inkedlibrary's reviews
12 reviews

The Door-to-Door Bookstore by Carsten Henn

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Book Feels
The Door-to-Door Bookstore is a heartwarming and enjoyable read that hooks you with its relatable characters and engaging story. It explores friendship, loneliness, and the power of empathy. Plus, the literary references are pretty cool. Although the ending feels a bit rushed, it's still a good book overall.

Overall Review
If you're looking for a book similar to "A Man Called Ove" that brings warmth through good relationships with relatives, friends, and family, "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" by Carsten Henn is also a great read. Like all the books I read, I had no idea what this book was about at first, and it was fun to be a blind reader of a book. Then, "The Door-to-Door Bookstore" presents its interesting story without being contrived. The story revolves around the book delivery service owner, known as Mr. Kollhoff, and a little girl named Schascha, who is almost ten years old. I won't spoil more about the plot, but I must give credit to the character development and the story itself. I truly enjoyed how the story unfolded, with each character being captivating. And I liked how the author portrayed the friendship between Carl, Schascha, and their community of readers. The author also touches on themes of loneliness, trauma, and the importance of empathy and kindness. Their characteristics and the story have a strong connection to each other, and I appreciate that. It can even be said that they are not a family in the true sense, but they end up becoming a family who need each other. The expression "sometimes family can be found in the most unexpected people" is truly reflected in this story. The author's message is also well conveyed, where the two main characters seem to teach readers to be more sensitive to small things about someone, which can then trigger empathy within themselves and help each other in the worst situations. And what's impressive about this book is the literary references included in the story. Well, just by looking at the title of the book, there must be some literary references that should be mentioned here, and that's quite impressive. Although the ending feels a bit rushed, overall, everything is still good and enjoyable.
Twenty-Four Eyes by Sakae Tsuboi

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? No
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

4.0

Book Feels
Reading "Twenty Four Eyes" is like a rollercoaster of emotions, with laughter, tears, and a mix of feelings that warm your heart. The story of the 12 children teaches valuable lessons about life and resilience, leaving a lasting impact on how we appreciate things. It's a touching reminder of how stories can touch our hearts and change our outlook, especially when it's about young characters facing life's challenges.

Overall Review
I totally devoured this book in just 2 days, and it's only 248 pages long. The story follows 7 girls, 5 boys, and their awesome teacher, Miss Oishi. It's set in Japan back in the 1900s, a time when life was tough and resources were scarce. The story of these 12 students is incredibly touching, it evokes emotions and inspires. They're just so young but they're asked to understand the meaning of life. They have to deal with big desires or even trivial ones, like wanting to buy a cheap lunchbox. And from those struggles, their thoughts and identities start to take shape, and their dreams begin to sprout. As the story nears its end, life gets even tougher for them due to the war crisis in Japan. They still manage to show off their strong friendships and pretty decent family bonds, despite the occasional arguments and debates. Reading this book made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. It's got everything—laughter, tears, and a whole bunch of other emotions that are hard to put into words. The story of these 12 children truly taught me so much about life and appreciating what we have. And, it's amazing how a story can have such a profound impact on our emotions and outlook on life, especially when it involves young characters navigating the challenges of their time. The conflict isn't too heavy, so, you can totally read it in one go (again).
Tokyo & Perayaan Kesedihan by Ruth Priscilia Angelina

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dark emotional sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.5

Book Feels
Reading "Tokyo dan Perayaan Kesedihan" leaves me with a heavy heart, urging me to embrace sadness and reflect on life's meaning. The emotional journey with Shira and Jo stirs up a mix of emptiness, sadness, and deep introspection that stays with me. The lessons on life, relationships, and self-discovery resonate, reminding me to cherish moments, care for loved ones, and pursue what truly matters.

Overall Review
Empty. Heavy-hearted. Maybe, those are the right words for me to say after finishing reading Tokyo dan Perayaan Kesedihan. Truly, in this book, I was asked to solemnly celebrate sadness. I was taken to explore every corner of Tokyo and its surroundings just to ponder the meaning of sadness itself. We follow the story of Shira and all the heartbreaking moments, wondering about the meaning of herself and her life. It's like a puzzle that we need to solve alongside Jo, who's on a mission to find Shira. This book really hit me in the feels. I felt a deep sense of emptiness and sadness, but strangely enough, it didn't make me cry. It's like the emotions got stuck in my throat. The way the author beautifully captures these feelings is truly remarkable. As long as you're in the right headspace, you'll enjoy it too. From Shira and Jo, we learn some valuable lessons. Life isn't a competition, it's about living it to the fullest and never giving up on what truly matters. From them, we also learn to appreciate the people around us, making sure that they are okay. And, understanding our own desires without being selfish. Just like what Joshua hopes for the trees that can sing in their own language, may the trees that they always gaze at when tired, may they have the power to heal wounds, all heartaches, and save them. So, if you're up for a heartfelt journey that will make you reflect on life, give Tokyo dan Perayaan Kesedihan a go. It's a journey worth taking.
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Seribu Wajah Ayah by Nurun Ala

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emotional inspiring lighthearted sad medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? Yes
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Book Feels
Reading this book gives you a cozy and emotional journey, with powerful life lessons and touching reflections on regrets and cherishing life. The author's heartfelt storytelling and wise quotes from famous writers make it a moving and thought-provoking read that hits you in the feels. It's a reminder to focus on personal growth, leave the past behind, and keep moving forward to make positive changes in your life.

