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veraveruchka's reviews
415 reviews
A Walk to Remember by Nicholas Sparks
4.0
Saya termasuk orang yang skeptis terhadap Sparks. Oke, dia penulis bagus. Oke, dia kayaknya punya satu lemari besar berisi ide siapa-jatuh-cinta-sama-siapa-karena-apa. Tapi setelah membaca dua bukunya (persisnya [b:Message in a bottle|3478|Message in a Bottle|Nicholas Sparks|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1357124038s/3478.jpg|1622450] dan [b:The Lucky One|3063499|The Lucky One|Nicholas Sparks|http://d202m5krfqbpi5.cloudfront.net/books/1334083859s/3063499.jpg|3094402], saya merasa...ide awalnya bagus tapi makin ke belakang makin flat ya. Plotnya gampang ketebak. Ada bagian-bagian yang menarik untuk dibaca, tapi sebagian besar...humbala humbala humbala. Terasa seperti gumaman tanpa emosi buat saya. Walaupun Alin, teman saya, kayaknya naksir berat sama karya-karya Sparks (dan sukses bikin saya langsung inget dia tiap liat buku Sparks), itu nggak menular sama saya.
A Walk to Remember ini saya baca karena pengaruh teman-teman sih. Filmnya, yang dibintangi Mandy Moore, kata teman-teman saya 'sedih parah' atau 'ngena banget'. Pas saya tanya kenapa, mereka dengan 'baik hati'-nya menjabarkan cerita dari awal sampai akhir. Iya, lengkap dengan informasi yang seharusnya bisa saya nikmati lebih kalau saya menonton film/membaca buku sendiri. Ah, kebaikan teman-teman saya memang unik kadang-kadang.
Jadi, pas saya baca buku ini, saya udah tahu akhirnya bakal gimana. Garis besar jalan ceritanya juga saya udah tahu. Saya sama sekali nggak mengharapkan kejutan dari buku ini. Saya cuma mengharapkan...well, teman-teman saya diam karena akhirnya toh saya bersentuhan langsung juga dengan kisah ini, hahaha
Ternyata buku ini melampaui jauh ekspektasi saya. Sudut pandang orang pertama lewat mata Landon Carter, tokoh utama pria, membuat kisah ini jadi lebih hidup. Carter di usia tua mengingat kembali masa lalunya pada tahun 1958 di Beaufort, sebuah kota kecil di North Carolina. Saat itu dia adalah seorang cowok umur 17 tahun dari keluarga kaya dan termasuk golongan 'keren'. Dia tahu itu sebagian besar karena keberuntungan daripada kekerenannya sendiri. Seperti banyak remaja, Carter juga berpikir bahwa 'keren' itu semacam sinonim dari 'bandel', walaupun kebandelan di tahun 1958 terdengar sangat cupu jika dibandingkan dengan sekarang (Makan kacang malam-malam di kuburan? Yakali). Carter akan menjalani masa remajanya seperti remaja pada umumnya, apabila rencana Tuhan tidak mendekatkannya dengan Jamie Sullivan, anak pendeta setempat.
Apa yang saya sukai dari kisah ini? Saya suka bahwa kisah cinta antara Carter dan Jamie berlangsung mengalir dan dapat dengan mudah dipercaya. Saya suka bagaimana Sparks menggambarkan masa remaja pada tahun 1950-an di kota kecil, somehow it feels so quaint and comfortable to read. Saya suka penggambaran karakter Hegbert Sullivan, ayah Jamie, dengan Carter. Juga karakter Jamie...oh Jamie, the little angel! Kadang-kadang saya berpikir dia itu borderline Mary-Sue tapi saya nggak bisa mencibir karakter dia, nggak bisa! Seperti karakter lain dalam cerita, saya menunduk melihat senyum malaikat Jamie di dalam otak saya, dan dia boleh melanjutkan kebaikan hatinya yang seakan tanpa noda itu, suka-suka dia.
