Liesl & Po

Author: Lauren Oliver

Format: Hardcover, 307 pages

Publisher: HarperCollins (October 4^th 2011)

Indonesian Publisher: Mizan Fantasy, 320 pages (April 2013)

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Liesl lives in a tiny attic bedroom, locked away by her cruel stepmother. Her only friends are the shadows and the mice, until one night a ghost appears from the darkness. It is Po, who comes from the Other Side. Both Liesl and Po are lonely, but together they are less alone.

That same night, an alchemist's apprentice, Will, bungles an important delivery. He accidentally switches a box containing the most powerful magic in the world with one containing something decidedly less remarkable.

Will's mistake has tremendous consequences for Liesl and Po, and it draws the three of them together on an extraordinary journey.

From New York Times bestselling author Lauren Oliver comes a luminous and magnificent novel that glows with rare magic, ghostly wonders, and a true friendship that lights even the darkest of places (https://www.goodreads.com/book/show/10425811-liesl-po?ac=1).

Review:

TIMELESS AND MAGICAL

This book is amazing, the illustrations are stunning, and the whole plot is unpredictable. One of my favorite children books ever. I cried many times while reading this book. It's heart-warming and funny at the same time. Made me missed my childhood and the adventures. Liesl is a strong little girl with all the difficulties come to her life. Neither has mother nor father and lives with her wicked step mother who locks her in the attic room in her own house. However, being friends with a ghost and his ghost cat-and-dog-alike pet (Po and Bundle), and Will (an Alchemist's student) makes her stronger. Together they take a long journey to bury Liesl father's ashes beside her mother's grave under a willow tree. The ending was very sad when Liesl has to be separated (again) with her father's spirit, Po, and Bundle. And the writer's note behind the book was.... very true.

“. . . Liesl & Po is the embodiment of what writing has always been for me at its purest and most basic - not a paycheck, certainly; not an idea, even; and not an escape. Actually, it is the opposite of an escape; it is a way back in, a way to enter and make sense of a world that occasionally seems harsh and terrible and mystifying, 

And, of course, it is a way of finding a happy ending - even, or especially, when the happy ending is denied me in real life. Let it be an escape for its readers. For me, it is a way of not letting go.”

I usually don't like horror genre, but the ghosts here are very adorable and nice, not frightening at all. This book is recommended to.... EVERYONE who loves children books. Salute to miss Oliver!!

Ally - All These Lives

Pengarang: Arleen A.

Format: Paperback, 264 hal.

Penerbit: Gramedia Pustaka Utama (Januari 2015)

Novel karya Arleen A. ini berkisah tentang seorang anak perempuan bernama Ally yang merasa memiliki kelainan. Saya mengatakan merasa karena hanya dia sendiri yang menyadarinya, sedangkan orang lain di sekitarnya tidak bisa menjelaskan keadaan tersebut, termasuk kedua orang tuanya. Ally pertama kali merasakan keanehan pada usia 10 tahun, dimana dia masih menjadi anak tunggal. Tetapi, hanya dalam beberapa menit segalanya berubah, dia tiba-tiba telah memiliki seorang adik berusia sekitar 5 tahun bernama Albert. Seolah-olah dirinya telah melewati beberapa tahun ke depan tanpa menyadarinya, seperti memasuki mesin waktu (kalau hal tersebut benar-benar ada). Orang tuanya yang merasa panik membawa Ally ke beberapa psikiater, namun tidak ada satupun dari mereka yang dapat menjelaskan keadaan Ally.

Kemudian pada saat Ally sudah bisa menerima keberadaan adik (tiba-tiba)nya, perubahan kedua terjadi. Saat itu Ally sudah duduk di bangku SMA. Setelah melewati fase seperti yang dialaminya pada perubahan pertama (yaitu seperti ada semut yang berjalan di tubuhnya), dia kembali harus menerima kenyataan aneh. Adiknya ternyata sudah meninggal dunia. Keadaan ini kembali mengejutkan Ally.

