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farbooksventure's reviews
362 reviews
The Beautiful Ones by Silvia Moreno-Garcia
emotional
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? Yes
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
4.0
If you're looking for a story that sweep you out of your feet (telenovela-style), this book might be the perfect one for you. I'm having a really good time because I truly read this for the vibe & it's not dissapoint!
I must say though, I find the ending to be quite anticlimatic. It's not as satisfying as I hope it would, but I'm having a great experience reading The Beautiful Ones nonetheless.
I must say though, I find the ending to be quite anticlimatic. It's not as satisfying as I hope it would, but I'm having a great experience reading The Beautiful Ones nonetheless.
Parker Pyne Menyelidiki by Agatha Christie
lighthearted
mysterious
fast-paced
3.0
Dibandingkan dengan cerpen Parker Payne di kumcer Problem at Pollensa Bay, aku lebih menyukai cerpen dalam buku Parker Payne Investigates ini. Selain tidak terkesan buru-buru, cerpen yang ada berhasil menggambarkan modus operandi Payne dengan gamblang. Selain itu, cerpen dalam buku 264 halaman ini juga berhasil menunjukkan apa yang membedakan Parker Payne dengan karakter rekaan Agatha Christie lain.
Aku tidak memberi rating lebih tinggi karena beberapa -isme (dalam hal ini rasisme & orientalisme) sangat jelas dalam cerpen-cerpennya & it's not really pleasant to read.
Aku tidak memberi rating lebih tinggi karena beberapa -isme (dalam hal ini rasisme & orientalisme) sangat jelas dalam cerpen-cerpennya & it's not really pleasant to read.
A Mind Spread Out on the Ground by Alicia Elliott
challenging
emotional
informative
reflective
medium-paced
5.0
I have been reading some great memoirs this year & A Mind Spread Out on the Ground is definitely one of them.
It's very well-written and takes a direct look at the long & devastating effects of colonialism in multiple generations of Indigenous people in North America. The emphasis on mental health issues makes some essays quite difficult to read because it's so heartbreaking, but I'm glad this topic is being brought up at all. I also want to give kudos to the audiobook narrator because the narration truly enriched my reading experience.
This memoir is not an easy read in the end, but it's truly an important one.
It's very well-written and takes a direct look at the long & devastating effects of colonialism in multiple generations of Indigenous people in North America. The emphasis on mental health issues makes some essays quite difficult to read because it's so heartbreaking, but I'm glad this topic is being brought up at all. I also want to give kudos to the audiobook narrator because the narration truly enriched my reading experience.
This memoir is not an easy read in the end, but it's truly an important one.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Mental illness, Colonisation
The Death of Vivek Oji by Akwaeke Emezi
emotional
sad
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? A mix
5.0
My most favorite work of Emezi, so far.
Macondo, Para Raksasa, dan Lain-Lain Hal: Seputar Sastra Amerika Latin by Ronny Agustinus
informative
reflective
4.0
Tidak hanya informatif, gaya penulisan luwes membuat Macondo, Para Raksasa, dan Lain-Lain Hal begitu menyenangkan ketika dibaca. Sebagai seseorang yang tertarik dengan semua hal berbau sejarah, berbagai esai dalam buku ini berhasil menggabungkan dua minatku: sejarah & sastra. Di akhir hari sepertinya sejarah dan sastra memang tidak terpisahkan ya?
Selain menambahkan apresiasi pribadi terhadap karya sastra Amerika Latin secara umum, buku kumpulan esai ini juga mendorongku untuk kembali mempelajari bahasa Spanyol lewat Duolingo. Kalau gayung bersambut, aku harap aku bisa menikmati karya sastra dari wilayah ini tanpa mengandalkan terjemahan lagi di masa depan.
Secara umum, aku akan menyarankan buku ini untuk pembaca yang sekadar mencari bacaan nonfiksi lokal yang menarik, informatif, dan ditulis dengan baik.
Secara khusus, Macondo, Para Raksasa, dan Lain-Lain Hal juga bisa menjadi bacaan awal yang tepat untuk yang ingin mencari tahu tentang booming sastra Amerika Latin ditahun 1960-an & keterkaitan erat fenomena ini dengan sejarah dan kondisi sosial-politik di sana. Catatan kaki & daftar bacaan di akhir buku ini adalah sumber yang kaya untuk yang ingin memulai riset mandiri mereka.
Selain menambahkan apresiasi pribadi terhadap karya sastra Amerika Latin secara umum, buku kumpulan esai ini juga mendorongku untuk kembali mempelajari bahasa Spanyol lewat Duolingo. Kalau gayung bersambut, aku harap aku bisa menikmati karya sastra dari wilayah ini tanpa mengandalkan terjemahan lagi di masa depan.
