Title: Alchemy of Souls S02: Light and Shadow (2022)

Director: Park Joon Hwa, Bae Hyun Jin

Scriptwriter: Hong Jung Eun, Hong Mi Ran

Number of episodes: 10 episodes

Stars: Lee Jae Wook, Go Youn Jong, Hwang Min Hyun, Shin Seung Ho

Watched on Netflix

Jang Uk returns from death, and three years later, the story of the mages unfolds anew. Jang Uk becomes a hunter of the soul-shifters when a young woman, a prisoner in her own home, seeks his help to reclaim her freedom.

***

So, after finishing the first season in one go about two weeks ago, I decided to finish the second season soon. Sadly, I had to go to Solo for the annual staff retreat. Therefore, I couldn't watch much there even though I was dying to know about what will happen to Jang-uk and Mudeok.

The Story

To be very honest, I was so confused when watching the first episode of this series. I couldn't understand how Bu-yeon (Go Youn Jung) still alive. What made me confuse more is the connection between her and Mudeok-Naksu. I mean... I couldn't get it who is she at first ㅠㅠ

Then, after returning from his death, Jang Uk (Lee Jae Wook) dedicated his life to hunt the soul shifter. Well, since he got the power of ice stone, the palace forbid him to use that power for himself. Therefore, Jang Uk should obey the palace's order. Sadly, no one knows how struggle Jang Uk is after acquiring the ice stone power. 

Every night, he couldn't sleep well since the wraith will come after him. That wicked soul wouldn't let Jang Uk to sleep peacefully.

Three years has passed from the tragic tragedy at Seongrim. Overall vibe at Daeho is very dark and gloomy. Even, every characters here become more sorrow and pitiful. Not only Jang Uk, but Dang Gu, Cho Yeon, Park Jin, and others. 

Then, the fate brings Jang Uk to meet Buyeon, the first daughter of Jinyowon. Eveyone knows that she is the most powerful priestess at Daeho. Knowing that Buyeon still alive, Jang Uk finally agree to help Buyeon in order to get something from her.

My opinion

Most of the time, I really can't see Jang Uk being tortured. I mean, tortured by the wrait, his memory, or his longing feeling to Mudeok/Naksu. Moreover, he still remember killed by a person he loved the most. It's hurtful to see him like that.

Thankfully, the dark opening isn't kept for long. On the later episode, the overall vibe still become vibrant because of the interaction between Buyeon and Jang Uk. They are so funny ㅋㅋㅋ The other characters still being comical like always. Start from Park Jin who determined to being a gardener and cook--please don't try to savour his food🙂, the quirkiness from the Crown Prince, or the interaction between Dang Gu, Seo Yul, and Jang Uk.

What annoyed me the most on this series of course Jin Mu. Smh. Can we just throw him? I really despise him. Then, the royal family is also suck. I really don't like the king and the queen. Imho, the one who is kind in this series is the one who have a comical side. If it's not, they are just another Jin Mu allies for me.

As a finale of this epic saga, I think AoS 2 has done a really good job. The story is quite complex and the conflict for each character can be resolved well at the end. 

Maybe, if i can have a wish, I do really hope they will make a special episode for the happy moment for each couple. I mean.. can we just get more sweetness from Jang Uk and Bu Yeon? We also haven't got enough scenes of Park Jin-Maidservant Kim or Dang Gu-Cho Yeon. Then, can we also talk about Seo Yul who still being single? 

Conclusion

As a finale, I am satisfied with AoS 2. It's really worth to watch, imho.

8.5 out of 10 stars.

Sincerely,

Ra

Title: Choco Milk Shake

Director: Ahn Ji Hee

Genres: Comedy, Romance, Fantasy

Number of episode: 11 episodes

Stars: Go Hu Jong, Lee Jae Bin, Kim Seong Hyuk, Park Seung Bin

Watched on YouTube

A cat and dog cross the Rainbow Bridge and return to the terrestrial world in human form?!

Jung Woo lives alone. When he was twenty, a fatal accident robbed him of all he loved: he lost not just his parents, but even the pet dog and cat, Choco and Milk, whom he had raised since childhood. One evening, after returning home from work in his uncle's café, he is disturbed by two handsome strangers knocking at his door. To his disbelief, they claim to be Choco and Milk! They can prove it, however: and after hearing their memories of earlier times together, Jung Woo realises that he has indeed been visited by the two beloved companions of his youth, reincarnated in human form.

Choco and Milk settle themselves comfortably into Jung Woo's home, and the three once more enjoy the warmth and affection they have longed for since their cruel separation. But there are new dimensions to their resumed life together, and surprising discoveries to be made in the realms of friendship and love...

***

I totally forgot that I haven't finished to watch this mini drama yet. So, when I had a break from my office event at Solo, I remember about it and decided to watch it.

The Story

Choco Milk Shake told a story about Jungwoo who lost everything in life. Start from his parent, love, and also his dearest pet. One day, two guys appeared in front of him who claim to be his deceased pet--that come back alive in a human form. 

At first, of course Jungwo couldn't believe what Choco and Milk said. But, Choco--who used to be Jungwoo's dog, and Milk--who used to be Jungwoo's cat, tried their best to convince Jungwoo. 

One thing for sure, Choco and Milk come back alive to help Jungwoo. Even though they should risk their life in the afterlife.

My opinion

I found this mini drama on YouTube. I don't exactly remember how.. but this drama is so cute. Not that much cringe and the story is quite unique as a BL drama 

As from the premise, I totally intrigued. How does a pet reincarnation can help its owner? And well, how they can portrayed the life of Jungwoo with his two reincarnated pet is just believable.

