Review: The Hate U Give by Angie Thomas

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, YA, Contemporary

Edition : Paperback, Published February 28th 2017 by Walker Books

Pages : 438 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 4.64 ☆

My Ratings : 4.5 ☆

This is ownvoices. Wonderful told story. Have serious story line but some parts are seriously funny. This is important story and needed to be told. Angie Thomas tackled the social issues of racial so well involving black community. Though it is fiction, the book simply educates, in simplest way for me as the non american people who lives outside the states. And I know, what happens in real life is scarier. Racism is everywhere, around the world.

Maverick, of all, is the coolest dad! I love his character. I love the little family. It's nice to read about the kids respect the parents and the elders. "Yes ma'am.", "Yes sir.". I even smile every time I read them. I have been reading about kids stomping out of the house whenever their parents give them "education" and that sicken me. And it's nice that in the story, the kids gets to tells and talk every thing to their parents. I love that the story focus on family. A little touch of romance is nice too. Interracial relationship. I would want a boyfriend like Chris. There is nothing wrong with interracial relationship. Chris is respectful and have the effort to understands Starr and her culture and I love that he shows the effort. Character like Hailey, Starr's friends however is otherwise, she even makes sh!tty comments on Khalil will died some other way because she believes he was a drug dealer/thug, without the slightest curiosity to ask Starr about him.

I must say this book is longggg but it is definitely strong, powerful, brave, angry, beautiful and important. Recommended indeed!

Review: The Red Bicycle by Dave Anthony

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Historical Fiction

Edition : Paperback, Published 2016 by Gerakbudaya

Pages : 393 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 4.33 ☆

My Ratings : 4.4 ☆

This book caught my eyes when I was browsing books in a bookstore, particularly it is about Communist Party - the story is told from the party's perspective, which is rare for me.

The story is mainly about treachery and betrayal, spy and double, triple I'd say. Set in Malaya, WWII when the Japanese army invaded Southeast Asia, before Malaya gets its independency.

I like the narrative style, but it is too predictable I can guess who is the traitor within the first 5 chapter. I need to mention that this book is slow paced not until the first 3 or 4 chapter of Part Two, when the revelation of the traitor. That part for me is exciting. 

I love the element of romance, trans-racial relationship captured so well, in the midst of war time. Love and war, is all fair. It is like giving the 'live' of the party and the book itself.

I love the historical facts included. Not too much yet sufficient enough to make the readers understand and not too bore or lost in the story. It helps adding up my historical knowledge (I forgot some of the facts and the abbreviations!!). Weaves of historical facts and fiction so well.

It's a good reading. Rated 4.0 stars. Recommended for those who are into historical fiction and slow-paced story.

Review: Langit Petang oleh A. Samad Said

Assalamualaikum dan salam sejahtera!

Genre : Fiksyen, Fiction, Historical Fiction

Edition : Paperback, Published February 2016 by Lejen Press

Pages : 182 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 3.93 ☆

My Ratings : 4.6 ☆

Kecewa dengan penerbitan Lejen Press ini. Banyak kesalahan ejaan dan ada juga barisan ayat yang berulang.

5 bintang untuk penulisan ini. Saya memang suka penulisan klasik dengan bahasa yang indah-indah, kosa kata yang banyak. Belum cerita gaya penulisan lagi, memang layak bintang penuh!

Sarat dengan falsafah. Bila ditenung kembali sememangnya berat untuk dihadamkan falsafah-falsafah tersebut. Saya seperti berharap cerita ini mengenai Ariff sepenuhnya namun, sesuai dengan penceritaan cerita, Hafiz menjadi tonggak utama. Saya mahu lebih tentang Hafiz dan saya mahu lebih lagi tentang Ariff. Zakiah pula bagi saya sempurna wataknya. Mangsa feminisme. Berjuang dengan cara yang salah. 

Novel realism yang berkisar tentang pilihan hidup, pendirian diri dan falsafah. Berat tapi ringan.

Review: Dance Dance Dance by Haruki Murakami

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Magical Realism, Asian Literature > Japanese Literature

Edition : Paperback, Paperback, Published February 7th 2002 by Vintage

Pages : 393 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 4.03 ☆

My Ratings : 3.8 ☆

Dance Dance Dance - Haruki Murakami

Writing style: first Murakami book I read and it didn't bother me at all. Quite easy for me to read. And it is the writing style that make me fall for Murakami's work. Its how he explores on the subconscious things, weird but intrigued.