Secara umum, aku akan menyarankan buku ini untuk pembaca yang sekadar mencari bacaan nonfiksi lokal yang menarik, informatif, dan ditulis dengan baik.
Secara khusus, Macondo, Para Raksasa, dan Lain-Lain Hal juga bisa menjadi bacaan awal yang tepat untuk yang ingin mencari tahu tentang booming sastra Amerika Latin ditahun 1960-an & keterkaitan erat fenomena ini dengan sejarah dan kondisi sosial-politik di sana. Catatan kaki & daftar bacaan di akhir buku ini adalah sumber yang kaya untuk yang ingin memulai riset mandiri mereka.
Grass by Keum Suk Gendry-Kim
dark
sad
fast-paced
I truly encourage you to read this (very thoughtfully done) graphic novel if you're able to do so. I personally read it through Scribd. The story of Comfort Women is another story in the dark page of human history that we must remember & be aware of. Yet again, another reminder about the horror of war & the devastating effects they have on countless life (all of this and for what exactly?).
Content Warnings
Graphic: Rape, Sexual violence
Moderate: Trafficking, War
Dawn by Octavia E. Butler
challenging
dark
tense
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? Yes
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75
From the moods that I listed in this review, you can glean that Dawn is not exactly an easy-breezy & fun read featuring extraterrestrial beings.
As the 1'st book in the Xenogenesis trilogy, Dawn really doesn't hold back. It's thought-provoking, it's uncomfortable, it also makes you question what being "human" even means, especially in a post-apocalyptic situation when assimilating with unknown ET beings seeming inevitable.
It explores the dilemma & the pain of starting something new and not sure what exactly you're supposed to do in this brave new world that oh-so-similar but absolutely different from the old one. The old world that don't really exist anymore, no matter how hard you try to deny it.
I love & hate Dawn at the same time. I love it because as a science fiction book it's incredibly accessible & well-written. I hate it because being able to understand the story clearly, I can't help but feeling scared for these characters & the world that they thrust into.
I wouldn't continue the trilogy (at least right now) because in ~the trying times~ I can't really handle this level of anxiety. But, I still implore you to it check out, especially if you're a fan of science fiction & post-apocalyptic stories.
As the 1'st book in the Xenogenesis trilogy, Dawn really doesn't hold back. It's thought-provoking, it's uncomfortable, it also makes you question what being "human" even means, especially in a post-apocalyptic situation when assimilating with unknown ET beings seeming inevitable.
It explores the dilemma & the pain of starting something new and not sure what exactly you're supposed to do in this brave new world that oh-so-similar but absolutely different from the old one. The old world that don't really exist anymore, no matter how hard you try to deny it.
I love & hate Dawn at the same time. I love it because as a science fiction book it's incredibly accessible & well-written. I hate it because being able to understand the story clearly, I can't help but feeling scared for these characters & the world that they thrust into.
I wouldn't continue the trilogy (at least right now) because in ~the trying times~ I can't really handle this level of anxiety. But, I still implore you to it check out, especially if you're a fan of science fiction & post-apocalyptic stories.
Kerang Memanggil Angin by Deasy Tirayoh
Kalau mempertimbangkan kecenderungan tema ini, tidak mengherankan mungkin kalau aku merasa cerpen yang menutup buku Kerang Memanggil Angin agak mengejutkan. Bukan hanya karena temanya yang beda sendiri (cerita romansa), tapi juga karena mood cerita yang secara keseluruhan terbilang hangat & penuh harap. Berbeda sekali dengan sebagian besar cerpen lain yang terbilang miris.
Secara keseluruhan aku sangat menikmati buku ini. Unsur kebudayaan masyarakat Sulawesi yang penulis selipkan dalam cerpen Kesaksian di Titik Didih & " Mandi Mayah" sendiri menciptakan pengalaman baca berkesan & sangat menyenangkan.
Di sisi lain, aku rasa gaya bahasa & penulisan cerpen-cerpen ini memiliki potensi hit/miss untuk beberapa pembaca. Aku sendiri merasa canggung ketika membaca satu cerpen yang ditulis dari sudut pandang orang kedua (it's a hard POV to write on). Gaya bahasa dalam beberapa cerpen lain juga entah kenapa terasa kaku & kurang mengalir. Meskipun tidak terlalu menyukai gaya penulisan ini, aku tetap mengapresiasi tema yang diangkat cerpennya.
Aku akan merekomendasikan Kerang Memanggil Angin untuk pembaca yang mencari cerpen yang beda & kaya dengan unsur kebudayaan yang belum terlalu sering kita baca di media secara umum.
emotional
reflective
sad
3.0
Ketigabelas cerpen dalam buku kumpulan cerpen yang terbilang tipis ini merupakan potret dari berbagai skenario kehidupan yang kadang sendu dan seringkali pilu.