I really appreciate how Lee Jaebin and Kim Seong Hyuk are able to portray the characteristic of dog and cat in a real life. Personally, I like Seonghyeok more. He really embodied cat's life on his personality. Tbh, he also more rational than Jaebin who becomes Choco.

Since this is a simple drama, the conflict is not that grande. It told us the story of Jungwoo who struggle to bear his loneliness in life. The purpose of Choco and Milk come back to his side is also clear, they just want Jungwoo to be happy.

Imho, the relationship that developed between Jungwoo-Choco and Milk-Uncle is just cute. But sometimes, I couldn't feel their intimacy. Even though I really grateful they are not cringe. 

Conclusion

Tbh, there isn't much thoughts when I  watched this drama. It's good to be watched for relaxing since the story is just cute and simple. Moreover, it's only 10-15 minutes per episode. Try to watch it to find their cute relationship.

6.5 out of 5 stars

Sincerely,

Ra

Judul: Sapiens Grafis: Kelahiran Umat Manusia

Penulis: Yuval Noah Harari

Adaptasi dan penulis: David Vandermeulen

Adaptasi dan ilustrasi: Daniel Casanave

Penerbit: KPG

Tahun terbit: 2021

Tebal buku: 248 halaman

Baca di Gramedia Digital

Adaptasi grafis salah satu buku sejarah populer paling berpengaruh di dunia, Sapiens. Bagaimana cara Homo sapiens berkembang menjadi penguasa planet Bumi, mampu melakukan berbagai hal luar biasa seperti membelah atom, terbang ke Bulan, dan merekayasa genetika kehidupan? Untuk mengetahuinya, kita harus melihat gambaran besar: keseluruhan sejarah spesies manusia. Ahli sejarah Yuval Noah Harari bercerita mengenai kelahiran dan evolusi umat manusia, menjelajahi bagaimana biologi dan sejarah membentuk kita dan mempertinggi pemahaman kita mengenai apa artinya menjadi “manusia”. Adaptasi grafis ini menyajikan kembali dan memperluas isi edisi asli Sapiens, dalam format komik yang menarik, kocak, dan enak disimak.

♠️♠️♠️♠️♠️

Sapiens karya Harari menjadi salah satu buku yang sering kudengar, tapi aku masih belum pernah membacanya. Mungkin aku saja yang malas untuk membaca buku non fiksi. Hehe.

Kemarin, waktu aku scrolling Gramedia Digital, aku tak sengaja menemukan Sapiens Grafis ini. Wah, seru juga nih bisa baca Sapiens dengan berbagai ilustrasi yang menarik! Jadilah aku putuskan untuk membaca buku ini. Lumayan juga sekalian memenuhi tantangan Satu Bulan Satu Buku Nonfiksi dari Kak Wardah.

The Book

Berhubung aku tidak membaca versi panjangnya, aku cukup senang saat membaca versi grafis ini. Penjelasan Harari mengenai sejarah umat manusia bisa dipahami dengan sangat mudah. Selain karena gaya bahasanya sudah disesuaikan, ilustrasinya bagus banget. Jadi, kita enggak akan kesusahan untuk mem-visualisasikan gagasan-gagasan Harari.

Salah satu gagasan yang kutahu dari buku ini adalah bagaimana manusia bisa bertahan hidup dengan menggosip. Jadi, to some extent, saat aku membaca buku ini, aku penasaran pembahasan mengenai hal tersebut akan seperti apa. 

Sebagai buku sejarah, wajar apabila buku ini sangatlah runtut. Harari mengajak kita memahami mengapa kata Sapiens dipilih untuk menyebut manusia zaman sekarang seperti kita ini. Well, yang disampaikan Harari benar juga, sih. Jenis manusia itu enggak cuma Homo Sapiens di dunia ini. Dulu, masih ada Homo Erectus dan juga Homo Neanderthal. Akan tetapi, sekarang jenis manusia tinggalah satu jenis, yakni Homo Sapiens.

Salah satu hal yang aku ingat dan membuatku merasa ada lampu di kepalaku adalah ketika Harari menjelaskan bahwa ilmu-ilmu yang ada di dunia ini pada dasarnya memiliki keterkaitan. Bagaimana Fisika, Biologi, hingga sejarah bisa saling terhubung itu, menurutku sangat enggak aku sangka.

So far, aku merasa kalau buku ini worth banget buat dibaca. Yang pasti, kalian enggak akan bosan karena dibawakan secara membumu dan komikal.

Conclusion

Berhubung aku lihat ada buku grafis lanjutannya, sepertinya aku akan melanjutkan membacanya. Anyway, aku juga jadi penasaran dengan Sapiens versi lengkapnya. Mudah-mudahan aku bisa membacanya segera. 

Oh, anyway, berhubung aku baca versi ebook di Gramedia Digital, sejumlah gambar ada yang tidak muncul. Entah karena faktor jaringan atau bagaimana. Enggak begitu mengganggu, sih. Cuma sayang aja gitu waktu baca. Hehe.

4 dari 5 bintang untuk Sapiens yang punya banyak masa lalu kelam.

Sincerely,

Ra

23.01.08

Title: Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror

Author: Natasha Farrant

Duration: 3 hours 4 minutes

Publisher: W.F. Howes, Ltd.

