How to Suck at Converting People into Bookworms

What's up, everyone? It has been a while since the last time I posted How to Suck at Everything, ain't it? Since, I am one the the sorriest blogger in this universe, you must have known that inspiration is never been my best friend. I felt blank often, wanting to write a new blog post but I stare at the wall instead.

Ahem.

Now, for today's topic, let's talk about every bookworm's dream. Converting a new soul into our kind. It's a hard process and what sucks the most is, it requires lots of luck (which most of us are lack of) and of course...

 *drum rolls*

Patience.

Because who has patience? None, silly. Actually there are some ways. My ways. The lamest ways. I wouldn't do that if I were you, but since this is my blog, I am free to blab about anything. I can talk garbage, if I want to. Like this post you're reading. So, the first ingredient of the disaster is to...

Stop talking to them imbeciles

... and tell me what differs us from the non-readers mortals? Yes, we're bookish and that's our superpower. There's no need to talk to them, what for? All you need to do is to act like a coolest person ever and fake that you're too busy to socialize. Show them books keep you occupied. The best way to attract people is to make it looks exclusive or mysterious. Humans are curious, entice them and once there's someone silly enough to notice your attitude and show interest...

Review : The Snow Child by Eowyn Ivey

Title : The Snow Child

Author Eowyn Ivey

Publication date : February 1st 2012 by Reagan Arthur Books

Hello, everyone! Nice to see you again. The first time I heard about this book was around 2 years ago. It had glowing review and people even mentioned that they nearly cried so I was instantly interested. I love books that can make me cry. Only the bittersweet one, mind you. Tears are good, as long as it's not overdone. 

Set in 1920s of the snowy Alaska, Jack and Mabel were too elderly couple who longed for a child. They felt their marriage was falling apart and Mabel even felt if their decision to move to Alaska was a mistake. One night, out of the blue, the couple released their inner child by building a snow girl, and since them a little blonde mysterious girl started to appear out of nowhere.

I have to admit that Ivey is a superb writer. As a person who lives in a hot tropical country, The Snow Child let me experience the cold snow of Alaska and gosh, it even gave me the chill. I also love the dialogue, the magical bits and pieces, but for the life me, I cannot feel for the character. To me, they lack depth and I wish they were written in a more complex way so I can believe that they were human. So, no. I do not get the same reader experience as some of the reviewers might do.

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).

Review : Jack : The True Story of jack and the Beanstalk by Liesl Shurtliff

Title : Jack : The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk

Author : Liesl Shurtliff

Publication date : April 14th 2015 by Knopf Books for Young Readers 

If you hang out on this blog often, you'd know that I am a big fan of fairytale retelling and middlegrade fiction. Jack : The True Story of Jack and the Beanstalk is both, so yay for me! Well, a few years back, YA fiction was filled with lots of retellings (and dystopia, ugh!), but not in middle grade books. I am glad I found this one and was so excited to read it.

I am sure as heck that all of you are already familiar with the classicstory Jack and The Beanstalk. The novel is pretty similar, though it has a few differences as well. This book involves a curse, the naughty boy Jack, the magic hen who lay eggs non-stop (yeah I know the magic hen also exists on the original story, but for the life of me, I swear it doesn't lay egg non-stop, yes?) and a sister! Guys! Jack has a sister, do you know that? I bet you don't!

Review : The Midwive's Confession by Diane Chamberlain

Title : The Midwive's Confession

Author : Diane Chamberlain

Publication date : April 26th 2011 by Mira 

The Midwife's Confession is my second time reading Chamberlain's work. I read The Good Father a few years ago and I liked it. This book has been sitting on my to-read list for a while. I was actually on a mild reading slump and by picking this up, I was hoping to chase it away.

The Midwive's Confession is a story about three best friends, Noelle, Tara and Emerson. Met at college, their friendship grew but despite of the closeness, one of the girls (the midwife, of course) hid a very dark secret that changed their life forever.

As cheesy as it sounds, I had to admit that I expected this book to be a novel version of a soap opera. Well, I wasn't completely wrong, but The Midwive's Confessions is just more than that. I like the way Chamberlain describes the friendship. I envy those girl.

“If you have a friend, a good friend, a woman you love, and you learn she’s done something abominable, do you stop loving her?” 

Er... I take that back. I am not envious. Sorry.

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.