bookwormdaily's reviews
666 reviews

In The Weeds by B.K. Borison

3.0

 

"When did we stop marveling at the world around us? When did we stop looking at the stars?"

I can see a little bit of myself in the FMC, on how she felt so stuffy and overwhelmed with her job on social media. Becket's introverted self is so relatable. It is so nice to see myself on these two.

this book has a small-town romance, with close interaction of townsfolk and a loveable family trope. The farm vibes and all the plants and animals make me so happy and excited every time i read it. But, While i adore the vibes and the storyline of this book, i’m not that connected with the two MC romance part, the instant-love and one-night stand definitely not my fav tropes and the internal explicit monologue sometimes makes me uncomfortable. But, overall, i love how easy and fun reading this book is. 

Unmong, a Youngman Become a Homemaker by 강선우, Seonwoo Kang

funny hopeful lighthearted relaxing sad tense medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

 

Rasanya seperti pekerjaan rumah telah menyelamatkannya.

Aku suka banget baca buku ini, nggak berhenti ketawa sama karakter-karakternya dan hubungan mereka satu sama lain. Paling suka bantering antara Unmong dan Jaeyong, Unmong dan teman-temannya. Tapi, walaupun banyak ketawa-nya buku ini juga ada unsur darknya yang buat ku sedih. Trigger warning for suicide dan suicide attempt.

Unmong, yang jadi pekerja rumah tangga sangat endearing dan cozy untuk dibaca, dia ngelakuin hal-hal yang menurut standard masyarakat adalah pekerjaan perempuan, aku suka pandangan Unmong tentang pekerjaan rumah tangga bukan hanya tanggung jawab perempuan. Ngeliatin kalo jadi ibu rumah tangga kadang jadi hal yang sering disepelekan padahal begitu penting dan berat untuk dijalani.

Suka family, sibling, friendship, dan self-discovery yang jadi tema di sepanjang cerita buku ini. Di tulis dengan gaya bahasa yang enak dan enjoyable untuk dibaca. Sangat ku rekomendasikan. 

Yona of the Dawn, Vol. 26 by Mizuho Kusanagi

adventurous challenging funny lighthearted fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.5

 This volume is my favorite so far, i love how packed and emotional roller-coaster this book is. it has the yearning romance between Yona and Hak, i also felt how the found family trope is getting stronger in this volume as well as the action-packed scene on the Xing Emperor. I just love everything about this whole series and this volume 

Hell Screen by Ryūnosuke Akutagawa

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

 

When I kill a man, I do it with my sword, but people like you don’t use swords. You gentlemen kill with your power, with your money, and sometimes just with your words: you tell people you’re doing them a favor. True, no blood flows, the man is still alive, but you’ve killed him all the same. I don’t know whose sin is greater – yours or mine. (A sarcastic smile.)

i enjoy reading this collection, in every story we unravel the main character who struggles to go on living, they tell a story of their own ‘hell’ living in this world. it is tragic, gory, and full of satire, but it also makes me think. i will definitely read more books from Akutagawa because i love his writing style and the way he builds the setting and vibes so vividly. 

Eksistensialisme dan Humanisme by Jean-Paul Sartre

informative

3.0

 

First time membaca buku yang full filsafat, bahasan-nya memang tinggi dan butuh konsentrasi lebih buat memahami setiap maksudnya. Di buku ini, penulis mau menekankan bahwa manusia sekarang ada karena eksistensi dirinya di masa lalu, jadi jika belum melakukan apa-apa, seseorang belum menjadi ‘manusia’ 

I learn a lot of things in one single reading experience. it gave me perspectives, walaupun ada beberapa yg memang nggak sejalan sama prinsip ku, tapi i felt fulfilled after fining reading it. 

Kill Joy by Holly Jackson

dark mysterious tense fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix

3.25

 

Why had she let herself get so invested? It wasn’t even real.

It was such a great addition to the series. I got so invested in their murder-mystery games, and I always thought Pip’s so smart. All her arguments and theories made sense, and I found myself easily accepting them. Her friends' characters were also so much fun to read. 

Si Cacing dan Kotoran Kesayangannya by Ajahn Brahm

informative reflective relaxing medium-paced

4.0

 

“Sekalipun mengetahui dengan baik, bahaya dari segala kesenangan duniawi yang buruk ini, kita masih juga melekat erat padanya.”

Cerita tentang pengalaman hidup Ajhn Brahm ditambah pengalaman orang-orang yang ditemuinya, adalah apa yang tertulis di buku ini. Dengan humor dan penulisan yang tidak menggurui tapi sama-sama belajar, baca buku ini nggak seperti baca buku non-fiksi lainnya. Aku sangat enjoy dan nggak bisa berhenti baca.

Pelajaran tentang hidup dan bagaimana menjadi pribadi yang lebih berbahagia. I relate to so many things in this book, banyak pelajaran yang aku dapatkan. Yang paling ku ingat dan aku terapkan sekarang adalah bagaimana menghilangkan overthinking dan it’s okay to be sick.

Aku suka banget sama buku ini dan definitely akan baca buku kedua dan ketiga-nya. 

Kereta Semar Lembu by Zaky Yamani

dark emotional tense medium-paced

• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.0

 

Mungkin mereka terbiasa dengan kehilangan-kehilangan. Terbiasa dengan pemusnahan-pemusnahan. Sehingga setiap kehilangan tak perlu dipertanyakan lagi, karna itu bagian dari hidup.

Sudut Baca book of the month for November.

Buku ini mengangkat tema yang unik, menggabungkan mitologi jawa, sejarah, dan pergolakan dalam hidup bermasyarakat dari pandangan Lembu. Dari dia lahir sampai meninggal, Lembu tidak bisa meninggalkan jalur kereta, sepanjang hidupnya dia selalu ditemani oleh satu tokoh pewayangan yang hanya dapat dilihat oleh dirinya.

Aku suka unsur sejarah, budaya dan mitologi Jawa-nya. Tapi penulisan dibuku ini, terlalu vulgar, ada banyak komen subjektif merendahkan terhadap perempuan yang membuat aku tidak nyaman saat membacanya. Selain itu ada banyak scenes yang triggering, seperti pedofil, grooming, incest, rape, physical abuse, murder dan banyak lagi. Semua unsur ini terasa lebih ditonjolkan daripada unsur tema sepanjang cerita buat ku nggak bisa enjoy dan fully grasp the story line.

Hal ini juga yang buat perkembangan karakter selain Lembu tidak dijelaskan secara rinci, peristiwa sejarah dijelaskan surface level saja. I wish i can get more from this matters, daripada rape dan sexual comments stuff.

Menarik nafas lega saat selesai membacanya. 

The Restaurant of Lost Recipes by Hisashi Kashiwai

emotional inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing fast-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character

3.75

 

“You appreciate things differently when you’re older, don’t you? Food is never just about flavor. It’s something we feel—and in different ways, depending on where we are in life.”

I love this second book more than the first one, maybe because i finally familiar with the setting and the two main character. The father-daughter relationship sometimes make me teary eyes and i love how their dynamic to taking care and run this Kamogawa’s restaurant. The food make me so hungry every time i read it, because on how detail and delicious it being described.

Easy and fast read, heartwarming and uplifting. 

Half a Soul by Olivia Atwater

3.5