Autor: Kath

Book Review : Guilt by Jussi Adler-Olsen

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Guilt

Guilt is the fourth novel of Department Q series by Jussi Adler-Olsen and this is also my first time to read a Adler-Olsen’s novel. I read this in english by the way and it’s also published as “The Purity of Vengeance” and “Journal 64”.

In 1985, Nete Rosen is happily living her life with her husband, until he meet Curt Wad again. Two years after the death of her husband, Nete Hermansen returns with her maiden name and with a plan. She will make her revenge to those people who were responsible of making her teenage life miserable. In 2010, Detective Carl Mork from Department Q which handles cold cases, investigates the disappearance of Rita Nielsen, owner of a brothel. Upon reviewing of the case, Rose, Carl’s new assistant, discovers a series of other missing persons disappeared at the same time as Rita.

This book was a gift from my fiance (who’s into mystery/thriller/crime novels) and he was the one who chose this book. He said the author is great and I guess he’s right.

What I like with this book is that I (and also the readers for sure) know already who’s responsible for the crime (missing persons) and the reasons after reading the few first chapters. It’s like I want to go inside the book and tell Carl and his crew about it but obviously, I can’t. And towards the end, I was surprised because the things i thought I knew was wrong. I wasn’t expecting that. Sprogo Island played an important part in this book and I’m glad because I’ve learned something about Danish history. This book can also considered as stand-alone but I think I still need to read the previous books because I, somehow, cannot relate to the incident that happened to Carl and his partners.

I can say that my favorite character here is Assad, Carl’s Syrian assistant. He’s funny, smart, mysterious because no one knows where he lives and eccentric. I’m looking forward to know more about him.

The story is entertaining and shocking. No wonder why Jussi Adler-Olsen is one of the great crime fiction author. Highly recommended.

159808525stars
Original Title : Journal 64
Original Language : Danish
Series : Department Q #4
Editon : English | Paperback (560 pages)
Publisher : Penguin Books (2014)
Genre : Mystery, Crime
Source : Bought by B from Relay Buch- & Presseshop
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Movie Review : Divergent

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SPOILER ALERT! Stop if you haven’t read the book!

So I’ve finally watched Divergent and I’m not sure about my thoughts about it. I’m aware that it may be different or there’ll be changes like what “books-to-movies” are. I just finished reading the book last week and I really love everything about it. I know it’s a bit late but I still want to share my thoughts about the movie.

What i like in the movie adaptation

  • The dystopian Chicago.
  • The zipline. I would also like to try that zipline.
  • Jai Courtney as Eric. The character fits him very well though I’m expecting more piercings.

Important Parts that were taken out

  • The Visiting Day. I think it’s important because it somehow revealed some important things about Tris’ mother and about the simulation.
  • Al’s “affection” to Tris.
  • The scoreboard where Tris ranked number 1. The reason why Peter (with Drew and Al) tried to scare/kill her.
  • The part where Edward got stabbed in the eye. This showed how cruel Peter is. (The scene was deleted)
  • More of Four and Tris romance like when Four was drunk and flirty. Also their moment at the bottom of the chasm.
  • Tris’ Abnegation and Dauntless tattoo.
  • Will and Christina’s romance. I love these two.

Things that changed too much

  • Miles Teller as Peter. Not really a change but somehow disappointing for me. I expected more of him like Jai Courtney.
  • The death of Tris’ parents. Everything about it.
  • Tris went to Erudite to visit Caleb and also when Jeanine talked to her.
  • Shutting down the simulation. Seriously? What happened to the “techy” Four? And where the hell did the idea of Tris-injecting-simulation-to-Jeanine to shut down the simulation came from? Where is the hard drive that contains the data? I don’t know. Haha.

There’s still a lot but I only want to list all. Btw, I know I’ve mentioned that Theo James didn’t get much of my attention as Four, well, I’m wrong. I love his voice and how he talks. That’s it. The movie is okay but the changes are disappointing. I still choose to re-read the book than rewatching the movie.