Tema besar dalam cerita ini buat saya adalah cinta, penerimaan, dan kedekatan dengan Tuhan sebagai kunci kedamaian. Agama saya berbeda dengan Jamie dan Carter sehingga saya tidak bisa terlalu menghayati ayat-ayat Alkitab yang bertebaran di buku ini, tapi saya bisa menangkap garis besarnya dan merujuk pada kitab suci saya sendiri. Menuju ke akhir cerita (yang saya udah tahu benar bagaimana, MAKASIH BANGET LOH TEMAN-TEMAN. IF YOU READ IT, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!), saya juga merasa terlibat dalam kegelisahan Carter. Pada saat dia akhirnya menemukan jalan kedamaian, saya dapat mengerti perasaan itu.
Setiap ujung halaman seperti membisiki saya, "baca se-chapter lagi nggak apa-apa sih." Ada bagian-bagian yang mampu membuat saya menitikkan air mata, walaupun nangis kejer sih nggak, lebay ah. Akan lebih bagus kalau Sparks menceritakan juga bagaimana kehidupan Landon Carter di masa depan. Kan sempat disebut bahwa hubungannya dengan Jamie telah membentuk Carter menjadi 'lelaki yang seperti sekarang'. Nah, memangnya Carter di masa depan itu lelaki seperti apa? Seperti apa kira-kira efek sentuhan Jamie pada hidupnya? Ini adalah hal-hal yang ingin saya tahu setelah membaca kisah menyentuh ini, tapi sayang Sparks nggak banyak membahasnya.
This should be the first book of Sparks I have ever read. Maybe I won't be as skeptical when I read another...
A Walk to Remember ini saya baca karena pengaruh teman-teman sih. Filmnya, yang dibintangi Mandy Moore, kata teman-teman saya 'sedih parah' atau 'ngena banget'. Pas saya tanya kenapa, mereka dengan 'baik hati'-nya menjabarkan cerita dari awal sampai akhir. Iya, lengkap dengan informasi yang seharusnya bisa saya nikmati lebih kalau saya menonton film/membaca buku sendiri. Ah, kebaikan teman-teman saya memang unik kadang-kadang.
Jadi, pas saya baca buku ini, saya udah tahu akhirnya bakal gimana. Garis besar jalan ceritanya juga saya udah tahu. Saya sama sekali nggak mengharapkan kejutan dari buku ini. Saya cuma mengharapkan...well, teman-teman saya diam karena akhirnya toh saya bersentuhan langsung juga dengan kisah ini, hahaha
Ternyata buku ini melampaui jauh ekspektasi saya. Sudut pandang orang pertama lewat mata Landon Carter, tokoh utama pria, membuat kisah ini jadi lebih hidup. Carter di usia tua mengingat kembali masa lalunya pada tahun 1958 di Beaufort, sebuah kota kecil di North Carolina. Saat itu dia adalah seorang cowok umur 17 tahun dari keluarga kaya dan termasuk golongan 'keren'. Dia tahu itu sebagian besar karena keberuntungan daripada kekerenannya sendiri. Seperti banyak remaja, Carter juga berpikir bahwa 'keren' itu semacam sinonim dari 'bandel', walaupun kebandelan di tahun 1958 terdengar sangat cupu jika dibandingkan dengan sekarang (Makan kacang malam-malam di kuburan? Yakali). Carter akan menjalani masa remajanya seperti remaja pada umumnya, apabila rencana Tuhan tidak mendekatkannya dengan Jamie Sullivan, anak pendeta setempat.
Apa yang saya sukai dari kisah ini? Saya suka bahwa kisah cinta antara Carter dan Jamie berlangsung mengalir dan dapat dengan mudah dipercaya. Saya suka bagaimana Sparks menggambarkan masa remaja pada tahun 1950-an di kota kecil, somehow it feels so quaint and comfortable to read. Saya suka penggambaran karakter Hegbert Sullivan, ayah Jamie, dengan Carter. Juga karakter Jamie...oh Jamie, the little angel! Kadang-kadang saya berpikir dia itu borderline Mary-Sue tapi saya nggak bisa mencibir karakter dia, nggak bisa! Seperti karakter lain dalam cerita, saya menunduk melihat senyum malaikat Jamie di dalam otak saya, dan dia boleh melanjutkan kebaikan hatinya yang seakan tanpa noda itu, suka-suka dia.