Listen in Storytel

“Mirror, mirror on the wall . . . what makes a princess excellent?” When an enchantress flings her magic mirror into our universe, its reflection reveals princesses who refuse to be just pretty, polite, and obedient. These are girls determined to do the rescuing themselves. Princess Leila of the desert protects her people from the king with the black-and-gold banner; Princess Tica takes a crocodile for a pet; Princess Ellen explores the high seas; Princess Abayome puts empathy and kindness above being royal; and in a tower block, Princess saves her community’s beloved garden from the hands of urban developers.

Connecting these stories is the magic mirror, which reveals itself when each girl needs it most, illuminating how a princess’s power comes not from her title or beauty, but from her own inner strength. These beautifully imagined stories, complemented by vibrant and inviting artwork, offer the pleasure and familiarity of traditional tales with refreshingly modern themes.

***

Eight Princesses and a Magic Mirror is a fairytale anthology retelling about the journey of the magic mirror in search of the excellent princess. I discovered this book through my Storytel recommendations, and I was also looking for an audiobook to listen to.

The Story

"Mirror, mirror on the wall... What makes a princess excellent?"

The enchantress was assigned to be a fairt godmother for the soon to be newborn princess. About one month before the born, the enchantress began to wonder, what's make a princess excellent? Should it be a pretty face? Polite and obedient attitude? Or is there anything else?

When the enchantress tried to ask the magic mirror, the mirror couldn't provide an answer. Therefore, the enchantress sent the magic mirror across time and universe to learn about the eight Princesses. 

My thoughts

I should give a disclaimer because I listen this book as an audiobook. So, there must be a lot of parts that i couldn't catch😉

At the beginning, I'm interested because of the cover. Well, even though everyone told us not to judge a book by its cover, I just couldn't help it. The cover of this book is very pretty. Then, the blurb is also interesting. Therefore, I decided to read it.

As the title said, this book is about the journey of the magic mirror meets the eight princesses. I love how every story have their different vibes. Even though I couldn't catch all of the story, I love how Farrant decided to choose a diverse princess story to be told.

Some people said that the beginning of the story could be omitted, but I think, that prolog gave us the context and tie all of the eight stories. 

The conclusion itself is interesting. The magic mirror said that an excellent princess should be brave and fierce. They also realized that the real strength of all is in their inner self. Empowerment and self love at all cost.

Conclusion

As an anthology of fairytales, this books is interesting to read. Too bad I couldn't enjoy the illustration. 

3.5 stars for the idea and the cover~

Sincerely,

Ra

23.01.08

Judul: Alchemy of Souls Season 1
Sutradara: Park Joon Hwa
Penulis naskah: Hong Jung Eun, Hong Mi Ran
Genre: Action, Historical, Fantasy
Jumlah episode: 20 
Tanggal tayang: 18 Juni-28 Agustus 2022
Nonton di Netflix

Set in a fictional country called Daeho that does not exist in history or on maps, it is about the love and growth of young mages as they overcome their twisted fates due to a forbidden magic spell known as the "alchemy of souls", which allows souls to switch bodies. It follows the story of an elite assassin named Naksu, whose soul is accidentally trapped inside the weak body of Mu Deok—Jang Uk's servant from a powerful and noble mage family in the country. The young master of the Jang Family, Jang Uk, holds a dark secret about his scandalous birth. He wants the formidable assassin to help change his destiny.

***

Mengawali resensi drakor pertama tahun ini dengan Alchemy of Souls Season 1. Alasan menontonnya? Yaa, mari kita mention lagi nama Mbakdew untuk kesekian kalinya. Kayaknya, selera drakor Mbakdew, tuh, emang selalu cocok buatku. Selalu suka dan jadi favorit.

The Story

Sejak kecil, Jang Uk enggak pernah bisa menggunakan kekuatannya, karena ayahnya, Jang Gang mengunci kekuatan Jang Uk. Berbagai upaya dilakukan Jang Uk untuk bisa membuka segel yang dibuat oleh ayahnya, tapi hal tersebut tak pernah berhasil. Bagaimanapun, tak ada seorang pun yang berani melanggar perintah Jang Gang.

Di sisi lain, pembunuh berdarah dingin, Naksu, terpaksa harus bertukar nyawa untuk menyelamatkan diri dari kejaran mage Seongrim. Yang tidak ia sangka, ia malah bertukar nyawa dengan Mu-deok, gadis buta yang tak sengaja ia temui di suatu restoran.'

Nasib membawa Jang Uk dan Mu-deok bertemu. Dari awal, Jang Uk telah mengetahui identitas asli dari Mu-deok. Suatu ide gila pun muncul dalam pikiran Jang-Uk, yakni menjadikan Mudeok--yang notabene adalah Naksu--untuk menjadi master-nya. Demi tujuan masing-masing, akhirnya Jang Uk dan Mu-deok menjalankan peran mereka sebagai Young Master-Maidservant, sekaligus Pupil-Master. 

My Thoughts

Seperti yang aku bilang di atas, rekomendasi drakor Mbakdew, tuh, selalu cocok sama aku. Mau yang romcom, thriller, mystery, atau bahkan action-historical macem pendekar gini. Tapi, ya karena memang ada mystery-nya, sih. Jadi aku enjoy nontonya. 

Karakter-karakternya juga banyak yang lovable. Bahkan, Park Jin dan crown prince aja masih ada sisi yang aku suka. Mereka kocak banget, kadang-kadang T.T. Oh, iya. Porsi serius dan bercandanya di drakor ini juga pas. Misterinya juga lumayan complicated. Sejumlah twist juga agak mengagetkan. Aku masih agak surprised dengan hubungan antara Shaman Choi, Jin Mu, dan juga Jinyowon.