Terlepas dari keragaman skenario kehidupan yang ada, pembaca bisa melihat bahwa penulis fokus pada beberapa tema besar dalam cerpen-cerpennya:
Terlepas dari keragaman skenario kehidupan yang ada, pembaca bisa melihat bahwa penulis fokus pada beberapa tema besar dalam cerpen-cerpennya:
- Hubungan rumit dalam keluarga (seperti hubungan antara orang tua & anak ataupun suami & istri, bisa ditemukan dalam cerpen Bahasa Keheningan, "Mass in B Minor", Museum Keluarga, Tabung Uterus, Anjing, Ciku, dan " Mandi Mayah")
- Hubungan manusia dengan alam (dapat ditemukan dalam cerpen Tuhan Dalam Hara, "Mandi Mayah", Kesaksian di Titik Didih dan Udumbara)
Kalau mempertimbangkan kecenderungan tema ini, tidak mengherankan mungkin kalau aku merasa cerpen yang menutup buku Kerang Memanggil Angin agak mengejutkan. Bukan hanya karena temanya yang beda sendiri (cerita romansa), tapi juga karena mood cerita yang secara keseluruhan terbilang hangat & penuh harap. Berbeda sekali dengan sebagian besar cerpen lain yang terbilang miris.
Secara keseluruhan aku sangat menikmati buku ini. Unsur kebudayaan masyarakat Sulawesi yang penulis selipkan dalam cerpen Kesaksian di Titik Didih & " Mandi Mayah" sendiri menciptakan pengalaman baca berkesan & sangat menyenangkan.
Di sisi lain, aku rasa gaya bahasa & penulisan cerpen-cerpen ini memiliki potensi hit/miss untuk beberapa pembaca. Aku sendiri merasa canggung ketika membaca satu cerpen yang ditulis dari sudut pandang orang kedua (it's a hard POV to write on). Gaya bahasa dalam beberapa cerpen lain juga entah kenapa terasa kaku & kurang mengalir. Meskipun tidak terlalu menyukai gaya penulisan ini, aku tetap mengapresiasi tema yang diangkat cerpennya.
Aku akan merekomendasikan Kerang Memanggil Angin untuk pembaca yang mencari cerpen yang beda & kaya dengan unsur kebudayaan yang belum terlalu sering kita baca di media secara umum.
The Majesties by Tiffany Tsao
challenging
dark
slow-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? Yes
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
If you are looking for a thriller book that doesn't necessarily hinge on the plot, but on the characters instead, I think The Majesties will be an interesting book for you.
The Majesties is not your typical high octane anxiety-inducing thriller. It's not full of plot twists. It doesn't focus on weird or unnerving events. There are horrifying happenings, for sure (it's on the synopsis). But, in the end, It's a slow-burn thriller about dysfunctional families that ruin themselves from the inside.
Instead of dwelling on the event, The Majesties brings readers to explore the insidious history of families that refuse to see the reality in everything that they have built. How this attitude leads to their eventual downfall by one of their own. It is also a story about sisterhood, class (the Rich™), and the hardship that comes with being Chinese in Indonesia.
The story also deals with the shock of discovering uncomfortable truths & refusal to deal with them. It's a story about being stuck in a vicious cycle & doesn't see any way out.
If you love quiet character study, I think you would enjoy The Majesties as a thriller. For readers who are used to thriller books in the "exciting"-end of the spectrum, The Majesties might feel frustratingly slow & not that eventful. But I read it for what it is & truly enjoy it.
The Majesties is not your typical high octane anxiety-inducing thriller. It's not full of plot twists. It doesn't focus on weird or unnerving events. There are horrifying happenings, for sure (it's on the synopsis). But, in the end, It's a slow-burn thriller about dysfunctional families that ruin themselves from the inside.
Instead of dwelling on the event, The Majesties brings readers to explore the insidious history of families that refuse to see the reality in everything that they have built. How this attitude leads to their eventual downfall by one of their own. It is also a story about sisterhood, class (the Rich™), and the hardship that comes with being Chinese in Indonesia.
The story also deals with the shock of discovering uncomfortable truths & refusal to deal with them. It's a story about being stuck in a vicious cycle & doesn't see any way out.
If you love quiet character study, I think you would enjoy The Majesties as a thriller. For readers who are used to thriller books in the "exciting"-end of the spectrum, The Majesties might feel frustratingly slow & not that eventful. But I read it for what it is & truly enjoy it.
Slaughterhouse-Five: The Graphic Novel by Ryan North, Kurt Vonnegut, Albert Monteys
adventurous
challenging
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? N/A
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? N/A
3.75