Plot movement/strength: the plot moved but it somehow didn't moved me, interesting enough for me to stick till the end

Characters: the characters even though I may not fall in love with them but they got their own strength that makes the whole story spinning and keep me engaged. I like the fact that Murakami want us to get to know the character before judging them. Yuki is just a cold and distant teenage who is gifted and perfect have-it-all Gotanda hides dark secrets

Attention to details: not so much yet not so little.

Entertainment factor: I enjoy getting lost in the between the page

So, did I like it? I rated 3.8 because it didn't moved me. Sighhhh I would go for 4 stars but it didn't feel like 4 stars 

Review : The Magic Strings of Frankie Presto by Mitch Albom

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Historical Fiction

Edition : Mass Market Paperback

Pages : 512 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 4.32 ☆

My Ratings : 4.5 ☆

Everyone joins a band in life
And I'm in the one that wish Frankie Presto is (was?) real.

Breathless. I couldn't put down the book despite I'm in my plegde to read slower. Narrated by Music, at first I feel weird but throughout the story, it make sense somehow. Beautifully put. Amazing twist. I almost fell of my bed thinking how come the hairless dog can travelled that far. When Aurora died, I could almost feel what Frankie feels. But the 6 magic strings, I expected it all along that it was Frankie's heart, his kindness that make then turned blue. Kindness that what it is.

Magic. Who doesn't like it?

Thank you, my favourite author.

Review - Nobody's Secret by Michaela MacColl

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Historical Fiction, YA

Edition : Paperback, Chronical Books

Pages : 241 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 3.61 ☆

My Ratings : 3.7 ☆

A wonderful murder story. Captured me right away! Emily Elizabeth Dickinson meets a handsome young man, known as Mr. Nobody and enjoys her flirtartion with him until a tragedy happened to the young man. Emily is determines to investigate the murder herself despite her chores her mother, Mrs. Dickinson instructed to do. Along with her younger sister, Vinnie, Emily discover shocking information and unexpected murder suspects.

This story reminds me of Nancy Drew adventures. I love Emily character. I love how she jots down her clues in a small notebook. I love how stubborn she is to continue her private investigation of Mr. Nobody's murder. The suspense is there and progressing well throughout the story. I just love the storyline. Simple yet intriguing. Good mystery build-up.

Review - Gideon Smith and the Mechanical Girl by David Barnett

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Science Fiction, Steampunk, Fantasy

Edition : Paperback, Snowbooks Ltd

Pages : 351 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 3.69 ☆

My Ratings : 3.5 ☆

Set in Victorian England. Gideon Smith who had lost his father and he was to find why his father was killed. Gideon was determined to follow Captain Lucian Trigger, his favourite hero and avenge his father's death.

It's cool! Victorian England setting. Indiana Jones style. There's vampires, mummies, pyramids and sky pirates! I can say it is a great idea. I was at first afraid to read sci-fi steampunk genre but this book really changed my views. The story is smooth, the idea is great but the writings is not enough to intrigue me. What fascinates me most about this book is the story line and the urge to know more of the adventures of Gideon.

I start to like it when meeting the mechanical girl, Maria. I must say that I dislike the opening or so to say the writing itself. Maria is a likable, mysterious character. Although Gideon and Maria's journey is different but somehow it suits and brings you to the unlikely relationship. But I loveeeee the ending. The graph is descending smooth towards the end and the unexpected twist makes me want to move to the second book.

I think I can recommend this book to the readers who want to try on this type of genre, for beginner.

Review - The Little Shop of Happy Ever After by Jenny Colgan

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Chick-Lit

Edition : Paperback, by Sphere

Pages : 358 pages 

Goodreads Ratings : 3.89 ★

My Ratings : 3.7 ★

I love books about books and this is the one. Caught my eyes just a second after I looked at it, grabbed it and to the counter for payment. Ha!

Nina who loves book and work in a library but lose it as the library turns into a downsized retail complex. Worrying with no job for living, Nina considers to open a bookshop, a mobile bookshop. She buys a van and moved to Scotland and become a successful bookseller. 

