan of classic fairy tales. "Oh, but they're too fancy to miss, Citra. Rapunzel, Hansel and Gretel, Snow White and the like..." you said. Yes, they're fancy indeed and to tell you the truth, being a mother to two girls kinds of let me having a soft spot for Disney Princesses

So, I grew up back in those days where Disney Princesses were yet to exist or weren't popular among the kids I was with. The television did air some classic fairy tales movies, in their truest form. Now that I have watched many of the newer and softer versions of it, I wonder if those tales were ever intended for children after all.

Take Snow White, for example. Ask the kids nowadays for the catch phrase and they'd say "mirror mirror on the wall, who's the fairest of them all." Ask people my age and what they remember is a hunter being sent to collect Snow White's liver. I don't know about you guys and as much as I believe that the world can be a very cruel place, I don't think this is the kind of scene you want to show your children. What kind of brute would do such thing? It's gruesome, it's disgusting and it reminds of me some kind of satanic cult horror movie.

Why Do Some People Read at The Beach?

Alright, let me explain first. This post in a genuine question. I believe in "you should read anywhere you like or anywhere possible", but I still do not understand this "beach read" thingy. Well, you are on Pinterest a lot, you'd see a lot of pinners save many reading lists like "beach reads of 2016" or "best of summer reads" etc. 

I don't understand beach read. Or summer read.

I am all for stealing time to read. If you don't know yet, I live in a tropical country, Indonesia. We get lots of sun here, so in my case, I love it when it rains. Cooler weather calms me. It is soothing and a very effective in improving my mood. So, of course I get the "curl up with a book on a rainy day" kind of thing. It's a perfect set up for a bookworm, after all.

Oh, I used to love near the beach as well. For years, in fact. So, I cannot say I see anything special in a beach. It's just water. With waves. And lots of sun. And heat. I understand the appeal, though, especially to you, Westerners. You love the summer, you adore the sun, beach reminds you of picnic time and sweet cold drinks, what's not to love about it?

So, You Want to Steal Time to Read (It Can be Done!)

This is a second part of Reading for Busy People. I thought I might add a follow up post because it is kind of a similar topic. Well, I am sure most of you know this saying : if it's important to you, you'll find a way, if it's not, you'll find an excuse. It applies nicely for this "stealing time", because when you're busy, sometimes you find difficult on how and which to prioritize.

The day I learned that reading is important to me was in 2011, yes, the year I started to blog about books. I never knew there's a community of book bloggers (and I am glad I found it). I blog because I wanted to start a reading journal, and to convinced myself that I could still read despite of having young children a full time job.

Having a blog does give me more encouragement. Yes, because I finally have a place to write how I feel towards a certain book. It also allows me to do some tricks to finish reading books, without feeling like being pressured into it. Below are things that work for me, if you haven't tried it, I highly recommend that you go ahead conquer that book. It is not that difficult, I promise. Now, let's see if you'll find your way or your excuse. 

Be pickier with what you choose to read

Although it has nothing to do directly with stealing time per se, being pickier saves you time so you don't have to motivate yourself as often to read. Why, because you read what you believe you'll love. It could be the genre, author or rereading a favorite book you used to adore. Reading would be an easier task, if you start by something that interests you.

Freebies Time: Printable Bookish Quotes for Book Lovers

Hello everyone! Great to see you again. I have soft spot for quotes and how those brief yet beautiful words impact my life. So, I created some for you, hopefully they will help brighten up your day (and your room, maybe). 

Never trust anyone who has not brought a book with them (Lemony Snicket)

People say life is the thing, but I prefer reading (Logan P. Smith)

Do not read, as children do, to amuse your self, or like the ambitious, for the purpose of instruction. No, read in order to live (Gustave Flaubert) 

There are three quotes included on the file folders. Sized in standard 8x10" photo size (10 R), you can print them with with own home printer, for better result, I recommend having them printed at local print shop or photo lab. Good for wall decor or to sweeten up your desk. You can download them here. 

Visit this link for previous printable freebies.

Hope you'll like them. See you at the next post!

Middle Grade Books for Those who Hate Middle Grade Books

Yeah, I am talking to you. Yes you, who believe you're too cool for children's books. Admit it, once in a while you're tired of reading complex book, or even better, you're tired to be an adult. We have so much responsibilities, reading children's book won't reduce them. Relax, my friends! The perks of being an adult is we get to act on what we think is good for us. Children's book is good for you, well at least they'll remind you how innocent we were once.

This post is written for you, tired folks. Set aside your complex read for a while and try to enjoy these sweet treats. Let me assure you something, though they're meant for younger readers it doesn't mean they're the dumber version of books you usually read. These five books listed below are proofs that they're to be taken seriously.

How to Speak Dolphin by Ginny Rorby

This book was the one which dragged me into the middle grade world. A story about a 12 year old girl named Lily and her 5 year old autistic brother, Adam. I don't know much about autism, but this book got me hooked and I am amazed with how realistic the story is.

