Indonesians Who Love English Books discussion

Well, lord of the flies is a classic. How do you like it so far? Unfortunately, that book and chinua achebe's things fall apart are one of the few books that I ab-so-lute-ly despise. Mostly because those were required reading for my english class in high school, and after several sessions of looking for deeper meaning, making analysis papers longer than the book itself, and interpreting social commentaries from phrases in the book, I was oh so close to burning those damn books. Haha.. but classics are classics for a reason. I hope you found more joy in it than I did.

@Rachel, I decided to read A Monster Calls, it was quite short, around 200 pages with illustration. Awesome illustrations I must say, I dig it.
So far so good, and like other Ness' books, I bet this one will wretch my heart and torn in into pieces as well.

Is it available in Indonesian bookstores, Lynossa?

It's not yet released, Rachel. I got the galley from netgalley, which you should try if you like reviewing books and okay with reading ebook.
I got tons of awesome books from netgalley. Those galleys are protected ebooks though so you can only read it on adobe digital editions (or other platforms compatible for it) and until certain period of time.

@Jati LOL. Fortunately this is my first time to read the book, so i will say i definitely enjoy this more than you did. If i were you, probably i'd ripped this book off and burn it into ashes. What are you reading now?

Hi, I'm new to this group. Love to read YA, Dystopian, Realistic Fiction, Thriller and Adult books. Right now I'm reading Still Life With Crows by Preston & Child. It's a thriller book.

Rindya wrote: "Hi, I'm new to this group. Love to read YA, Dystopian, Realistic Fiction, Thriller and Adult books. Right now I'm reading Still Life With Crows by Preston & Child. It's a thriller book."

ooohh.. i love preston/child's Pendergast stories. especially the one off stories before they decided to focus on Pendergast himself. how do you like it so far? it's definitely one of my all time favourite.

Still life with crows is the fifth book from Preston & Child that I've read. So far I like the Pendergast series. Pendergast is such a cool guy, I'm still trying to figure out the way he thinks :-) .

agree. Pendergast is definitely one of the most intriguing characters i've read. that series is one of the only books i've shelled out money for to get a hardcover version. i started a couple years ago with 'reliquary' and have been hooked ever since. :D

Lynossa wrote: "I just finished with The Stranger You Seek and now I'm waiting for the book we're going to read this month but if we couldn't decide it, I probably will read A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness. "

I love A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, he's one of my favorite authors. Have you read his chaos walking trilogy? Sooo Good!!!!!!

Rindya wrote: I love A Monster Calls by Patrick Ness, he's one of my favorite authors. Have you read his chaos walking trilogy? Sooo Good!!!!!!

Yes, I've read Chaos Walking series and those books were killing me! I cried on public because of The Knife of Letting Go, especially, you know, Manchee.
A Monster Calls is also awesome, I haven't written my review yet on that book but I got to say it stabbed me right in the heart.

Lynossa wrote: "Yes, I've read Chaos Walking series and those books were killing me! I cried on public because of The Knife of Letting Go, especially, you know, Manchee."

Manchee, yes!!! I cried too. Todd... Todd... (best friend ever!!!)
His books tend to be dark and grey. No black and white story, but so meaningful. It makes you think twice before you judge/do something.

Lynossa, I saw that you're reading Graceling! I know you don't like romance, and Graceling definitely has some, but I'm really hoping you'll like it!

Rindya wrote: "Manchee, yes!!! I cried too. Todd... Todd... (best friend ever!!!)
His books tend to be dark and grey. No black and white story, but so meaningful. It makes you think twice before you judge/do something."

I keep imagining the way Machee would call Todd in my head, it's such a heartbreaking story! I almost decided not going to read The Ask and The Answer, afraid I'm going to cry like a sappy girl again.
You're right! That's why I love Patrick Ness.

Rachel wrote: "Lynossa, I saw that you're reading Graceling! I know you don't like romance, and Graceling definitely has some, but I'm really hoping you'll like it!"

My friend managed to convince me that despite it has romance, there's no damsel in distress moment (which I hate the most), that's why I decided to read it. So far I enjoy it, and Po is starting to grow in me (even though at first I'm rotting for Giddon, I always have a thing for side-kick).

Ooo Giddon, I felt bad for him because he liked her quite a bit, didn't he?

Tell me what you think of the ending, I loved it. :)

Yes, poor Giddon, will he find someone? No, don't answer that >.>

Btw has anyone read Going Bovine by Libba Bay?

