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3.55 AVERAGE
3.55 AVERAGE
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
N/A
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I like the vagueness of the narrative. It was never revealed who they are or were, or why things ended that way between them. It was all up to the readers to interpret. And it's beautiful that way.
As much as I want to love Imaginary City just like how I love Monsoon Tigers and Other Stories, I can't bring myself to and I am sad at the fact that I cannot love it even though I want to. I don't quite understand the two lovers background story, and as much as I love stories being unexplained, this one just feels empty, the supposedly-deep conversations come as meaningless and forced, at least for me. It is way simpler and lighter than Monsoon Tigers, for sure, but by simpler and lighter I did not expect that it is this simple and light to the point that I can't make out why this story happens and what Rain Chudori is trying to deliver. The plot is really slow, and the characters seem too bland.
However, the concept of it as a guide book is amazing, and if there is one thing I like about this book is definitely how everything can appear in my head scene by scene, how every scene feels so close. I love how it feels as if I am on tour, and how every place has its own meaning in the story. In this aspect, Rain Chudori executes it brilliantly. I also still love Rain's writing style in general--I wrote down some of the parts in my notes because I love it so much--and I quite like the atmosphere of the story.
Generally speaking, it's a nice writing and a unique style of book to read. It's sad that I cannot really enjoy it and I have to put it down for a few weeks and when I continued it I read it in a rush just so I can finish it quickly.
However, the concept of it as a guide book is amazing, and if there is one thing I like about this book is definitely how everything can appear in my head scene by scene, how every scene feels so close. I love how it feels as if I am on tour, and how every place has its own meaning in the story. In this aspect, Rain Chudori executes it brilliantly. I also still love Rain's writing style in general--I wrote down some of the parts in my notes because I love it so much--and I quite like the atmosphere of the story.
Generally speaking, it's a nice writing and a unique style of book to read. It's sad that I cannot really enjoy it and I have to put it down for a few weeks and when I continued it I read it in a rush just so I can finish it quickly.
However difficult and painful much of the living might be, we will always have ice cream.
lighthearted
relaxing
sad
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Character
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
No
Flaws of characters a main focus:
No
This is a lovely gift from a lovely someone on my birthday and I would say that despite feeling that this is actually an intense read, this is also something I would recommend to other people as a light read.
At first, I thought the book would be about a travelling kind of books when I found the map inside it, but it turned out to be something more than that. The book revolves around places in Jakarta that keep meanings to the "she" of the book. This book took me to these places with two people in my company--the "she" and the "he". I was underestimating the story at first because I wasn't sure where it was going to take me to, but at last I can say that it eventually captivated me. I kind of feel like I now also see the places in this book as something meaningful because the book succeed in making me enjoying the journey. I wanted to know more about the "she" and the "he", and what's within them, but not anymore now. I know them just enough.
Oh, despite enjoying reading the writing in English, I'm kind of curious how the story would be written if it was in Indonesian. I imagine that it would be more poetic and melancholic than how it already is.
At first, I thought the book would be about a travelling kind of books when I found the map inside it, but it turned out to be something more than that. The book revolves around places in Jakarta that keep meanings to the "she" of the book. This book took me to these places with two people in my company--the "she" and the "he". I was underestimating the story at first because I wasn't sure where it was going to take me to, but at last I can say that it eventually captivated me. I kind of feel like I now also see the places in this book as something meaningful because the book succeed in making me enjoying the journey. I wanted to know more about the "she" and the "he", and what's within them, but not anymore now. I know them just enough.
Oh, despite enjoying reading the writing in English, I'm kind of curious how the story would be written if it was in Indonesian. I imagine that it would be more poetic and melancholic than how it already is.
So FRICKIN’ good!! I fell in love with her writings, it’s like she weaved all the words and turned it into one of the most captivating reads of 2017. *happy sigh*
My favorites are The Beach, The Cinema, The Market, The Cafe and The Ice Cream Shop.
My favorites are The Beach, The Cinema, The Market, The Cafe and The Ice Cream Shop.
this book was a good little romance ride, it feels like im the third person in this scenario and im just following their little date. im in loveee i just love how its written in such a poetic way!! would definitely reread this book
Rain Chudori's short story collection, [b:Monsoon Tiger and Other Stories|28252137|Monsoon Tiger and Other Stories|Rain Chudori|https://images.gr-assets.com/books/1456839336s/28252137.jpg|48289150] was such an atmospheric and beautifully written book and one of my favourite books I read two years ago. So I managed to get this small novel of her recent release, expecting to read a similar story with fantastic writing that makes you wanna cry.