Tema besar dalam cerita ini buat saya adalah cinta, penerimaan, dan kedekatan dengan Tuhan sebagai kunci kedamaian. Agama saya berbeda dengan Jamie dan Carter sehingga saya tidak bisa terlalu menghayati ayat-ayat Alkitab yang bertebaran di buku ini, tapi saya bisa menangkap garis besarnya dan merujuk pada kitab suci saya sendiri. Menuju ke akhir cerita (yang saya udah tahu benar bagaimana, MAKASIH BANGET LOH TEMAN-TEMAN. IF YOU READ IT, YOU KNOW WHO YOU ARE!), saya juga merasa terlibat dalam kegelisahan Carter. Pada saat dia akhirnya menemukan jalan kedamaian, saya dapat mengerti perasaan itu.
Setiap ujung halaman seperti membisiki saya, "baca se-chapter lagi nggak apa-apa sih." Ada bagian-bagian yang mampu membuat saya menitikkan air mata, walaupun nangis kejer sih nggak, lebay ah. Akan lebih bagus kalau Sparks menceritakan juga bagaimana kehidupan Landon Carter di masa depan. Kan sempat disebut bahwa hubungannya dengan Jamie telah membentuk Carter menjadi 'lelaki yang seperti sekarang'. Nah, memangnya Carter di masa depan itu lelaki seperti apa? Seperti apa kira-kira efek sentuhan Jamie pada hidupnya? Ini adalah hal-hal yang ingin saya tahu setelah membaca kisah menyentuh ini, tapi sayang Sparks nggak banyak membahasnya.
This should be the first book of Sparks I have ever read. Maybe I won't be as skeptical when I read another...
Twilight by Stephenie Meyer
4.0
I can hear someone preparing to hurl stones at me and muttering doubt about my sense in literature. LOL.
I've been a Twihard in my younger years --a huge one, if I might add. The release of the second film effectively stopped my fangirling (Bare-chested werewolves, anyone? Am I the only one who thinks that there's nothing sexy about that at all?) but I still love the story and the universe. Well, not wholly like I did before, but I still love a big part of it.
It's easy to see why the 15 years old me liking Twilight. An ordinary and almost boring girl gets attention from the hottest boy in school--who happens to be a sparkling vampire. So many girl can relate to that fantasy (excluding the sparkling vampire thingy), including me. Nice to visit that younger self of mine and realize how much I've been growing up since then :)
Almost everyone probably has read/peeked at the book and those who haven't probably already knew the rough storyline, so I don't have to rewrite it here. My personal favorite part is when the backstory of the vampires were told. Too bad this book was told from Bella's perspective, she's too boring, childish, and sentimental at times. The vampires are more interesting, even without Bella repeatedly describes how 'perfect' they are.
PLUS, I got it for free from a contest in Twilight Indonesia (that I didn't consciously enter). This book remind me of really personal sweet (and sometimes stupid) experience...so I give four stars for how this book entices me and give me a sweet, sweet reminiscence :)
I've been a Twihard in my younger years --a huge one, if I might add. The release of the second film effectively stopped my fangirling (Bare-chested werewolves, anyone? Am I the only one who thinks that there's nothing sexy about that at all?) but I still love the story and the universe. Well, not wholly like I did before, but I still love a big part of it.
It's easy to see why the 15 years old me liking Twilight. An ordinary and almost boring girl gets attention from the hottest boy in school--who happens to be a sparkling vampire. So many girl can relate to that fantasy (excluding the sparkling vampire thingy), including me. Nice to visit that younger self of mine and realize how much I've been growing up since then :)
Almost everyone probably has read/peeked at the book and those who haven't probably already knew the rough storyline, so I don't have to rewrite it here. My personal favorite part is when the backstory of the vampires were told. Too bad this book was told from Bella's perspective, she's too boring, childish, and sentimental at times. The vampires are more interesting, even without Bella repeatedly describes how 'perfect' they are.