Lynossa wrote: "Yes, poor Giddon, will he find someone? No, don't answer that >.>

Btw has anyone read Going Bovine by Libba Bay?"

I've heard mix reviews about this book. One of my friends adores this book, the other one said it was too bizarre for her. I've decided to read it sooomeday, but I read her other books, the series. It's okay.

Rindya wrote: "I've heard mix reviews about this book. One of my friends adores this book, the other one said it was too bizarre for her. I've decided to read it sooomeday, but I read her other books, the series. It's okay. "

I just bought the book from TBD because my friend said if I like humorous book, I probably will love this book. Rindya, you like YA right? Have you read The Perks of Being a Wallflower? I love it!

Lynossa wrote: "I just bought the book from TBD because my friend said if I like humorous book, I probably will love this book. Rindya, you like YA right? Have you read The Perks of Being a Wallflower? I love it!"

No, I haven't. I've seen it in Goodreads though. By only reading the title, it looks like a chicklit book :-). If you like The Perks of Being a Wallflower, you're going to like Carter finally gets it, same ideas. Have you read The Maze Runner? It's another dystopian series that worth to read (even though the 2nd book is not that good).

Not at all, it's based on a guy pov, Charlie, and how he navigates through first year in high school and dealing with his own mental problem.
I've been meaning to read that, but there's always another book to read. Perhaps I should add that to my next TBD shopping spree but I'm planning to have book-shopping ban for the next few months >.>

I've just finished Confessions of A Shopaholic and The Last Empress. I've just started reading an English book lately. I always had this plan in the past, but recently I decided to really work on it or else I would never read an English book anymore.

To tell you the truth, I enjoy the experience :)

Perks of Being a Wallflower is AWESOME! Maybe our next genre should be a coming-of-age book.

Rachel wrote: "Perks of Being a Wallflower is AWESOME! Maybe our next genre should be a coming-of-age book."

Agree! I like coming-of-age a lot! Fantasy or contemporary, love it. Btw, has anyone read Sophie's World? It's a philosophy and coming-of-age novel. I've read the Indo version and planning to read the Eng version soon.

I'm still reading Graceling for now but my order from TBD has just arrived and most of them are coming-of-age books, so I'll be happy if we're going to read that after the humorous book.

@Jati: I just finished reading Still life with crows. It brings more questions about Pendergast. The picture book (on the last page) and that 'person' inside Enoch Leng's house. Are there any explanations on the next book, Brimstone? I read brimstone 4 or 5 years ago, I only remember that it was good and something about cult. Should I read it again?

reading it again is always a good idea. hahaha.. the thing about the pendergast series is that they tend to put little tidbits that you might miss if you focus only on the main case. but no, not much about that person in Leng's house. (i'm trying not to do spoilers here, but its pretty hard). Brimstone is book one of the Diogenes trilogy i think, and it might be a bit confusing if you jump directly to Dances of Death. there will be more about that person on Dances of Death though..

Jati wrote: "reading it again is always a good idea. hahaha.. the thing about the pendergast series is that they tend to put little tidbits that you might miss if you focus only on the main case. but no, not mu..."

Thanks, I think I will read it again after a senior checks it in back to the library. Meanwhile, I'm going to read Matched by Ally Condie.

Matched by Ally Condie is such a disappointment though. However that being said, I'll still be reading the next one. LOL.

@Rachel: you're right, Matched is a major disappointment. I thought it's going to be as good as Birthmarked, turns out meh, badly written.... flat. I haven't finished yet, put it aside and been reading another book.

@Jati: Where did you get Dance of Death? I browsed periplus and TGA website, they don't sell it. Did you buy it from kinokuniya?I wish I live in Jakarta. I wonder why kinokuniya doesn't have online store just like other branches in Singapore or Kuala Lumpur?

yes, i did get it from kinokuniya. at thet time they only had 2 copies, and a hardcover at that. i could check if they have the paperback by now if you want. but that will probably be tomorrow afternoon at least.

Jati wrote: "yes, i did get it from kinokuniya. at thet time they only had 2 copies, and a hardcover at that. i could check if they have the paperback by now if you want. but that will probably be tomorrow afte..."

Don't bother, but thanks anyway. I have kinokuniya's contact person, I'll email him on Monday.

I just finished the power of six ( Pittacus Lore )and now I am reading the fire by James Paterson.

How was the Power of Six? I have a weird relationship with I Am Number 4 and I've been on the fence about reading the Power of Six. Did you like it?