Meskipun di drakor ini ada kisah romansanya, aku enggak merasa kalau hubungan antara Jang-uk dan Mu-deok overpowering. Pas aja gitu lihatnya. Apalagi mereka juga punya hubungan yang manis.

Berhubung aku menontonnya di kala season 2 udah tayang, yaa, aku sudah bisa menebak kalau akhir season 1 bakalan gantung. Kalau kata Mbakdew, kenapa enggak berakhir di episode 19 aja, sih? Smh.

Tapi aku agak was-was, nih, sama season 2. Nanti gimana caranya Jang-uk bakalan ketemu sama Mu-deok? Duh, Jang Uk juga pasti patah hati banget ketika inget gimana dia bisa "mati". Lalu, hubungan antara Mu-deok dengan orang-orang Seongrim juga pasti bakalan berubah banyak. Sigh. 

Conclusion

Nah, karena udah tahu ada season 2, maka akan aku lanjutkan perjuangan menonton ini. Mudah-mudahan ada kisah yang lebih enggak bikin sedih buat Jang Uk dan Mu Deok.

Jadi, 8.5 dari 10 bintang untuk kisah satu ini.

Sincerely,
Ra
23.01.07

Judul: Boneka Sandya

Penulis: Eve Shi

Tebal buku: 218 halaman

Tahun terbit: Oktober 2019

Penerbit: Elex Media Komputindo

Baca di Gramedia Digital

Maukah kamu mendengar kisah tentang boneka-boneka hidup? Aku tinggal bersama mereka sejak kecil. Ada yang senang berbuat iseng, dan ada yang menolongku. Ada pula yang pernah membunuh manusia. Aku menjalani hidupku dengan wajar, bersekolah dan bekerja. Sampai akhirnya aku harus mengurus boneka-boneka itu seorang diri. Lalu, jika mereka tak suka padaku dan menyerangku, sanggupkah aku melawan?

***

Boneka Sandya. Dari sampul maupun blurb-nya, sudah jelas kalau buku ini bergenre horror mystery. Aku tertarik membaca buku ini karena mencari buku yang sesuai dengan prompt dari Taylor Swift 1989 Reading Challenge, yakni Blank Space: A book with an unreliable narrator. Karena aku sedang tidak berminat membaca buku luar, aku tanya ke Kakpin, apakah ada buku lokal yang masuk kategori ini. Kakpin merekomendasikan beberapa buku dan pilihanku jatuh ke Boneka Sandya.

The Story

Setelah ayahnya meninggal, Sandya hidup sebatang kara. Ibunya pergi ke luar negeri untuk mengadu nasib sebegai pekerja migran, tapi tak pernah ada kabar darinya. Tamila, perempuan yang baru saja pindah ke kampung Sandya, mengangkat Sandya sebagai anak. Berhubung Sandya tahu ia tak punya tempat berlabuh dan Tamila telah membantunya, Sandya tak menolak. Sejak saat itu, Tamila adalah ibu angkatnya dan Sandya memanggilnya mama.

Di mata Sandya, mama adalah sosok yang selalu menjadi misteri. Ia bekerja sebagai pembuat dan penjuak boneka. Sandya tahu, boneka-boneka mama bukanlah boneka biasa. Boneka itu dipesan oleh pelanggan mama untuk tujuan tertentu. Mama berpesan ke Sandya, kalau saatnya tiba, maka Sandya lah yang bertugas menjaga boneka-boneka mama. 

My Thoughts

Awalnya, kupikir Sandya adalah anak perempuan. Haha. Sepertinya aku tidak boleh men-judge gender orang dari namanya, ya.

Karena aku sudah tahu dari awal kalau aku tidak bisa mempercayai Sandya, aku jadi bertanya-tanya, hal apa yang akan membuatku kehilangan kepercayaan padanya. Menurutku, Eve Shi berhasil mengolah cerita ini menjadi cerita yang unik dan enggak biasa.

Perkembangan karakter Sandya sampai akhir pun terlihat sangat rapih. Aku suka detail-detail ceritanya. Menurutku, kisah masa kecil Sandya bersama mamam betul-betul terceritakan dengan baik.

Akan tetapi, memang terasa kalau akhir dari kisah ini cukup buru-buru. Masih banyak pertanyaan yang belum terjawab di sini. Mulai dari mana mama mendapatkan kekuatannya, kisah boneka-boneka lain seperti Kiyan, dan kekuatan macam apa yang sebetulnya dimiliki oleh Sandya. Aku jadi bertanya-tanya, apakah buku ini memiliki lanjutan kisah?

Selama membaca, aku merasa enjoy. Cerita Sandya lumayan engaging dan enggak membuatku bosan. Aku hanya berharap kalau memang ada kisah khusus tentang mama.

Kesimpulan

Boneka Sandya adalah jenis buku yang berani kubaca tapi tak akan pernah kutonton kalau ada adaptasinya. Haha. Horror dan mystery-nya kerasa banget. Memang jenis buku-buku kegemeran Kakpin, sih. 

So far, aku puas bacanya. Malah jadi penasaran sama buku-buku lain dari Eve Shi.

4 dari 5 bintang untuk Kiyan. Duh, boneka satu ini kalau diingat-ingat baik sekali ke Sandya.

Sincerely,

Ra

23.01.06

Judul: I Want to Eat Your Pancreas

Penulis: Yoru Sumino

Penerbit: Seven Seas

Tahun terbit: 2016

Pertama kali diterbitkan pada tahun 2014

A high school boy finds the diary of his classmate--only to discover that she’s dying. Yamauchi Sakura has been silently suffering from a pancreatic disease, and now exactly one person outside her family knows. He swears to her that he won’t tell anyone what he learned, and the shared secret brings them closer together in this deeply moving, first-person story that traces their developing relationship in Sakura’s final months of life.