Dari dua chapter pertama yang saya baca, saya menarik kesimpulan bahwa novel ini akan menjadi karya yang hebat. Saya terlalu penasaran tentang kelanjutan ceritanya, serta detail-detail tentang kelainan yang dimiliki oleh Ally. Apakah itu hanya perasaannya, alam bawah sadarnya, atau dia memang memiliki penyakit yang belum teridentifikasi. Akan tetapi, ada beberapa hal yang membuat saya bertanya-tanya: 1) Apakah Ally - All These Lives adalah novel karya pengarang Indonesia? Kalau iya, berarti ini adalah novel karya anak bangsa pertama yang benar-benar saya nikmati karena sangat berbeda dari novel Indonesia kebanyakan. Gaya penulisannya juga sangat menarik dan profesional. Saya sudah pernah mencari di Google perihal novel ini dan berharap bahwa ini adalah novel terbitan luar negeri yang akan diterjemahkan oleh Gramedia. Dengan begitu saya bisa menuntaskan rasa penasaran saya akan kisah Ally selanjutnya. Tetapi satu-satunya informasi yang saya temukan adalah ringkasan cerita, harga buku, dan tanggal terbit dari website Gramedia. 2) Di mana novel ini mengambil latar? Karena dari yang saya baca kotanya bernama Mountain View dan sangat jelas kalau bukan berlatar di Indonesia.

Kalaupun saya tidak memenangkan satu buku bertandatangan pengarang, saya tetap akan membeli sendiri di Gramedia pada hari pertama rilis karena buku ini memang layak ditunggu dan dimiliki ^_^.

Juliet by Anne Fortier

Author: Anne Fortier

Format: Paperback, 480 pages

Publisher: Ballantine Books (July 26, 2011)

Indonesian Publisher: Qanita (February 2012)

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

Juliet, an ambitious, utterly engaging historical novel on the scale of The Thirteenth Tale and The Birth of Venus, follows a young woman who discovers that her family’s origins reach all the way back to literature’s greatest star-crossed lovers.

When Julie Jacobs inherits a key to a safety-deposit box in Siena, Italy, she is told it will lead her to an old family treasure. Soon she is launched on a winding and perilous journey into the history of her ancestor Giulietta, whose legendary love for a young man named Romeo rocked the foundations of medieval Siena. As Julie crosses paths with the descendants of the families involved in Shakespeare’s unforgettable blood feud, she begins to realize that the notorious curse—“A plague on both your houses!”—is still at work, and that she is the next target. It seems that the only one who can save Julie from her fate is Romeo—but where is he? (http://www.annefortier.com/juliet/)

Review:

JULIET is the first novel by a Danish American author, Anne Fortier. This is the most amazing Historical Fiction I have ever read.

A Golden Web

Author: Barbara Quick

Format: Hardcover, 272 pages

Publisher: HarperTeen (April 6, 2010)

Indonesian Publisher: Atria (March 2011)

Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

What does a girl do when she finds the love of her life while disguised as a boy—when divulging her secret could cause her to be burned at the stake as a witch?

In Medieval Emilia-Romagna, girls are powerless to choose or change their fate—and yet Alessandra, brilliant and brave, is determined to find a way. Disguising her gender, she sets out to infiltrate and conquer the all-male world of medical school.

In this exquisite retelling of a centuries-old story, Alessandra Giliani, the world’s first female anatomist, claims her rightful place among our most endearing and enduring heroines.

Researched with the same meticulous care and rendered with the same vividness and poignancy as her internationally bestselling novel Vivaldi’s Virgins, Barbara Quick’s first young adult title is a tale to encourage and inspire readers of all ages. (http://www.barbaraquick.com/agoldenweb.html)

Review:

Another great historical fiction work. I always appreciate this genre, especially the author. Moreover, Miss Quick also touches gender inequality as the main theme. As the main character, Alessandra fights really hard to pursuit her dream that is to get to school and become a doctor, which is impossible for women at the 14th century of Italy. She is not only must run away from home, but also dress up and act like a man. However, this is kind of a happy ending story where Alessandra gets her dream, family (back), and true love in the end of the story. I would love to give it 5 stars, undoubtedly.

