Indonesians Who Love English Books discussion

@Ren: Oh, yes. I noticed she offered free books for people who voted for her. That was you meant by strategy, I see now :p

Well, I'm a woman too, that's why I don't really like passive heroine, or worse, the one who only cried (well, usually on manga). Indeed not all heroine are passive, but there are a great deal of them. Usually in historical romance, but not all of course. Also some in the other genres. But the kick-ass heroine usually were in urban fantasy genre, I think.

Off the topic, is your name "Ren" came from Ren Tsuruga of Skip Beat? Just curious :p

@Alexandria : I've got people recommended me lot of books and it made my TBR list become TMTBR (too many to be read) and 'In Death' series become less my priority. I was planning working on 'Boonsboro Inn', but due to lack of positive review, I decide to put it aside for awhile.

Nope, I haven't read IGYN, just got it days ago. And your review made it push aside back down in my TBR.

I also almost abandon Butch's story, and struggle with V's (less romance equal less motivation).

@Ren : Yeah, Julie James is good and good (well, that's good marketing strategy) . All her books (only 4 so far) have very good rating and was best seller, so frankly she is talented.

I loved Naked Traveler!!!!!

@Matthew & Ren : I agree with u Ren. Battle Royal is gory and sadist. Plainly it's dark story. Hunger Games much lighter and sweeter than BR.

Just finished The Graveyard Book and went through emotion rollercoaster. Might pick a book from Neil Gaiman again sometime in the future :)

I'm now reading Howl's Moving Castle.

Jane wrote: "Just finished The Graveyard Book and went through emotion rollercoaster. Might pick a book from Neil Gaiman again sometime in the future :)"

You should try American Gods - it's quite a fun read. :)

I've just started reading Grimm's Fairy Stories.

Bloodfever by Karen Marie Moning. I'm going through this series quite fast.

Juggling between An Abundance of Katherines and The Dust of 100 Dogs, so far AAoK is John Green's book I like the least, but that doesn't mean it's not good. I just like the others more.

Edit: @Jane, I love Howl's Moving Castle. Have you watched the anime? It's different from the book but still likeable (however the book is much better)

@Rachel : Few friends mention Moning's Fever series (they said it was re-read kind a book), and you made me more and more curious. How was it so far? Was it real good?

@Aini: Will do :) Added onto my to-read list. Thank you!

@Lynossa: No, I haven't. Is it like, real anime? Or just animation like Disney? :D

@Alexandria : Yes, I agree. Most of active heroines can found at Urban Fantasy, and Paranormal Romance as well. For historical and contemporary, sometimes it depends. Maybe what we thought she not strong enough, others not think like that.

As for Ren, this is my real name =). Actually, its nickname ;). Ren Tsuruga yes? I miss read Skip Beat, LOL!

@Adisty : James write so good for contemporary romance, but not so much for the suspense =). I prefer others work, like Linda Howard, Sandra Brown or Nora Roberts.
And for Hunger Games, Collins once said, she never know about Battle Royale when she first write THG. Its just coincidence. Before Battle Royale, there are a classic book, I forgot the title, that have the same premise.

@Rachel : Ahh, Bloodfever. I had read it, and its good actually. A new twist about Ireland and Celt lore. Hope its truly made into movie

I read Nice Girls Don't Have Fangsby Molly Harper

@Jane, Anime made by Studio Ghibi, famous Japanese animation production house. I think it won an award. I have the pirated hardsub copy, lol.

@Ren : I big fan of Linda Howard, I yearn for her new installment (too bad her health prevented her for published new book).
Huh, classic book with same premise as BR???

@Lynossa: Will soon follow your example, Ma'am ;) I have two movies I've downloaded but haven't watched yet; Zathura and Journey to the Center of the Earth (Yes, Josh Hutcherson, that was my motive). Has anyone read Journey to the Center of the Earth yet? :)

@Adisty: Yes, it's actually quite good! I'm surprised at how into it I am. The two I have read of the series, I finished them in one day. It's such a fast read, full of suspense, mystery and supernaturals! And it has just the enough amount of romance for me to really get hooked on it.

@Ren: Are there plans to make it into a movie?