***

Sesungguhnya, I Want to Eat Your Pancreas ini merupakan buku rekomendasi dari Kak Chei untuk 12 Challenge. Berhubung setelah aku cek kalau buku ini juga merupakan debut novel dari Yoru Sumino--dan kebetulan berarti masuk ke prompt pertama di BTS Book Club Reading Challenge, akhirnya aku putuskan untuk membacanya. 

Awalnya, aku pikir I Want to Eat Your Pancreas ini novel Korea. Soalnya, dulu seingatku buku ini pernah diterbitkan oleh Penerbit Haru dan kebanyakan k-book yang diterbitkan. 

Aku paham, kok, kenapa banyak yang suka dengan buku ini. Sebagai light novel, buku ini berhasil menceritakan kisah romansa antar dua orang remaja ini dengan sederhana. Akan tetapi, entah mengapa, aku merasa bosan saat membaca perjalanan mereka.

The Story

Sakura Yamauchi mengidap kanker pankreas. Tak ada seorang pun yang mengetahui penyakitnya itu kecuali keluarganya. Bahkan, ia enggan memberi tahu sahabat baiknya, Kyoko.

Suatu hari, saat berada di rumah sakit, Sakura bertemu dengan tokoh "aku". Tokoh "aku" mengenal Sakura sebagai cewek kawan sekelasnya yang memiliki kepribadian jauh berbeda darinya. Tokoh "aku" sama sekali tak mengerti mengapa Sakura memberitahu dirinya soal penyakitnya. Ia juga masih tak punya jawaban kenapa Sakura ingin menghabiskan masa hidupnya bersama dengan dirinya.

Mengambil sudut pandang dari tokoh "aku", kita akan diajak mengenal Sakura. Sosok yang begitu cheerful tapi sebenarnya punya rahasia tersendiri. Meskipun ia sakit, Sakura selalu berupaya untuk tetap hidup normal. Ia pun berusaha melakukan hal-hal yang ingin ia lakukan sebelum ia harus pergi meninggalkan dunia ini.

My Thoughts

Bagiku, premis yang dibawakan menarik, kok. Enggak terlalu muluk juga apa yang dibawain. Hanya saja, entah mengapa dalam proses membaca buku ini, aku bosan setengah mati. Aku merasa tidak bisa engage saat membacanya.

Mungkin, yang bisa menjadi penyelamat dari novel ini adalah bagian akhir cerita. Untuk twist di bagian akhir, aku tidak begitu surprised. Bahkan, aku sempat terpikir, how if in the end she get hit by the car or else. Jadi, aku bisa bilang, prediksiku agak benar. Sakura didn't passes away because of her illnes.

Lalu, awalnya aku merasa annoyed dengan keputusan penulis untuk tidak mengungkap nama dari si tokoh "aku". Aku enggak bisa membayangkan bagaimana mereka menerjemahkan julukan-julukan itu dalam bahasa indonesia. Untuk versi Inggris-nya saja, sudah membuatku agak sakit kepala. Yaa, mudah-mudahan terdapat padanan kata yang tepat.

Oh, anyway, pilihan menyembunyikan nama dari tokoh utama itu juga membuat kita bertanya-tanya, siapa nama aslinya? Jadi, ketika nama aslinya di-reveal, ada semacam rasa puas karena misteri dari si "tokoh aku" bisa terbongkar.

Kesimpulan

Well, aku sangat memahami kalau pada dasarnya cerita di buku ini bagus dan unik. Hanya saja, ketika kemarin aku membacanya cukup struggle, aku tidak bisa memberikan penilaian yang setinggi untuk buku ini. Hmm, hal ini jadi membuatku terpikir, apakah ini efek terjemagan yang aku baca? Entahlah. 

Dengan demikian, aku hanya bisa memberikan 2.5 dari 5 bintang untuk Living for Dying.

Sincerely,

Ra

23.01.05

Judul: Jingga untuk Matahari

Penulis: Esti Kinasih

Durasi: 15 jam 47 menit

Tanggal rilis: 9 Juni 2022

Penerbit: Storyside

Dengar di Storytel

Diterbitkan secara fisik tahun 2016 oleh Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Ari dan Tari menjalani hari-hari penuh pelangi. Tari bahagia karena ternyata Ari cowok lembut dan penuh perhatian. Sedangkan Ari gembira luar biasa ketika mendengar Ata dan Mama akhirnya kembali ke Jakarta.

Namun, tanpa Ari ketahui, selama ini Ata menyimpan kepedihan yang membuatnya bertekad melampiaskannya kepada Ari dan Papa. Saat itulah Ari menyadari ada “kisah” yang dia tidak tahu di antara papa dan mamanya.

Sementara itu, Tari mulai bingung menata hati. Karena pada saat rasa sayangnya untuk Ari semakin tumbuh, Angga muncul lagi dan “nembak” langsung. Sebenarnya, apa yang menjadi alasan Angga begitu dendam pada Ari dan bertekad merebut seseorang yang paling berharga darinya?

“Kalo lo ngincer cewek yang udah punya cowok, rebut dia di depan cowoknya. Jangan di belakang,” kalimat Ata itu terus terngiang di benak Angga.