Overall Review
Let's jump right into it, shall we? This book is a real gem, perfect for a cozy read.Buku ini benar-benar permata, cocok untuk dibaca dengan nyaman. If a book has less than 200 pages, it's a breeze to finish in one go (as long as you have some free time on your hands). This book is packed with life lessons, particularly about the regrets we may have. The author has a way with words, bringing the story to life in such a beautiful and emotional way. From the very first page, you'll be captivated by thought-provoking sentences that make you reflect on life. I have to admit, I shed tears from the first page and they just kept flowing until I closed the book. Stories about parents, whether it's a father or a mother, always tug at our heartstrings and bring out all the emotions. And, the author sprinkles in quotes from brilliant writers like Kahlil Gibran or Haruki Murakami throughout the book, it adds such depth and richness to the story. You'll also find some beautiful teachings about religion, reminding us to always be obedient to God. The author's message about cherishing life while we still have the chance really hit home for me. I really liked how the father figure in the book taught us about “how life is like a pencil”. One of my favorite lines from the book goes like this: “terlalu lama menengok ke belakang hanya akan membuat lehermu pegal. Napasmu tersengal. Kamu jadi mudah lelah, jadi mudah gundah”. It's a powerful reminder not to dwell on the past and instead focus on making positive changes for our own lives. Let those things stay in the past, and we must keep moving forward to improve what can still be improved in our own lives.
Blue Morpho by Sekar Ayu Asmara

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emotional funny lighthearted fast-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? It's complicated
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

2.5

Book Feels
Reading this book gave me a fun and emotional rollercoaster ride with witty humor that had me laughing out loud. The diverse characters taught me important life lessons about love, sacrifice, and acceptance of change, making it an engaging and heartwarming read.

Overall Review
So, this was my first time diving into the world of MetroPop books. First off, let's talk about how incredibly easy and breezy this book was to read. With just 172 pages, it's a quick and enjoyable read that you can finish in one go. Seriously, if you have a day full of free time (or even just a few hours), you can easily devour this book. Now, let's get into the juicy stuff. This book is all about young romance and the rollercoaster of emotions that come with it. It beautifully captures the ups and downs of love, sprinkled with some life lessons along the way. I bet, you won't get bored while reading it. This book also serves up some seriously hilarious humor. The witty and hilarious moments had me in stitches from start to finish. It's the kind of book that will make you giggling and bursting into laughter because of the stories it tells. What I loved most about this book is how it introduces us to a diverse cast of characters. We're gently introduced to Arka, who teaches us that loving someone should be genuine and wholehearted. From Drupadi, we learn that being faithful in love comes at a price. And from Gusti, we discover that sacrificing for love is both noble and necessary. Gusti also teaches us that everyone goes through changes in life, and there are things we can't force no matter how hard we try. Everyone experiences changes in life, and we have to go with the flow, accepting them. That's why the title of the book is “Blue Morpho”. So, if you're looking for a light-hearted read that will keep you entertained, this book is a perfect choice. It's a delightful escape from reality, offering a sweet blend of romance, humor, and life lessons.
Perjalanan Mustahil Samiam Dari Lisboa by Zaky Yamani

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adventurous challenging emotional informative mysterious tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Character
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? No
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? No

3.75

Book Feels
This book got me itching to grab a journal and start writing! Samiam's journey was intense, full of mysteries and secrets that had me totally hooked. The historical fiction vibes from the 1500s added a cool backdrop, and I'm excited for the next book in the trilogy to see what incredible adventures Samiam gets into next!

Overall Review
After reading this, the first thing that caught my attention was the urge to start journaling, writing down everything in the very notebook itself. Inside it, Samiam's journey is incredibly challenging and gripping. It's sad and heartbreaking to hear about Samiam's rough past, especially his parents' story and his own childhood. All the mysterious stuff in his life is written down in the notebook he always carries, with so much detail and finesse. It's full of secrets, riddles, and it'll totally leave you wondering about a bunch of things (I'm still waiting to find out who that mysterious shadowy figure is), that's how this book, and the notebook itself, was made. The author takes us back to the 1500s, with a historical fiction theme that dives into the history of Europe back in the day. The author also portrays the dark side of exploration in European history while showcasing the characters' perspectives on life. This book truly takes readers on a journey to delve deeper into history with a fairly clear timeline (even though it jumps back and forth). But don't worry, even though there's a lot of history talk, the book throws in some light-hearted humor here and there, so you won't be on tense the whole time you're reading it. And at the end of this book, I couldn't help but wonder what happens next, because the story isn't fully wrapped up just yet. Out of the blue, the author opens up a whole new storyline. But, guess what? Turns out this book is gonna be part of a trilogy! So, let's sit tight and wait for the next leg of Samiam's journey, with all its impossibilities that somehow turn into reality.
The Miracles of the Namiya General Store by Keigo Higashino

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adventurous emotional funny inspiring lighthearted mysterious relaxing sad slow-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? Plot
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? It's complicated
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? It's complicated

3.75

Book Feels
Reading “The Miracle of the Namiya General Store” was a total emotional rollercoaster! It had me feeling all sorts of things—sadness, warmth, happiness, and even heartbreak. The stories of the characters were so interconnected, and it taught me valuable lessons about life, family, and chasing your dreams. I can't forget those cool elements like the letter slot, the milk box, and the mind-blowing time machine.