@Adisty : Too bad her new books not good like her old ones. I kinda missing her early books that make me hooked and delved into romance genre

Umm, i believe its Lord of Flies. The same theme with THG is the young people who kill each other in order to survive. I'm not read it yet, just read the reviews about that book

@Rachel : Last time I check, Dreamswork or Paramount plan to make it into movie. And called it "Twilight for Adult" (duh!)

Been swamped at work. Plus, tax filing season!
Anyway, just finished The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, now few pages into World War Z: An Oral History of the Zombie War

Yo, how's everybody doing?

@Rachel : Humm you tick me off here.. I guess I have to put it in my TBR. Should I read the series in proper order? or it was stand alone? Thx for the recommendation.

@Ren :I agree with you there. Her recent books not really being up to her usual goodness, and no longer unforgettable.

Seriously, Twilight for adult? LOL. The title more well suited for "fifty shades trilogy" (which also planned to make it into the movie)

yay! i'm doing my taxes here as well! oh the joy! blagh..

@Reza: where'd you get the world war z from? is it any good?

@Ren: I fail to see the similarity between THG and lord of the flies. and i really would recommend anyone who sees romance in lord of the flies have their head checked right away. lol. it was not a fun book to read.

@Jane: i borrowed a copy of Journey to the Center of The Earth from my high school library a looong time ago. i remembered it was a fun read. fanciful, light, but not too out there in theories.verne was one of my big favorites back then. actually, still is, i think.

@Jati : I just read the reviews of Lord of Flies, not the book itself and I think the theme with THG kinda a little bit same. About young people who kill each other to survive. And I'm never said about the romance aspect. THG itself can be disturbing for some people and not fun too. As for romance, THG not too heavy at romance. Its more like tragedy.


@Adisty : To answer about Fever, it must read in order. Can't read stand alone since there always big cliffhanger, esp book 3 and 4

Fifty Shades trilogy huh? I don't want to read it, since there are an ick factor. Beside the idiom "Mommy porn" kinda make me irritated. Like if Mommy reading porn are wrong while its okay for Daddy to watch blue film

@Jati: Cant tell u yet, I'm only few pages in. Go ask Matthew. Had it for a while from Kino PS, but cant remember whether I ordered it or picked it up from the shelf.

@Ren: yeah i know you didnt say romance in Lord of the Flies, but seriously, romance is a massive component in THG no? also, if you think THG is disturbing, try Lord of the Flies. that book is demented. kids stranded on an island, started bullying each other, worshipped a pig's head on a stick, heard voices, kills each other. dangers of bullying y'all..

@Ren : I check Lord of Flies, not similar but I guess it had the same basic premise. From the reviews I guess Golding really made an horrifying books with such complexity. I put it in my TBR list though.

Haha, I read Fifty Shades b/c I like the cover and it was nominated in GR awards. Geeez how I'm shocked when I read it (my first ecounter w/ that kind of theme). Only afterward I realize how booming the book was and all the buzz 'bout twilight fan fiction.

Just bought and currently reading [book : The Count of Monte Cristo]

@Jati : Nope. I don't think romance is a big component of THG. You also failed to see what I want to show by compare THG with Lord of the Flies. I compare it because people always said Collins take of Battle Royale's concept. While before Battle Royale, there some books that have same basic premise.

And do you have problem with romance? I never compare romance aspect between THG and Lord of The Flies, since I know Lord of the Flies is classic. Yet, you always mention it at your comment.

@Adisty : Yes, I read Lord of The Flies reviews too. One of my GR friends said the book is disturbing, so I don't want to read it. Heck, even I don't want to watch Battle Royale. Once I read the manga and almost puke when read it.

As for BDSM theme, I'd read one or two, and not my favorite either, LOL!

@Ren: huh? what? i feel like i'm missing something here. anyways, i do agree that battle royale does have similarities to Lord of the Flies i terms of the guerilla killfest. of course, Goldwing plays more on the figurative and psychological narrative compared to the straight shot to the eye that Battle Royale has.

also, romance is fine when taken in moderation, i guess. also i do love quite a few classic romances. just because they're classic doesnt mean they dont have romance. :p

@Jati : you said romance is massive component at THG, while I see the otherwise :) . The romance is little if we compare it to the tragedy and main theme of THG. I once read a review that reviewers said THG remind her of Lord of The Flies. And when I read Lord of The Flies reviews, the premise kinda same. That's all :)

@Ren: well that clears things up. lol.

to each their own. i guess. haha..