My Rating
3stars

Book Review: The Sea of Monsters by Rick Riordan

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Series : Percy Jackson and the Olympians #2
Editon : Paperback (288 pages)
Publisher : Dysney Hyperion Books (2007)
Genre : Fantasy
Source : Amazon
Check this book on Goodreads

synopsis

The heroic son of Poseidon makes an action-packed comeback in the second must-read installment of Rick Riordan’s amazing young readers series. Starring Percy Jackson, a „half blood“ whose mother is human and whose father is the God of the Sea, Riordan’s series combines cliffhanger adventure and Greek mythology lessons that results in true page-turners that get better with each installment. In this episode, The Sea of Monsters, Percy sets out to retrieve the Golden Fleece before his summer camp is destroyed, surpassing the first book’s drama and setting the stage for more thrills to come.

my thoughts

„I am Thalia,“ the girl said. „Daughter of Zeus.“

That line has made me more excited to read the third book. Grover was captured by Polyphemus (an evil Cyclops) and needs to be rescued. The tree of Thalia has been poisoned which made the magic walls of the Camp Half Blood open to monsters. The quest of finding the golden fleece (that can heal Thalia’s tree) was given to Clarisse but Percy, Annabeth and Tyson (a baby Cyclops, which happened to be Percy’s half brother) will also do the quest with the help of Hermes.

I love this book more than the first one. I think even if I didn’t read the first, I can still follow the story. It’s also good that Riordan included some background stories about the characters or names that was mentioned. It’s very helpful for those who don’t have a lot of knowledge about Greek Mythology (Ahem). My favorite character here is Tyson. He’s cute (not to mention that Douglas Smith played his character in the movie) and he likes Rainbow (a Hippocampus).

my-rating5 / 5 stars
Date Read : August 2013

 

Book Review : Why Men Love Bitches by Sherry Argov

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Editon : eBook (288 pages)
Publisher : Adams Media Corporation (2008)
Genre : Self Help, Non-Fiction
Check this book on Goodreads

Why are men so romantic in the beginning and why do they change? Why do men take nice girls for granted? Why does a man respect a woman when she stands up for herself? Full of advice, hilarious real-life relationship scenarios, „she says/he thinks“ tables, the author’s unique „Attraction Principles,“ and an all-new bonus chapter, „Why Men Love Bitches“ gives you bottom-line answers. It helps you know who you are, stand your ground, and relate to men on a whole new level. Once you’ve discovered the feisty attitude men find so magnetic, you’ll not only increase the romantic chemistry you’ll gain your man’s love and respect with far less effort.

„Being a bitch does not mean you lose your femininity. And it also doesn’t mean you overtly try to wear the pants in the house. It just means you don’t allow anyone to walk all over you.“

 My Thoughts

The title caught my attention so I’ve decided to add it on my to-read list and I also enjoy reading “self-help” books like this.

This book defined “bitch” in a different way. A bitch (Babe In Total Control of Herself) is a strong and independent woman who will not let anyone, specially a man, treats her like a “doormat”. The Author also wrote 100 Attraction Principles which are very helpful for women (us). While I’m reading this book I keep on asking myself if I’m a “nice girl” or a “bitch”. Well, I don’t know the answer until now. All I know is I’m sometimes a “nice girl” and a “bitch” most of the time.

This book is a perfect read for girls who are in a not-so-happy relationship and for those who always treated badly by their man. Time for you to stand up for your rights!

„Throughout life, people will try to shake your faith in yourself. When this happens, remind yourself that the only way they can succeed is if you allow it. When you walk down the street of life, always hold your head high and keep walking. Don’t ever let anyone shake your faith in yourself, because that’s really all that you have.“

My Rating
4stars
Date Read : April 2013

 

Book Review: Divergent by Veronica Roth

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Divergent

Series : Divergent #1
Edition : Paperback (487 pages)
Publisher : Katherine Tegen Books
Genre : Young Adult, Dystopia, Fiction
Source : Bought from Thalia Buchhandlung
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“Fear doesn’t shut you down; it wakes you up”

My Thoughts

I can’t help not to think of “Matched” trilogy my Ally Condie while reading the first two chapters of this book. I’m aware that almost everyone is comparing this to THG but I didn’t felt like that. I don’t have any idea about the story of Divergent though everyone (in blogospere) was talking about it specially before the movie came out. So i think i don’t need an introduction for this.