Overall Review
Just like "Anak Anjing yang Kebingungan" or "Musisi Toko Ikan" or “Seseorang Tanpa Nama”, I kinda feel like sending a consultation letter to that grocery store. Sounds fun, right? That's the first thing that popped into my head after finishing this book. It made me feel all sorts of emotions—sad, touched, happy, proud, warm, heartbroken, it's a rollercoaster of feelings. I think “Keajaiban Toko Kelontong Namiya” is best enjoyed by taking it slow and really immersing yourself in the stories of each character. Even though there might be a bunch of character names thrown at you, but, it's not as complicated as it seems. The author has a way of connecting all the characters, so it's easy to follow along. Plus, they'll make sure you don't forget a thing. This book teaches us about life—the ups and downs that each character goes through. It reminds us of the importance of family and friendships, as well as the power of dreams. There are so many things in this Keigo Higashino book that left me in awe—like the letter slot and the milk box, they're etched in my memory. And, the time machine that carries their stories is mind-blowing. And honestly, it deserves all the praise in the world!
It Ends with Us by Colleen Hoover

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emotional tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.5

Book Feels
This book was an emotional rollercoaster! It made me angry, broke my heart with the family and sexual violence, but brought relief when Lily faced her problems head-on.

Overall Review
Let me start this review with a whole lot of anger, seriously! The first thing that caught my attention in this book is the intense emotions it evokes. I'm talking about anger, annoyance, and all those other feelings that can really get under your skin. I have no idea how the author managed to create such a foolish female character (at first). As I read through the book, what really got to me was how this character could be so weak at times. Despite all the flaws, I actually found some relief towards the end of the story. I gotta mention though, there were some pretty unpleasant moments, especially when it comes to family violence and even a bit of sexual violence (yeah, that's how I saw it). “History repeats itself”, well, it's like the story of Lily's mother, it repeats in Lily's current life. It's heartbreaking to see how Lily struggles, especially with her family. And don't even get me started on her love life, it's a whole other level of heartache. Trying to deny all the bad stuff that's happening is definitely not the way to go. Towards the end, when Lily finally realizes what's really going on and faces it head-on, it brought some much-needed relief. Fyuh..
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Serangkai by Valerie Patkar

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emotional lighthearted sad 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

Book Feels
This book was a wild emotional ride! I laughed, cried, and pondered life's big questions. The characters felt so real, like I was right there with them. It's amazing how a story can touch your soul and make you reflect on life.

Overall Review
I gotta tell you, that book took me on one heck of an emotional rollercoaster! I mean, seriously, it had me laughing, crying, and pondering over life's big questions. I was totally sucked into the lives of those characters, like I was right there with them. The Bhimafardan Nota families and Kai Deverra? They know a thing or two about embracing everything life throws at you. Ups, downs, twists, turns—they don't shy away from any of it. They taught me that it's all part of the journey, and there's beauty in every single moment. And can we talk about Zacchio and Divas? Their bond is something else. They promise to meet again on the long road ahead, and when Zacchio finally reaches that exhausting long road, it's like fate brings them together once more. Talk about destiny, right? I gotta say, this book really hit me in the feels. It's amazing how a story can touch your soul and make you reflect on life.
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Rumah Lebah by Ruwi Meita

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challenging dark emotional mysterious sad tense medium-paced
  • Plot- or character-driven? A mix
  • Strong character development? Yes
  • Loveable characters? No
  • Diverse cast of characters? Yes
  • Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

3.75

Book Feels
I'm currently diving into this awesome book by Ruwi Meita called Rumah Lebah. While reading this, my feelings are all mixed up. The way everything is put together is just so beautifully done.

Overall Review
I just read this book by Ruwi Meita for the first time and it's seriously awesome packaged, but it felt kinda rushed and out of the blue. But here's the thing, it's like I was right there in the story, trying to crack all the mysteries. This book is all about that psychological thriller vibe, where the author tackles complex mental health issues. As I read it, my mind was buzzing with questions and curiosity the whole way through. It's seriously mind-boggling and that's what makes it so captivating. You'll be like, “whoa, hold up!” “huh?” “wait, what?!” so many times while reading it. The ending might leave you a bit confused (unless you're paying super close attention), but if you take a second look, you'll find all the answers to the whole shebang. To Nawai and Mala, I'm sending them the biggest, warmest hug ever and loads of love.
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