@Ren : Yes, it also made me cringe with all the brutal scene in BR. I wouldn't say I like it, but I fascinated w/ the story. It's part of the challenge :-)

Yeah I'm not really into it w/ bdsm theme (but overall the fifty shades story was great). It's like reading something taboo. The same feeling I get when I read Lolita, disturbing yet I couldn't put it down.

@Jati: Yeah BR it's about brutal action as the main course.
Wow, you like classic romance? Rare to meet a guy who like classic romance. I once dare my male friends to read Austen books and they gave me "yuck" expression.

@Adisty: i am comfortable with my masculinity and general badassery.

besides, i dont like ALL classic romance. just the few which manages to touch my heart, moved my soul and brought tears to my masculine manly man eyes.

@Jati : Ow, those were such a sweet words Jati, very poetic, salute for you, manly bad-ass teary guy. LOL. So, would you read Austen's or Bronte's books?? :-)

@Adisty: i've done my sense and sensibility and jane eyre. wuthering heights, and great gatsby are really good. and louisa may alcott has got two of my all time favourite classics. i have to admit that after those books, i get a little jaded. the few new ones that i actually chanced in buying really couldnt hold their own compared to those books. although it's obvious that's not really a fair comparison. lol.

@Jati : ow, even I haven't put my finger on Fitzgerald's. I adore Alcott's Little Woman, such a sweet and wonderful story, Eight Cousins also pretty good. What's your fave of Alcott's?

i have two copies of little women and a copy of little men. i absolutely adore little men. wait. no, that sounds wrong. i love little men? huh.

anyways, the story in little men was just exceptional. it's about Jo's life ater little women, and the children left in her care. it's like a heartfelt realistic beautiful enid blyton type tale for the more mature audiences. and manly men.

@Jati : Yes, to each of their own =). Hope I'd explain it well.

As for classic, I admit the one and only classic I'd read are Narnia Chronicles. But I don't know its considered as classic or not. Just so difficult to understand the languange (and I read the translated version!)

@Adisty : I read some erotica titles. Not all bad actually. Just need some.. open mind ;). But that's genre definitely not for all audience. Sometimes it can be disturbing too.
The problem with Fifty Shades actually, its Twilight fan fic. For the first the author used Bella and Edward as the character, then when its published widely she choose to change the name.
I think all people already know about this, but its still shocked me to know how high the hype for Fifty Shades

@Jati: LOL. Oh dear, ur reply made me laugh so hard. I didn't know Little men was about Jo's life. Damn, how can I miss it.

@Ren: I also read erotica, and I like some of it. But if the main story was about bdsm, it's just too disturbing. After I read fifty shades I tried another book with bdsm as main theme (to satisfy my curiosity) and I ended it with frowned in my face. I tried being open minded (even the dark theme with non-con element) and not being hypocrite, but it mess my head real bad. Btw, Andrew Shaffer's fifty shades parody really really absurd and amusing.

@Ren: Ugh, Twilight for adults? Really, now? Don't they know that 'Twilight' is now a negative connotation?

@Adisty: Hope you'll like it! I suggest you read it in order, because it all connects. I mean sure each book has a prologue recap chapter, but it's better to read the book in its' entirety than just one-off chapters.

And what is going with this 50 shades bla book? My interest is piqued mostly because of all the media attention, but is it even any good?

And talking about classics, Jane Eyre, Sense and Sensibility and The Great Gatsby are my favourites! I don't know how I feel about Wuthering Heights; very tortured, but didn't really get into it.

@Adhisty : I think I will read Andrew's version. I really dislike everything that related to Twilight. And an ick factor of Fifty make me rethinking for that novel to be categorized into romance.

@Ren : LOLOLOL!!! Oh my I don't hate Twilight, but I do agree its negative connotation, LOL! Maybe the fact because Mac torn between Barrons and V'Lane, so its make it into love triangles? But then Mac will stake the sparkly vampire that is Edward in 1 second flat ;)

i like Austen. read her works in early college days.

this is good and this one hilarious!