Simple, but the decision making, the new adjustment of new life, the new experiences etc. are what makes this book lovely. Nina character is slowly developed throughout the story. I can definitely related to her, especially on books and her decision making. It just happened that the Scottish community she settled for love books as well. The story evolves to something else; Nina's love life and helping two children for school and living.

All in all, it's about how to face the future and chase your dreams, not giving up half way not matter what. It's a lovely read.

Review - The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Historical Fiction, YA

Edition : Paperback, Anniversary Edition by Alfred A. Knopf

Pages : 552 pages 

Goodreads Ratings : 4.36 ★

My Ratings : 4.4 ★

Holocaust. Set in Germany during World War II. Narrated by Death on a story of a girl, Liesel Meminger who comes of age in a war time. Being an orphan and taken by a relatively poor germans family, the Hubermanns. Hans, Liesel's foster father teaches her to write and read. Rosa who does laundry for the rich, swears a lot but really have a good heart. Conflict begins when the Hubermanns needs to hide a Jew, Max who is the son of Han's friend from WWI.

I love how the story is narrated by Death. It took me awhile to figure who is the narrator. Smack my head once I found out. Hans is absolutely my favourite character, followed by Rudy, Liesel's companion. There are a few moments in the story which broke my heart included the The Standover Man. The bombing of Himmel Streets. Damn, it broke my heart good.

I usually not fond of slow-paced book but there are something about this book that keeps me reading. Haunted.The story and how it was written. Poetic. There are so many quotes in this book that i love so much. Especially from Death, mesmerized me how every details can be described so well. The part where giving the reader a bit of the ending at the beginning. It messed up my emotions, in a good way. And it made me shed tears.

No. It's not a happy ending story. But I promise, it's a good read.

Review - The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Historical Fiction, Contemporary

Edition : Paperback, International Edition by Riverhead Books 

Pages : 401 pages 

Goodreads Ratings : 4.25 ★

My Ratings : 5.0 ★

"For you, a thousand times over!"

I am really mad at myself because I'm talking too long to read this good book. It broke my heart so many times.The Kite Runner is about friendship, betrayal, war, family relationship, decision making. Those are strongly portrayed in this book. It is a very beautiful story. 

With strong opening, each characters background is very well described, Amir was fantastically developed throughout the story. Set in Afghanistan, the readers is welcomed with the inseparable friendship between Amir and Hassan. Though at some point, I hate Amir because of what he did to Hassan, (a Hazara, a friend and eventually Amir's half brother), which bring himself almost a lifetime guilt. Beauty. The phrases and words combined, as smooth as melted chocolate!

I love for its highs and lows and everything in between. Amir and his father, Baba migration to America, live quite a good life while in Afghanistan is chaos with Taliban. Fifteen twenty years past, married to Soraya and the demise of Baba. News from Rahim Khan and fly to Pakistan only to know Hassan was killed. Leaving Amir with another decision in to make. I'm glad it is great in the end. 

Some of powerful quotes in the book:

"Children aren't coloring books. You don't get to fill them with your favorite colors." 

"And the beggars were mostly children now, thin and grim-faced, some no older than five or six. They sat in the laps of their burque-clad mothers alongside gutters at busy street corners… Hardly any of them sat with an adult male - the war had made fathers a rare commodity in Afghanistan."

"I'm so afraid…. Because I'm so profoundly happy, Dr Rasul. Happiness like this is frightening. They only let you be this happy if they're preparing to take something from you."

I feel love, I feel hatred and horror, I feel love and hate and angry and i feel a lot more of love. I cried. I cried a lot for Hassan, The Kite Runner.

Review - Heartless by Marissa Meyer

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Fiction, Fantasy, YA

Edition : Paperback UK, Published November 17th 2016 by Macmillan Children's Books 

Pages : 450 pages 

Goodreads Ratings : 4.09 ★

My Ratings : 4.1 ★

I love this cover! Sorry I just need to say that.

Heartless, is a stand-alone novel, spin on some familiar characters from Alice's Adventure in Wonderland. It's an epic retelling focuses on the Queen of Hearts. 