I personally enjoyed how Tris (Beatrice) evolved through the Dauntless initiation. I love the idea that she cannot be manipulated to do something or believe something that she don’t want to. I wish I can be somehow like her. Well i know that i’ll also choose Dauntless if given by chance but my result (on the quizz in the book) is Abnegation. Oh, just like her. So now let’s talk about Four. *sigh* Four *sigh* Haha! I definitely love this guy. I love the fact that he let Tris to know his weaknesses. for me that’s one of the characteristics of a real man. I have to admit that Theo James (who played Four in the movie) didn’t get much of my attention. So i’ll just keep on imagining another guy as Four. Some chapters made me cry specially the pages 443 and 471.

It’s a brilliant book that it kept me insterested in what’s going to happen on the next chapters. I also love the playlist specially the songs from Flyleaf. Kudos to Ms. Veronica Roth considering that this is her first novel.

I’m still waiting for the DVD to be available here and I’m excited for Insurgent.

My Rating
5stars

Book Review: The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time by Mark Haddon

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Editon : Kindle (240 pages)
Publisher : Vintage (2004)
Genre : Fiction, Contemporary
Source : Amazon
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Christopher John Francis Boone knows all the countries of the world and their capitals and every prime number up to 7,057. He relates well to animals but has no understanding of human emotions. He cannot stand to be touched. And he detests the color yellow.

This improbable story of Christopher’s quest to investigate the suspicious death of a neighborhood dog makes for one of the most captivating, unusual, and widely heralded novels in recent years.

My Thoughts

Christopher, an autistic teenager, discovered their neighbor’s dead dog one night and decided to make an investigation (He’s a Sherlock Holmes fan) to find out who murdered it. During his investigation, he accidentally discovers the truth about his family. Siobhan, his friend, explains everything to him specially the different emotions of people.

I can somehow compare Christopher to Sheldon Cooper (of The Big Bang Theory). Both of them don’t understand human emotions and they both love physics and maths and I love their attitude. There are some parts of the story, I’m talking about the math formulas, that I had to read fast (didn’t read at all) because it’s MATH. Am i the only one? Haha! The story was unpredictable and it has a great twists.

All in all, the book is incredible.

“Sometimes we get sad about things and we don’t like to tell other people that we are sad about them. We like to keep it a secret. Or sometimes, we are sad but we really don’t know why we are sad, so we say we aren’t sad but we really are.“

My Rating
4stars

Book Review : To All The Boys I’ve Loved Before by Jenny Han

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Edition : Paperback (288 pages)
Publisher : Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers (2014)
Genre : Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Source : Bought from Hugendubel Buchandlung
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Lara Jean keeps her love letters in a hatbox her mother gave her.

They aren’t love letters that anyone else wrote for her, these are ones she’s written. One for every boy she’s ever loved—five in all. When she writes, she can pour out her heart and soul and say all the things she would never say in real life, because her letters are for her eyes only. Until the day her secret letters are mailed, and suddenly Lara Jean’s love life goes from imaginary to out of control.

my thoughts

„I think I see the difference now, between loving someone from afar and loving someone up close. When you see them up close, you see the real them, but they also get to see the real you.“

I didn’t think twice on buying this. The title is catchy, i love the cover and it’s my first Jenny Han book. I was expecting to read a lot of handwritten love letters but it’s not, there are like 3 or 4 short letters. At first I thought It’s Gogo who sent the letters, but I’m wrong.