Indonesian version (Atria, March 2011)

From Venus to Mars and Back

Author: Angus N. Hunter
Format: Paperback, 176 pages
Publisher: Destiny Image (November 1, 2009)
Indonesian Publisher: Visi Press (July 2011)
Rating: 5 out of 5

Synopsis:

This book clarifies gender issues and ends all doubt as to what God had in mind when He made you as He did. For individual or group study for young people and adults, From Venus to Mars and Back explores thought-provoking concepts and insights about gender and sexual identity. Its truths urge you into contemplation about who you are and why you are. Paul, in his letter to the Ephesians, refers to human sexuality as a great mystery.This book helps you to consider that mystery. It explores God s intentions for masculinity and femininity on a level that includes and transcends the material and physical universe. It reveals emotional and spiritual issues that mere rationalism cannot begin to address such as: What do the words masculinity and femininity mean emotionally and spiritually? What was God thinking about when He created sexuality? What does being created as man or woman tell us about who we are? What does our being created male and female as expressions of the very image of God tell us about God and who He is? What does our sexuality symbolize? This is a book about God and His redemptive ways of restoring His image in His fallen and bent children. (http://www.amazon.com/From-Venus-Mars-Back-Means/dp/0768431174)

Review:

It is really a great book, well-observed and well-executed. I highly recommend this book to every young readers whose still figure out who they really are, who they want to be, and what they are created for. The author tells us what God's intention by creating us as men and women. Mr. Angus explicitly shows us that masculinity in theology is not only about man's authority. It is a symbol to describe Jesus as the only leader and the church (everyone, men or women) is His bride (feminine). This book also contains some quotes from C.S. Lewis whose one of his book entitled Perelandra became the starting point for making From Venus to Mars and Back possible.

N.B.: I read the Indonesian version of this book, and I found it rather difficult to understand. So, I suggest you to read the original version. I really love the Pepperoni Pizza parable that grafted in this book.

Indonesian Version (Visi Press, July 2009)

"What's In a Name?" William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet” - William Shakespeare (Romeo and Juliet)

"A rose by any other name would smell as sweet" is a frequently referenced part of William Shakespeare's play Romeo and Juliet, in which Juliet seems to argue that it does not matter that Romeo is from her rival's house of Montague, that is, that he is named "Montague." The reference is often used to imply that the names of things do not affect what they really are.

(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/A_rose_by_any_other_name_would_smell_as_sweet)

In Act II, Scene II of the play, the line is said by Juliet in reference to Romeo's house, Montague which would imply that his name means nothing and they should be together.

Juliet:

O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?
Deny thy father and refuse thy name;
Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,
And I'll no longer be a Capulet.

Romeo:

[Aside] Shall I hear more, or shall I speak at this?

Juliet:

'Tis but thy name that is my enemy;
Thou art thyself, though not a Montague.
What's Montague? it is nor hand, nor foot,
Nor arm, nor face, nor any other part
Belonging to a man. O, be some other name!
What's in a name? that which we call a rose
By any other name would smell as sweet;
So Romeo would, were he not Romeo call'd,
Retain that dear perfection which he owes
Without that title. Romeo, doff thy name,
And for that name which is no part of thee
Take all myself.

Romeo:

I take thee at thy word:
Call me but love, and I'll be new baptized;
Henceforth I never will be Romeo.

I don't like Romeo and Juliet, but I love some quotes in it. Like the one above. I don't like Romeo because I think he is too coward and childish. Maybe because his age which only 17. I don't know why I review Romeo and Juliet here. This is just not the right post. Haha!!

Miss Billy

Author: Eleanor H. Porter

Format: Paperback, 136 pages

Publisher: Echo Library (October 4, 2006)

First Published: 1911

Indonesian Publisher: Orange Books (April 2011)

Rating: 2 out of 5

Synopsis:

Mr. Neilson was determined to name his first child after his boyhood chum, William Henshaw. When the baby disappointed him by being a girl, he was consoled by naming her Billy. Miss Billy, now 18, orphaned and all alone in the world, takes her lawyer's suggestion to ask her namesake to take her in. Only one problem - Mr. Henshaw did not know of her existence, and then mistakenly thinks that Billy is a boy!

Eleanor H. Potter was an early 20th century author of children's literature and novels. Her most well-known book was "Pollyanna" and its sequel, "Pollyanna Grows Up". (Summary by Maria Therese http://www.loyalbooks.com/book/Miss-Billy-Eleanor-Porter)

Indonesian Version (Orange Books, April 2011) 

Review:

There are too many male characters in the novel, but somehow, there is none of them I want to marry with. William is too old (since he is Billy's father's old friend), Bertram is too talkative, Cyril is too introvert, and Calderwell?? Well, he's just fine (from author's description: good-looking, wealth, and one of Billy's guardian angel kind of man). However, I could not find myself have an interest with him. Billy herself is too young to have a romantic relationship with one of these men. As my personal opinion, a novel cannot be classified as a romance if there is no proper male character in it.