Before Lady Catherine Pinkerton became the Queen of Hearts, she was just a girl who enjoys baking and sharing dreams of opening a bakery with her close friend, Mary Ann whom also Pinkerton's maid. Her mother however, Marchioness had a different ideas on her daughter's future, pushing her to marry the King of Hearts. As Cath struggles between pursuing her own dream and fulfilling her parents's dream, she finds herself falling for a complete stranger; new court joker of Hearts, Jest.

I really love the idea. We widely know that the Queen of Heart is the most hated character in Alice, who knows, she turned out to be just a girl who wanted to be loved. Meyer's characters are all familiar yet brand new. She successfully capture all the madness, the nonsense and the magic of the story we all know as a child years ago. She beautifully put on the spotlight on places and characters we never caught up before.

Heartless is told through Cath point of view, makes me really understand how she feels toward her dream and her love for Jest. Not to mention the heart pounding adventures she went through. I have to say that this is a slow-paced novel (I'm not very fond of slow-paced story), not until the Jabberwock second attack does the novel had my heart rate increased. All begins to unravel after that which makes it exciting. But credits need to be given. This slow-paced is where Meyer got to build her characters and places well. She really really takes time to build it!

From simple, nice, good-willed girl, Catherine Pinkerton changed to a Queen of Hearts full of fury. Off with their heads!

Review - To Kill A Mockingbird by Harper Lee

Assalamualaikum and good day!

Genre : Historical Fiction, Classic

Edition : Paperback, 50th Anniversary Edition

Pages : 309 pages

Goodreads Ratings : 4.25 ☆

My Ratings : 4.3 ☆

“Until I feared I would lose it, I never loved to read. One does not love breathing.” 

This story is sets in the 1930s and cover a span of three years. It revolves around a small family of three and a black housekeeper in the fictitious town of Maycomb, Alabama. Narrated by the character, Scout Finch who lives with her brother Jem and her father Atticus. Both siblings having trouble and instinctively understand Maycomb town and its people. Their curiosity grows as more adult mysteries become apparent to them. Boo (Arthur) Radley who never comes out from his out, yelling Mrs Dubose, weirdness of the Cunningham family, etc.

The siblings then discovery that their father is to represent a black man, Tom Robinson on the charge of raping and beating of a white woman, Mayella Ewells. Jem and Scout and their summer friend, Dill, soon get to attend the trial and bewildered by the jury's decision on the convict. Shortly after the trial, Tom had been killed in an escape attempt. Followed by few more incidents afterwards, the attack on the children and the Boo Radley appearance.

“First of all," he said, "if you can learn a simple trick, Scout, you'll get along a lot better with all kinds of folks. You never really understand a person until you consider things from his point of view--until you climb into his skin and walk around in it.” 

I'm loving the characters especially Atticus Finch who thinks all men are equal and should be treated equally. It is how he teaches his children of his view on people. He advise his children not to use racial slurs, a character that everyone who look up to. The first part of the book is full of humour and the daily routine of the children, school, playing, following their curiosity. Part two is more serious as we come to the part where the trial ongoing. I love how "wise" Atticus Finch word/dialogue in this story and the choice of word is so perfect and enthralling. I highly recommend this book to those who like classic and historical fiction.

Reading this book it's like watching  an old movie. Now, I'm going to search for the movie to watch. Toodles!

Harry Potter Series Collection

Assalamualaikum!

I start off with my favourite childhood readings..well, not exactly a child by that time hahaha! I was 12 years old...okay, yeah a child. I read Malay translated for first two books and moved on straight for 4th book (English) and confused myself in the middle. That would explain why I have 2 sets of 3rd and 4th books.

These are my precious. 

not going to do any review on it because 10 years past :') Some of them aged 12 - 13+ years old and it's gathering dust and yellowing on the shelf. 

I starred them 5 on Goodreads mainly for the reason of the story line and a touch of magic. But gosh! I was a child back then, I don't even know about reviewing a book. All I know was that the story was so good I sacrificed my TV time for it. Who doesn't like magic?

I must say that the eight story was a bit not J.K Rowling's. But it has to be because of the screenplay and only dialogue. It fits however, the story. Why it has to be a play rather than a novel.

Definitely going to pass down to my future child.