PLUS, I got it for free from a contest in Twilight Indonesia (that I didn't consciously enter). This book remind me of really personal sweet (and sometimes stupid) experience...so I give four stars for how this book entices me and give me a sweet, sweet reminiscence :)
Princess in the Spotlight by Meg Cabot
3.0
Life can't be more complicated for Mia Thermopolis. As if it's not enough that she is a princess of Genovia and stuck with Grandmere's princess lesson after school, now she has to worry about her mother, who is pregnant with her Algebra teacher's baby. On top of that, she found herself in love with her bestfriend's brother, Michael Moscovitz. And she's sort of hoping that the secret admirer who keeps sending her love e-mail really is Michael...only it's, like, impossible, right? And what's this fuss of royal wedding is about?
Still written in diary format (ha, of course), Princess in Spotlight is really an easy read. You don't have to think about anything, just sit back and relax and keep reading. For a book so light, it's quite surprisingly page-turner. Mia is her usual overly dramatic self, and her early-teen rant is the main charm of this book. My main thought as I'm reading this book is : I'm so jealous of her ability to keep writing in her diary everyday! Hahaha
Still written in diary format (ha, of course), Princess in Spotlight is really an easy read. You don't have to think about anything, just sit back and relax and keep reading. For a book so light, it's quite surprisingly page-turner. Mia is her usual overly dramatic self, and her early-teen rant is the main charm of this book. My main thought as I'm reading this book is : I'm so jealous of her ability to keep writing in her diary everyday! Hahaha
Princess in Love by Meg Cabot
3.0
How is the life of Mia Thermopolis at the start of book three?
a. Mia is still the princess of Genovia
b. Her mother is newly married to Mia's Algebra teacher, and she's pregnant with his child
c. Mia's cousin, Sebastiano, is visiting her in New York, and Mia is worried that Sebastiano intends to choke her to death with one of the dress he designed for her
d. Mia is still deeply in love with her bestfriend's brother, Michael Moscovitz. Only he seems to like other girl, who is his fellow Computer-Club geek and apparently so intelligent she can clone fruit fly in her free time.
e. Mia finally got a boyfriend. The only down side is that boyfriend is not Michael.
Our overly-dramatic princess is still writing charming diary entries, in an early teenager-ish way. Her entries are getting longer and more detailed, but still hasn't lost her personal taste, although sometimes I admit that it doesn't feel as 'diary' as the previous two books. As more conflicts introduced, it's getting harder to contain them purely in Mia's usual diary-writing style.
I have a few musing while reading this book:
1. The character Lilly is so annoying. I understand that she's genius, critical, and all, but I seriously want to punch her at times. I don't know how Mia put up to be 'bestfriend' with this coercing, tyrannical girl sometimes.
2. Mia's main concern is now expanded. First, her 'lack of mammary gland growth' (her phrase, not mine). Second, her tall stature (or 'gigantism', as she prefer to call it). Now add 'kissing and frenching' to the list. I remember when I read this book for the first time (when I was 11 or so), I wondered what is this 'French Kiss' they talk about. A wondering I want to spare my daughters because I'm not going to permit them reading it until they are 15 or older, and we have to discuss it afterwards.
3. One of Lilly's hobby is psychoanalyzing Mia because her parents are psychoanalyst. I thought most of psychologist in America are more inclined to behavioristic approach. Maybe it's sort of a pun, since The Moscovitzes are Jewish, like Sigmund Freud (who is the father of Psychoanalysis. I wonder if MY children's hobby will be analyzing their friends' personality and mental state too, since at least one of their parents is a psychologist! Hahaha, fun to imagine :)
I once thought that this is the last book of the series, but it turns out that there's seven other books following, haha.
a. Mia is still the princess of Genovia
b. Her mother is newly married to Mia's Algebra teacher, and she's pregnant with his child
c. Mia's cousin, Sebastiano, is visiting her in New York, and Mia is worried that Sebastiano intends to choke her to death with one of the dress he designed for her
d. Mia is still deeply in love with her bestfriend's brother, Michael Moscovitz. Only he seems to like other girl, who is his fellow Computer-Club geek and apparently so intelligent she can clone fruit fly in her free time.
e. Mia finally got a boyfriend. The only down side is that boyfriend is not Michael.