***

Dulu, rasanya nungguin banget Jingga untuk Matahari (JUM) terbit. Apalagi waktu tahu drama sempat-gagal-terbitnya dulu. Rasanya, penantian dari SMP terbayar kalau JUM akhirnya terbit.

Sayangnya, euforia itu hanyalah sesaat. Waktu JUM benar-benar terbit, aku enggak ada rasa excited sama sekali. Bahkan, aku baru tahu kalau dia terbit setelah beberapa bulan lamanya.

Akhirnya, karena kemarin aku telanjur langganan Storytel dan penasaran juga dengan kisah lanjutannya, jadilah kuputuskan untuk membacanya. Yang pasti, banyak banget hal-hal yang bikin aku menghela napas saking enggak ngertinya sama ceritanya.

The Story

Pencarian Ari dari buku pertama dan kedua akhirnya membuahkan hasil. Ia berhasil menemukan ibu dan saudara kembarnya, Ata. Pertemuan mereka kembali membuat Ari begitu bahagia. Ia pun mulai berharap kalau imajinya tentang keluarga yang utuh dan bahagia akan betul-betul terwujud. 

Bagi Ari, Ata adalah saudara kembar yang harus ia lindungi. Ia bersedia membantu Ata supaya mudah beradaptasi di SMA Airlangga. Tentu saja dibantu oleh dua sahabatnya, Oji dan Ridho.

Akan tetapi, yang tak Ari ketahui, Ata punya rencana tersendiri ketika bisa bertemu dengan Ari kembali. Rencana balaz dendam yang akan ia rancang serapi mungkin supaya bisa menciptakan efek yang begitu dahsyat bagi Ari. Efek kehancuran dan sakit hati yang tiada tara yang ia maksudkan. Maka dari itu, Ata pun mulai menjalin aliansi dengan Angga, musuh bebuyutan Ari dari SMA Brawijaya.

Belum cukup dari situ, Ata juga punya cara tersendiri untuk bisa memanfaatkan Tari, cewek yang paling disayang oleh Ari dan juga memiliki nama yang mirip dengannya.

My Thoughts 

Jadi, sebagai disclaimer, aku akan berkomentar sebagai pembaca yang sudah lama sekali waktu baca buku pertama dan kedua. Mungkin sudah lebih dari 10 tahun lalu aku membaca kisah Ari-Tari. Otomatis, aku sudah lupa bagaimana jalan cerita di kedua novel ini meskipun garis besarnya masih ingat sedikit-sedikit.

Lalu, kebetulan aku membaca novel ini dalam versi audiobook. Dengan demikian, aku banyak mendengarkan novel ini sambil bersih-bersih atau sedang jalan pergi. Konsekuensinya, mungkin ada beberapa bagian yang tidak bisa kudengarkan dengan baik.

Nah, selama mendengarkan, aku cukup terkejut dengan fakta bahwa Ari dan Tari sudah berpacaran. Ini jadiannya di JDE, kah? Aku enggak inget, tbh. Selain itu, kalau memang bener pacaran, Tari menerima dengan ikhlas atau dipaksa sama Ari? 

Berbeda dengan kedua buku sebelumnya yang fokus ke hubungan Ari-Tari dan mengungkap sedikit masa lalu Ari, di JUM memang fokus pada Ata. Kisah masa lalu Ata juga sempat dibahas dan alasan-alasan mengapa Ata ingin sekali balas dendam ke Ari juga dijelaskan.

Sayangnya, aku ngerasa JUM kehilangan charm-nya. Apakah karena dulu aku membacanya waktu SMP jadi merasa kisah ini bagus banget? Aku merasa, drama anak SMA ini biasa banget. Enggak ada istimewa-istimewanya, deh. Aku masih mempertanyakan kenapa dulu bisa membuatku tertarik. Haha. 

Terus, yang bikin aku sebel, aku sampai bosen dengerin "Saudara kembar identik Ari." Astaga. Mungkin itu disebut beribu-ribu kali di buku ini. Meskipun itu untuk menunjukkan keheranan Angga, tapi kalau disebut berkali-kali gitu, kan, jadi pengen ngebanting hape ㅠㅠ

Aku tahu, sih, kalau dari JUM ini nanti masih akan ada kelanjutannya, yakni Jingga untuk Sendyakala (JUS). Tapi, ya itu, buku ini beneran cuma jadi filler. Alhasil, ceritanya kerasa lama banget. Bahkan, berasa banyak side story yang ada, kayak kisah Gita yang kayaknya bakal dipasangin sama Ridho. 

Hmm, jadi keinget kalau di sini interaksi antara Vio dan Oji lenyap begitu aja. Kayaknya dulu masih banyak adegan soal mereka berdua dan jadinya banyak yang bikin fanfic buat mereka.

Hal lain yang menurutku kurang believable adalah gimana Ari beneran enggak tahu sama sekali kalau ayahnya sudah menikah lagi. Iya, aku ngerti kalau Ari dan ibu tirinya tinggal di rumah yang berbeda. Tapi, kan, tetap saja, seharusnya sebagai seorang ibu tiri, dia berusaha mendekatkan diri ke Ari. Hmm. Sungguh aku enggak paham logika yang ada di sini.

Kesimpulan

Intinya, aku ngerasa kalau series ini sudah enggak lagi spark the joy buatku. Kalaupun nanti JUS udah terbit, aku mungkin akan tetap membacanya. Tapi, yaaa, enggak sat-set langsung kubaca gitu. 

Sorry to say but 2 out of 5 stars buat JUM.