I can somehow relate to Lara Jean when it comes to “costume parties”. I can only be Yoruichi (Bleach) even I want to be Fujiko. Hahaha! Back to the book, I like Josh more than Peter but I like Peter’s character more than Josh. I also want to have a little sister like Kitty. She’s so smart and adorable.

I’ve read that Ms. Han is working on the sequel and the title is „P.S. I Love You„.

my-rating4starsDate Read : July 2014

Book Review: The Future Of Us by Jay Asher and Carolyn Mackler

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Edition : Paperback (356 pages)
Publisher : Razorbill (2012)
Genre : Young Adult, Contemporary, Fiction
Source : Bought from Thalia Buchhandlung
Check this book on Goodreads

What if you could see how your life would unfold–just by clicking a button?

It’s 1996, and less than half of all American high school students have ever used the Internet. Emma just got her first computer and an America Online CD-ROM. Josh is her best friend. They power up and log on–and discover themselves on Facebook, fifteen years in the future. Everybody wonders what their destiny will be. Josh and Emma are about to find out.

My Thoughts

Knowing what you will be, 15 years from now, is an awesome thing but somehow scary. But I’m not sure if I’ll do what Emma did. I won’t even maybe check it for the second time because I want my future to surprise me. And I also don’t want to mess with it.

This book is about friendship, “friendzoning” and loyalty. And it shows how our current decisions, both big and small, can affect our future.

„History’s a bitch when you’re in the middle of it.“

My Rating
4stars

Book Review: The Five People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom

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The Five People You Meet in Heaven

Edition: Paperback (196 pages)
Publisher : Hyperion (2003)
Genre : Fiction, Inspirational
Source : Bought from Thalia Buchhandlung
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„All endings are also beginnings. We just don’t know it at the time.”

Eddie is a wounded war veteran, an old man who has lived, in his mind, an uninspired life. His job is fixing rides at a seaside amusement park. On his 83rd birthday, a tragic accident kills him as he tries to save a little girl from a falling cart. He awakes in the afterlife, where he learns that heaven is not a destination, but an answer. In heaven, five people explain your life to you. Some you knew, others may have been strangers. One by one, from childhood to soldier to old age, Eddie’s five people revisit their connections to him on earth, illuminating the mysteries of his „meaningless“ life, and revealing the haunting secret behind the eternal question: „Why was I here?“ (source)

My Thoughts

An extraordinary book. Just like Albom’s Tuesdays with Morrie, some scenes made me cry and reflect about life. Full of flashbacks but not to the point that the reader will get lost in the story. I’m also somehow happy and proud that the last person was from the Philippines and Albom included some Filipino cultures. I didn’t know that there’s also a movie of this, so I think I’ll be watching it maybe today or the next days. After reading the book, I caught myself wondering who will be the five people I’ll meet in heaven.

My Rating
5stars

Norwegian Wood by Haruki Murakami

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Norwegian Wood

“I didn’t have much to say to anybody but kept to myself and my books. With my eyes closed, I would touch a familiar book and draw it’s fragrance deep inside me. This was enough to make me happy.”

Synopsis : Toru, a quiet and preternaturally serious young college student in Tokyo, is devoted to Naoko, a beautiful and introspective young woman, but their mutual passion is marked by the tragic death of their best friend years before. Toru begins to adapt to campus life and the loneliness and isolation he faces there, but Naoko finds the pressures and responsibilities of life unbearable. As she retreats further into her own world, Toru finds himself reaching out to others and drawn to a fiercely independent and sexually liberated young woman.

A poignant story of one college student’s romantic coming-of-age, Norwegian Wood takes us to that distant place of a young man’s first, hopeless, and heroic love. (via Goodreads)

My Thoughts : I love all the characters, specially Midori. I love how open she is. The story is depressing but it will show us that there are beautiful things awaiting for us in the end. I was able to listen to the songs (all of them) that Murakami included in the story specially the ones from The Beatles. I never saw the movie but I’m sure I will. This book is recommendable to all young and young-at-heart readers.

My Rating : ★★★★★

Check this book on Goodreads