Our overly-dramatic princess is still writing charming diary entries, in an early teenager-ish way. Her entries are getting longer and more detailed, but still hasn't lost her personal taste, although sometimes I admit that it doesn't feel as 'diary' as the previous two books. As more conflicts introduced, it's getting harder to contain them purely in Mia's usual diary-writing style.
I have a few musing while reading this book:
1. The character Lilly is so annoying. I understand that she's genius, critical, and all, but I seriously want to punch her at times. I don't know how Mia put up to be 'bestfriend' with this coercing, tyrannical girl sometimes.
2. Mia's main concern is now expanded. First, her 'lack of mammary gland growth' (her phrase, not mine). Second, her tall stature (or 'gigantism', as she prefer to call it). Now add 'kissing and frenching' to the list. I remember when I read this book for the first time (when I was 11 or so), I wondered what is this 'French Kiss' they talk about. A wondering I want to spare my daughters because I'm not going to permit them reading it until they are 15 or older, and we have to discuss it afterwards.
3. One of Lilly's hobby is psychoanalyzing Mia because her parents are psychoanalyst. I thought most of psychologist in America are more inclined to behavioristic approach. Maybe it's sort of a pun, since The Moscovitzes are Jewish, like Sigmund Freud (who is the father of Psychoanalysis. I wonder if MY children's hobby will be analyzing their friends' personality and mental state too, since at least one of their parents is a psychologist! Hahaha, fun to imagine :)
I once thought that this is the last book of the series, but it turns out that there's seven other books following, haha.
Princess on the Brink by Meg Cabot
2.0
I know this book is intended for teen (as I stated repeatedly in my review of previous books), but it's annoying how there seems to be no two sensible character in every scene. When Mia was being cool-headed (which was not happen too often), she would be shouted at by the selfish, power-crazed Lilly. If the other party is being calm and and try to explain something, then we have our Princess freaked out of nothing! It's quite tiring to read, and considering this SHOULD be a light reading, that ought to count for something.
Also, If you are binge-reading this series, you will notice some details are inconsistent, especially with book 7. And far too many sex-centered diary entry for my liking, I start to question if it's really normal for a 15 years old teenager to know all this? Even in America?
Spoiler
it's good that in this book they ceased to be friend because honestly I don't know what's the point of befriending a girl who always bossed you around like that.Also, If you are binge-reading this series, you will notice some details are inconsistent, especially with book 7. And far too many sex-centered diary entry for my liking, I start to question if it's really normal for a 15 years old teenager to know all this? Even in America?
Princess in Training by Meg Cabot
3.0
Mia's speech at the end of this book is really good, almost mature, considering her rambles throughout the book about how the biggest problem she'd ever face is whether her boyfriend wanted to DO IT or not.
Um, you know what I mean.
Um, you know what I mean.
Princess in Pink by Meg Cabot
4.0
Why am I going into a marathon of Princess-Diaries reading? I mean, I know these books are intended for teenager --which I'm no longer one. I might enjoy the first three books as a preteen, but there's a big chance I might not enjoy it now, being a grown up and all. I reread the first three books for the sake of nostalgia, but WHY DID I CONTINUE? I honestly don't know myself.
Anyway, the fifth book is enjoyable enough for me. Finally a real conflict (the whole Jangbu thing) yet our overly dramatic preteen princess focused on the other thing entirely. Prom. Lame prom. Why such a big fuss? When at the same time she have to deal with a strike unintentiously sparked by her Grandmere's hairless poodle, Rommel, and her bestfriend Lilly behaving really weirdly (although apparently being genius = being weird and clueless about it). Mia was being so completely un-feminist which is fine for me, her being a teenager smitten by love. Well, her antics are annoying sometimes, but hilarious for most of the time, so I think I will forgive Mia.