Sincerely,

Ra

23.01.03

Title: The Sun Is Also a Star
Author: Nicola Yoon
Number of pages: 384 pages
Date of published: November 1, 2016
Publisher: Delacorte Press

Natasha: I’m a girl who believes in science and facts. Not fate. Not destiny. Or dreams that will never come true. I’m definitely not the kind of girl who meets a cute boy on a crowded New York City street and falls in love with him. Not when my family is twelve hours away from being deported to Jamaica. Falling in love with him won’t be my story.

Daniel: I’ve always been the good son, the good student, living up to my parents’ high expectations. Never the poet. Or the dreamer. But when I see her, I forget about all that. Something about Natasha makes me think that fate has something much more extraordinary in store—for both of us.

The Universe: Every moment in our lives has brought us to this single moment. A million futures lie before us. Which one will come true?

***

The Sun Is Also a Star is on my TBR list. I remember being drawn to the book because of its beautiful and unique cover. This year, I challenged myself to participate in Taylor Swift's 1989 Reading Challenge, with the first prompt being Welcome to New York: A book set in New York.

After conducting a Google search, I discovered that The Sun Is Also a Star was on one of the recommended lists. So, why not give it a shot, right?

The Story

Natasha's world fell apart when she learned that she and her family would be deported tonight at 10 p.m. She couldn't believe her twisted fate until now. Natasha chose not to accept her fate, despite the fact that her family did. She attempted to find a way out. She went to the US Citizenship and Immigration Services in the early morning (USCIS). Unfortunately, she missed her appointment and there is nothing she can do to avoid deportation.

Not knowing what to do, one of the officers there told her about an immigrant lawyer who might be able to help her. Natasha will take any opportunity to avoid the deportation at all costs. As a result, she decided to schedule an appointment with the lawyer as soon as possible, hoping for the best possible outcome.

She met Daniel on her way to the lawyer's office, precisely when she took the subway. A Korean American guy who will soon become the closest guy she has ever known.

After her brother, Charlie, was discharged from Harvard, Daniel Jae Ho Bae felt pressured to be the best child in his family. Being a medical student was never his dream. Poetry is the only subject in which he is particularly interested. But, as a member of an Asian family, Daniel understands the importance of living up to his parents' expectations. As a result, he will go to an alum interview as part of his preparation to attend Yale University and become a doctor, as his family has told him.

When Daniel met Natasha, he realized that his own dream was more important than his parents' expectations. Finally, meeting each other will offer Natasha and Daniel with a new perspective on their lives.

Surprisingly, Not Bored

When I first started reading this book, I expected to be bored. Interestingly, I wasn't. Each of the points of view was fascinating to me. What I liked best about this book was how Yoon showed us sides other than Natasha and Daniel's. She also included perspectives from unexpected characters, such as Irene (the security officer), Samuel (Natasha's father), and Jeremy (the immigrant lawyer). When we read the story, those POVs still provide a unique perspective.

This book is fast paced for me. The POV will smoothly switch from one to the other. Because each section isn't that long, switching POVs didn't bother me.

Another element that surprised me was the fact that the story took place in just one day. I never thought I'd find such a book—because one of my prompts RC is about it and I have no idea what it's about. So, at the very least, it will inspire me to seek out another book with a similar plot.

Perhaps what I couldn't understand is that their process of falling in love is very short and quick. I understand Natasha and Daniel have their own intimacy, but I couldn't understand how their interaction could lead to them falling in love.

Conclusion

After all, I'm pretty pleased with myself for finishing this book. I wasn't bored while reading it, and to be honest, I really enjoyed it. Also, I learned more about the lives of immigrants in America, particularly undocumented immigrants.

In my opinion, the ending is very realistic. As a result, there will be no miracles here. That was acceptable for me.

So... yeah. I give this book four out of five stars.

Sincerely,
Ra

230103

Image: Bibli, edited by me

Judul: Ephemera

Penulis: Akaigita

Tebal buku: 296 halaman

Tahun terbit: 2020

Penerbit: Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Baca di Gramedia Digital

Rumah di tepi rawa itu menyimpan bahaya. Dari kucing-kucing yang menghilang tanpa jejak, kerisik aneh di langit-langit pada malam hari, hingga takhayul keberadaan makhluk setinggi pohon kelapa yang menjaga tanah itu.

Suatu hari, Venus—anak perempuan penghuni rumah—terjatuh ke sumur dan koma. Saat dia siuman, dia mengaku terpeleset karena kaget melihat ular besar di sana. Tapi benarkah pengakuannya itu?

Lantas mengapa Adam, sahabat karib Venus, dikucilkan dan dituduh mendorong gadis itu ke sumur? Mengapa pula Luna, adik Venus yang serbatahu malah diam seribu bahasa?

Rumah di tepi rawa itu tak hanya menyimpan bahaya, tetapi juga rahasia gelap yang tak boleh menyebar.

Ephemera merupakan buku rekomendasi dari Kak Wardah untuk 12 Reading Challenge 2022. Awalnya, aku berusaha menyelesaikan buku ini sebelum tahun 2022 berakhir, tapi nyatanya aku ngantuk banget di malam tahun baru kemarin. Alhasil, buku ini menjadi buku pertama yang aku selesaikan di tahun 2023.

***

Venus baru sadar dari komanya. Sekitar satu setengah bulan lalu, Venus jatuh ke dalam sumur. Akibatnya, ia mengalami koma. Setelah sadar, Venus ternyata juga kehilangan ingatannya. Apalagi yang berhubungan dengan kejadian kecelakaan itu.