What I love about this book is its nostalgic feeling. I feel like Chudori managed to capture a unique version of Jakarta, a city I often visit although I live around an hour away from it. Added with her descriptive writing of the places are fun facts about the history of the places the characters visited, and the entire book was definitely focused more on the setting, with gorgeous pictures and capturing the essence of the location more than the things the characters did while in there.
Another thing I love was the writing, of course. Though at times a little too flowery and too over the top, I felt like this is what she really excels in, and it really shows how she can bring out a certain feeling or emotion through her words.
However this sophisticated writing style turns out to not be very kind on the characters. I felt like the characters in this book were a little too two-dimensional, and feels very personal, as if the woman in the book was a fictional, more dreamy-like version of the author herself. These characters do and say things that are very odd, things you'd never say in real life and sometimes just leaves me as a reader thinking, "???"
The plot of the book was also very slow. Granted, it is a love story and it is quite a short one. However most of the book was either filled with similarly noted conversations with questions and answers that don't really lead anywhere, that does evoke emotion and does sound beautiful, but does not really pull me to want to get to know the characters more or really enjoy the storyline.
Overall a nice, atmospheric read, very unique and wonderful writing. However not really something I thoroughly enjoyed.
What I love about this book is its nostalgic feeling. I feel like Chudori managed to capture a unique version of Jakarta, a city I often visit although I live around an hour away from it. Added with her descriptive writing of the places are fun facts about the history of the places the characters visited, and the entire book was definitely focused more on the setting, with gorgeous pictures and capturing the essence of the location more than the things the characters did while in there.
Another thing I love was the writing, of course. Though at times a little too flowery and too over the top, I felt like this is what she really excels in, and it really shows how she can bring out a certain feeling or emotion through her words.
However this sophisticated writing style turns out to not be very kind on the characters. I felt like the characters in this book were a little too two-dimensional, and feels very personal, as if the woman in the book was a fictional, more dreamy-like version of the author herself. These characters do and say things that are very odd, things you'd never say in real life and sometimes just leaves me as a reader thinking, "???"
The plot of the book was also very slow. Granted, it is a love story and it is quite a short one. However most of the book was either filled with similarly noted conversations with questions and answers that don't really lead anywhere, that does evoke emotion and does sound beautiful, but does not really pull me to want to get to know the characters more or really enjoy the storyline.
Overall a nice, atmospheric read, very unique and wonderful writing. However not really something I thoroughly enjoyed.
This is a very charming little book!! I love it, love it very much.
The character 'she' was desperately romantic while unbelieveable obstinate. She knew what she wants, she knew the price, and still choose to do it. Not in the hard lonely way, but in the most hurt amorous passionate loving way. D*mn, if I had more courageous heart, I wanna be her. Or not.
The places she took him around made me a little nostalgic. Metropole and Ragusa hit me the most, 'coz that my fav place also. It's funny isn't it, how an old city like Jakarta, kept its best places it the mind of the lovers. Its lovers.
I've read Moonsoon Tiger before, while that anthology was also great, sometimes it felt raw and sparky. This story on the other side, was flowing calmly, restrained, and careful. Complex and complicated and sad and happy, all in the same time. I enjoy to see how growns up Rain has become. Sure wait for her next works.
#Scoop
What were our intentions?
In the beginning, it was happiness.
....
What is our intentions now?
Forgiveness.
The character 'she' was desperately romantic while unbelieveable obstinate. She knew what she wants, she knew the price, and still choose to do it. Not in the hard lonely way, but in the most hurt amorous passionate loving way. D*mn, if I had more courageous heart, I wanna be her. Or not.
It's just that I feel like this city has always stayed the same. It's beautiful and brutal at the same time.
The places she took him around made me a little nostalgic. Metropole and Ragusa hit me the most, 'coz that my fav place also. It's funny isn't it, how an old city like Jakarta, kept its best places it the mind of the lovers. Its lovers.
I've read Moonsoon Tiger before, while that anthology was also great, sometimes it felt raw and sparky. This story on the other side, was flowing calmly, restrained, and careful. Complex and complicated and sad and happy, all in the same time. I enjoy to see how growns up Rain has become. Sure wait for her next works.
#Scoop