At this book Mia is so worried about 'getting to second base'. It's culturally inappropriate in the country where I live, but in more liberal country, maybe Mia's worrying is an accurate portrait about how teenage girls perceive their romantic relationship. I don't know. One thing for sure, I'm not going to let my (hypothetical future) daughters to read this series without supervision and open discussion. Especially if in the latter books Mia is worried about...ahem, getting to the next base.
However, I feel emotionally involved with some of the characters, which honestly I don't expect. Satisfying ending, somewhat unrealistic, but we're talking about a series in which a teenager suddenly proclaimed as a princess of tiny principality, so what do you expect.
Warning : Major spoiler of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, so go read them first if you haven't already.
Anyway, the fifth book is enjoyable enough for me. Finally a real conflict (the whole Jangbu thing) yet our overly dramatic preteen princess focused on the other thing entirely. Prom. Lame prom. Why such a big fuss? When at the same time she have to deal with a strike unintentiously sparked by her Grandmere's hairless poodle, Rommel, and her bestfriend Lilly behaving really weirdly (although apparently being genius = being weird and clueless about it). Mia was being so completely un-feminist which is fine for me, her being a teenager smitten by love. Well, her antics are annoying sometimes, but hilarious for most of the time, so I think I will forgive Mia.
At this book Mia is so worried about 'getting to second base'. It's culturally inappropriate in the country where I live, but in more liberal country, maybe Mia's worrying is an accurate portrait about how teenage girls perceive their romantic relationship. I don't know. One thing for sure, I'm not going to let my (hypothetical future) daughters to read this series without supervision and open discussion. Especially if in the latter books Mia is worried about...ahem, getting to the next base.
However, I feel emotionally involved with some of the characters, which honestly I don't expect. Satisfying ending, somewhat unrealistic, but we're talking about a series in which a teenager suddenly proclaimed as a princess of tiny principality, so what do you expect.
Warning : Major spoiler of Wuthering Heights and Jane Eyre, so go read them first if you haven't already.
Princess in Waiting by Meg Cabot
3.0
Major spoiler of Jane Eyre, so I suggest that if you plan to read both of these books, read Jane Eyre first.
Not that this is a kind of book you would normally pair with Jane Eyre, anyway.
Princess in Waiting focused on Mia's first journey to Genovia as the heir to the throne and her insecurity about her relationship with Michael Moscovitz, Mia's one-month boyfriend and best friend's brother.
As an adult, Mia's insecurity,immaturity, and head-in-the-cloud-ness are sometimes annoying. I swear she turns everything into a drama. It might be more enjoyable if you read it for the sake of nostalgia, or if you are still a teenager yourself.
Also, since Mia's bestfriend parents are psychologist (or psychoanalyst, or psychiatrist, used interchangeably along the series...which, I have to say, are different, please don't regard them as a same profession), the book refer to psychological term a lot. Might incite further inquiry for unfamiliar reader to psychological literature, so I think, overall it's acceptable.
Not that this is a kind of book you would normally pair with Jane Eyre, anyway.
Princess in Waiting focused on Mia's first journey to Genovia as the heir to the throne and her insecurity about her relationship with Michael Moscovitz, Mia's one-month boyfriend and best friend's brother.
As an adult, Mia's insecurity,immaturity, and head-in-the-cloud-ness are sometimes annoying. I swear she turns everything into a drama. It might be more enjoyable if you read it for the sake of nostalgia, or if you are still a teenager yourself.
Also, since Mia's bestfriend parents are psychologist (or psychoanalyst, or psychiatrist, used interchangeably along the series...which, I have to say, are different, please don't regard them as a same profession), the book refer to psychological term a lot. Might incite further inquiry for unfamiliar reader to psychological literature, so I think, overall it's acceptable.
Princess Mia by Meg Cabot
2.0
I was prepared to love Mia again, really. Almost there, when her depression made her seem to grow up a bit. But then came the Princess Amelie's diary and democracy thingy...and I was like, really, Mia? Really? What a reckless thing to do as a princess! My love meter decrease to near zero.