Waiting for the October read while juggling between two books. I've decided to pause on Graceling for awhile because my order has arrived and one of them is A Mango-Shaped Space by Wendy Mass, which is a good coming-of-age book.

I get the feeling you're not really feeling Graceling, haha.

Rachel wrote: "I get the feeling you're not really feeling Graceling, haha."

Hahhaa, you got me. I guess if it emphasize more on action and plot, less on romance I will enjoy it more. But I quite like it and I'll continue it again now that I've finished with A Mango-Shaped Space.

@Rachel : overall it's lil better than before .. But the changes of pov made the stories had plot hole.. And the ending is (-_-")

Finished read fang again.. And wth with angel... I can't find it. So for now I will read hunger and lies by Michael grant again..

One Day by David Nicholls, I hope it's good cause I'm not naturally a romance reader... ;)

Hey Melisa, do tell us what you think of One Day. I've been thinking of trying out David Nicholls' books myself, hehe.

Wow, Rachel & Jati, so glad to finally found Indonesians who already read/currently reading A Dance with Dragons and follow ASOIAF series!

I was hooked up with the series since the first time I watched Game of Thrones. Damn, this series makes LOTR seems so pale :D

Mbak Sil, i'm so very glad to find yet another fan of ASOIAF. but surely you're a bit hard on Tolkien. hahaha.. I would say that they are certainly on a different focus. Tolkien certainly did his world building better, but Martin has more subtlety and intricacy in the plot.

-start pointless rant-

also, when i read LoTR the books are all there aand just waiting for me to read them i didnt have to wait an ungodly amount of YEARS for the next installment(i'm talking about YOU G.R.R.Martin, you bastard). how far have you gone on with the books?

also, if you like ASOIAF, i'd recommend Way of Kings by Brandon Sanderson. i didnt expect it, but for me, that one is even better than ASOIAF. and i'm a somewhat jaded fantasy reader. warning though, the first volume is over 1000 pages. but so worth it.

-end pointless rant-

*high-fives Sil!* I am yet to start A Dance with Dragons though; it is currently sitting nicely in my bookshelf. It's so thick, I'm intimidated by it! LOL. It requires a tremendous amount of commitment so I'm waiting for the right time to read it. And just like you, I was hooked since the first ep of Game of Thrones.

Jati, is that the ten or so forth book series that you recommended to me? @_@

why yes rachel, that is the book, and until i find something better, it will continue to be the top fantasy book i've read in the last 5 years or so. now just to find someone to share the suffering of waitng for the next installments. :D

Hi, I see that some of you are reading and liking ASOIAF. I have lots of friends who love the series too. Unfortunately only a few of them are here on goodreads.

I don't read the books but have watched the TV series season 1. I quite like it, lots of intrigues and interesting characters, but it didn't make me want to read the books. :D I don't know. Do you think it's better for me to read the books instead of watch the TV series? :)

About what I'm reading right now, I just bought The Ring of Solomon (Bartimaeus #4) by Jonathan Stroud so I will soon start reading it.

The ring of solomon is also on my to read list. I love Ptolemy's Gate so much, I shed a tear reading that book.

I hope The Ring of Solomon would be as good.

Citra wrote: "The ring of solomon is also on my to read list. I love Ptolemy's Gate so much, I shed a tear reading that book.

I hope The Ring of Solomon would be as good."

I love all 3 books of Bartimaeus and the end of book 3 was just sad. And yes, I do hope so too about the 4th book. :) *fingerscrossed*

I've read The Ring of Solomon, it was pretty good albeit not as good as the series.
Bartimaeus's still funny and sarcastic as usual, that's for sure.

Lynossa wrote: "I've read The Ring of Solomon, it was pretty good albeit not as good as the series.
Bartimaeus's still funny and sarcastic as usual, that's for sure."

Hehehe.. Well at least Barti stays the same. :D Ugh, I have to finish 1 book first before I can start with this one.

I'm reading : History of God, Knowing God, and The Executive Architect, they are all textbooks and i got bored...then i read the five greatest warriors..it's a novel and i feel refreshed HAHA!! Long live Novel!!

The Son of Neptune and Ready Player One. Read those two while waiting for thesis presentation (finally :P)

I got bored by just reading the titles of your text books, David. Long live novels, indeed! hahaha.

Hey, goodluck with your thesis presentation, Asfarian! I just did mine a couple of months ago, so I can totally relate.