How to Play with Goodreads when You're Bored

Do you have a Goodreads account? I am sure most of you do. It's a must have for us book lovers. As I get older, it's getting rarer and rarer for me to feel bored. I believe it's a good thing. Well, I don't have enough time to be bored, anyway (because if I do, I'd rather use it to take a nap). 

Don't feel like reading nor writing a blog post? Well, now we're talking. To be honest, this darn thing strikes me often. Sometimes I am so not in the mood to read (especially after finding a lame book or if  I'm distracted by movies) and don't have enough inspiration (read : energy) to write a blog post. The more tired you are, the dumber you (can) become. So, instead of feeling sorry for my self, why not play with Goodreads?

Stalk authors and post a question for them

Well, many authors love answering questions from their readers. I love this feature on Goodreads where you can send your favorite authors some questions. Don't be disappointed if yours is not answered. Most writers are very busy, anyway but if this can chase your boredom away, do it! Here's what I did, the awesome author actually replied, Yay!

Reading for Busy People : Getting Back The Love of Reading

So, we're all busy. Be it the day job, kids, you name it. These can really suck up the energy and leave you exhausted. I stopped reading for a few year. A whole three years, in fact. I thought reading wouldn't work if you have young children. I didn't touch a book since I was pregnant my first daughter, until she was about 2 years old. I was overwhelmed with this new responsibilities. There's no word to describe how much I missed reading at that time.

As time goes by, I learned that it's completely possible to read while having young children, I never stop hunting for more books to read. I felt so much better (reading is a way to relax for me), and I am glad I discovered about this book blogging community, because I felt like being supported, though indirectly. Below are some tips that I find helpful in getting the love back, and they do work as long as you're not ready to let go.

Consider switching to different book format

The perks of living in modern era is that you get to pick which stuffs work better for you. Nowadays we're spoiled with paper tomes, audio books, electronic reads. All you need to do is choose which you like the most. In my case, this works wonders. Electronic ones are so much more convenient, I never look back. Who knows this will work for you, too!

How Many Books Do You Read at a Time?

I only read one. See, when it comes to reading, I can be a sucker, too. You know, I often browse Goodreads  famous users who reads like 200 books per year and I wonder what their secrets are. Do they have this super power lightning speed reading skill, or are they paid to read books, what? The most I read in one year is 48 books, which is in 2012. Mind you, I was on maternity leave and my newborn was the calmest baby ever, so I had more time to read.

So, I started to find the answer myself. Maybe they read more than one book at a time. Book juggling, how cool is that! And I tried. Believe me I tried. All it was screwing my focus. I once picked up Pillars of The Earth (three years ago, more or less) and since it is a long story, I thought I could read it along with other books. It's 2016 now and I haven't finished it. I always end up abandoning one book or the other! 

Truths About Reading Slump

Hey, folks! Great to see you again. It has been a while since I write a blog post. Well, this early 2016 is not good for me in terms of bookish stuff. I am suffering from acute reading slump which caused by the lack of energy. Well, as you get older, you'll see that you're not as fit as you used to be. It's hard to swallow, but it's unavoidable. So yeah, I'd just have to accept it.

The last three months has turned me into a stone and/or a cow. Or a stone cow. I am so in need of entertainment to cool my self down. My day job is a never-ending task and it has taken its toll on me, I need a breather. I am in a phase where I need to scream, but then I thought I am too old to throw a tantrum. If you have any easy ideas on how let go off steam, do let me know. I really need it! All right, enough negativity, here are some things I learn after having a long reading slump:

If you wait too long, you'll lose interest

Pretty obvious. The longer you wait to pick up your book, the less interesting it becomes. A less interesting book will make you forget that you're once a reader. This what happens to me. Gosh, I have a Kindle in my handbag, when did I buy it?

3 Signs You Need to Put That Book Down

The year 2015 was a good year for me in terms of reading. I didn't digest tons of books, only a handful in fact, however I am glad to tell you that most of them are good. I only put 1 book on my DNF list last year. Maybe because I way much pickier now and it allows me to select books that are suitable for my taste.

As for sucky books, I believe they actually give some signs that if you pay enough attention, can save your precious time. These are the reasons why I put that kind of book down and never look back.

#1 The book refuses to communicate

Hard to understand narration and confusing dialogues are the most obvious signs. I am sure you have come across book of this kind and it's a pain in the bottom to read. The bad news is, if this is the author's writing style, the chances for it to get better is very low. So, be kind to your soul, pick another book and move on
.

Bookworm Habits Non Readers (usually) Don't Understand

Hello everyone! Great to see you again. Being the quiet type, I often see some habits we bookworms have. Non readers might find it weird, even crazy while I, on the other hand consider it perfectly normal. Hecks, sometimes even I as a bookworm myself have a hard time understanding my fellow book lovers.

Below is the list of habits I find quite frequently done by bookworms. This post is made for you, non readers so if you have loved ones who love to read, hopefully this will help you understand their point of view.

Book sniffing

Yup, even I as a bookworm don't understand this thing. I work with paper all day at work, I don't care to smell them again when I am relaxing. They keep on saying "new book smells so good", but then again, it must have something to do with the whole experience. Book shopping is fun, it's not about the smell, if you ask me.