@Ren: But almost EVERYTHING has love triangles, and besides I don't really think there's a tringle going in these MAC books. I mean sure, V'lane told her to choose - his words "Accept me or kill me, MacKayla. But choose. Just f*cking choose" which really made me swoon - but really, we know who is end game here, and I don't think Mac was ever torn between the two feelings-wise. So a no - no on the 'Twilight' for adult things.

Enough ranting, LOL. Almost finished Shadowfever, and I still have so many questions! I completely fell in love with this series.

@Rachel : It seems like everything now related to Twilight. Make me really pissed of, LOL!

Okay, enough for Fever series, I still need to continue read it. Hope can start reading Bloodfever this month ;)

Just finish reading Angels' Flight by Nalini Singh (which I doubt will be translated) and With Good Behavior by Jennifer Lane. With Good behavior make me want to cry and its amazed me to know how America's law system work

Oh, I thought you've read the whole thing! Man, my mind can't really keep up with everything that's going on around me >.<

I hope I've not given anything away! Anyway, enjoy! I loved the series. It was sooomeee ride.

Any chance we're reading erotica for the next group read?

The reason I asked is because I stumbled upon this book by Kawabata: House of the Sleeping Beauties and Other Stories.

I still need to hunt the book down, though. Can't even get it in bloody Kindle edition.

You know, Erotica is a pretty good idea. It's out of the box, and I think lots of us will get a kick out of it, one way or another.

Taking it into consideration.

Thanks Coqueline!

Finally finished with An Abundance of Katherines. I'm right; this is John Green's I like the least. It's pretty good but lack of things that made me love Paper Towns and Looking for Alaska (or TFIOS).
Now I'm reading The Girl of Fire and Thorns, so far it's pretty good, not special but good.

And I'm reading Under the Never Sky by Veronica Rossi. I have no idea why I keep reading dystopian YA, it's not like I love them. After a while the concept just gets old and overused. Still not sure how I feel about this one; a bit more magical then some. But we'll see.

You right, Rachel. The concept is more or less similar, that's why I haven't read any dystopian YA again after I finished with Divergent. And actually I got a little tired of YA, I think once I'm done with my current reading, I will venture to other genres.

Rachel wrote: "You know, Erotica is a pretty good idea. It's out of the box, and I think lots of us will get a kick out of it, one way or another.

Taking it into consideration.

Thanks Coqueline!"

As for Erotica, we will read erotica with romance ones or not? I prefer reading erotica with romance, because the heavily content at erotica books can be balanced by romance aspect. At last for me.

I don't mind reading erotica. Read plenty last year, heh.

@Rachel : even I'm not finish reading Fever series, I've read the reviews =)

Finish reading Revelation by Shienny M.S. Okay its not english book, LOL! But I read it because that book is featured in giveaway at my blog :)

I prefer my erotica without romance but with a lot of kink. ;)

Actually had tried to read but i thought the story was kinda boring so that i decided to stop it and switched to Water for Elephants. I think i need to see the movie of One Day first before continue reading the book

I am also reading Indonesian version currently.

@Conqueline : When I knew the "Sleeping Beauty" film adapted from book I lil bit curious with it. But after watch the film I dread reading the book. It's just too weird for me. Plain erotica not my cup of tea.
@Ren : Agree w/ you there. I liked erotic romance but big no for erotica.
@Rachel & Ren : I've just read short story from Baron POV - the sex scene w/ Mac - and geez it's good to know what he thinks.

You watched "Sleeping Beauty" with Emily Browning in it? (There are several movies with the same title, I think).

I just don't enjoy romance in any shape and form, it's all cringeworthy (it's just an aspergian trait of me, I guess).

Jane wrote: "Just finished The Graveyard Book and went through emotion rollercoaster. Might pick a book from Neil Gaiman again sometime in the future :)

I'm now reading Howl's Moving Castle."

I *loved* that book! Actually, I love practically everything by Diana Wynne Jones. Apparently there is also a japanese animated film of Howl's Moving Castle but I haven't been able to find it anywhere :'(

Currently reading Blackbirds (ARC) by Chuck Wendig and it's great so far!