Menjani hari-harinya kembali ternyata tak mudah bagi Venus. Banyak hal yang telah berubah di sekitarnya. Mulai dari sahabatnya, Adam, yang menjauhi dirinya. Dia juga kaget ketika orang tuanya melarangnya untuk berhubungan kembali dengan Adam. Lalu, adiknya, Luna, juga terlihat seperti menyembunyikan banyak hal darinya. 

Yang pasti, Venus merasa kalau orang-orang di sekitarnya menyembunyikan banyak hal darinya. 

Ringkasan Cerita

Awalnya, aku pikir buku ini hanya akan berfokus pada Venus dan upayanya mengungkap apa yang terjadi ketika ia terjatuh ke dalam sumur. Ternyata, aku salah. Di buku ini, kamu akan menemukan POV dari masing-masing tokoh. Jadi, tidak hanya dari sisi Venus saja kisah dunia Ephimera ini diceritakan.

Ada sudut pandang dari Adam yang ternyata disalahkan habis-habisan saat Venus terjatuh, sudut pandang Luna yang ternyata mengungkap kalau dia jadi anak yang paling menderita di Keluarga Utomo, dan bahkan ada sudut pandang dari Herman, kawan Adam yang ingin sekali membalas dendam (?) ke keluarga Venus.

Untungnya, meskipun terdapat banyak POV, enggak membuat ceritanya terpecah. Fokus ceritanya masih inline. Jadinya, enggak bikin bingung. Mungkin yang agak mengganggu, gaya bahasa Herman yang lumayan lebih nyantai. Bukan ngeganggu, sih. Lebih tepatnya, kayak njeglek dibandingkan gaya bahasa POV lain yang cukup formal.

Yang Aku Rasakan Saat Membaca

Aku rasa, sebagai novel young-adult, Ephemera berhasil memunculkan berbagai elemen yang menarik. Mulai dari. interaksi antar teman, hingga keluarga. Awalnya, aku merasa simpati dengan Venus. Tapi, setelah membaca POV dari Luna, ingin rasanya kujedukkan kepala Venus. Bersikap bak princess dan childish banget.

Meskipun begitu, bukan berarti aku menyukai karakter Luna. Aku masih merasa ada yang mencurigakan dari sosok adik Venus ini. 

Untuk twist-nya sendiri, aku cukup surprised karena aku enggak bisa menebak sama sekali apa hubungan antara jatuhnua Venus, meninggalnya Nougat, dan juga Datuk. Atau aku saja yang tidak peka sampai tak bisa menangkap hint-hint yang diberikan oleh penulis?

Yang aku sayangkan, aku kok merasa akhir dari kisah ini agak terburu-buru, ya. Iya, aku tahu Datuk akhirnya enggak ada, Yuniar--Ibu Venus dan Luna--mendapat ganjaran, dan lainnya. Tapi, banyak hal yang terasa menggantung.

Aku masih penasaran dengan akhir sikap ayah Luna pasca Yuniar dipenjara, mengapa Giga membantu Adam--meskipun dijelaskan kalau Giga bilang sudah saatnya demikian, aku merasa ada yang masih menggantung. Ini enggak membuka kemungkinan adanya season 2, kan?

Kesimpulan

Secara cerita, twist-nya lumayan enggak ketebak buatku. Meskipun, di awal pasti agak bingung waktu ngikutin ceritanya. Kayak, ini penulisnya mau bikin jadi fantasi, misteri, atau gimana?

Yang pasti, baca Ephemera ini seru, kok. Aku enggak merasa bosan waktu baca. Iya, jenis buku yang membuatku engage dan pengin cepat-cepat menyelesaikannya.

4 dari 5 bintang.

Sincerely,

Ra

23.01.01

Sunrise at Banyuwangi

So, 2022 is now officially over. Normally, I would have written this reflection on December 31st, but yesterday I felt so drowsy. I end up sleeping much during the NYE.

I'm not sure why, but starting two years ago, I've made it a habit to write this reflection on my blog. Why not write another post for this year as well?

Let's see what has happened so far in 2022 and what lessons I have learned from each of those recollections.

January

Let's start from this.

Seems like, only travel--and peace, maybe, that has been achieved in 2022. Well, I also didn't expect that the marriage one would be happened last year, tho. So, just let it be.

Then, I think in 2022, we started to get addicted by Wordle, Katla, and other. At first, it seemed so exciting, but, at the end... yeah, you know that it won't spark the joy that much.

Ah, one of the highlights for this month was I took the Medical Check Up test. I relieved that overall; my body was healthy. But I knew that I have to take care of my body more. I should literally pay attention for foods that I should avoid--still I haven't done that until now. Hope in 2023 I can do that. 

February

The first time I got introduced to a BL series and I really love it. My Faded First Love still being my favorite j-drama ever. Ida-Aoki are so cute, and I cannot resist their charm. After that, I tried to search the manga and I end up really love it. 

Anyway, I found this quote that month.

I know it’s okay to miss you because whatever we had was strong and beautiful. To pretend like I don’t miss you would be a disservice to everything we went through. Yet I’m finally in a place where I know that missing you isn’t a sign to try again. It’s a sign that we had a great thing. That’s it, that’s all. So please know I miss you, but I do understand we aren’t meant for each other. But I’ll still remember us for the rest of my life- and I will learn to be okay with that. — Lacey Ramburger. https://thoughtcatalog.com/lacey-ramburger/2020/04/i-miss-you-but-i-understand-we-arent-meant-for-each-other/

On this month, I was being so sarcastic to him. I didn't really remember why I was so pissed. Maybe, it was happened because I thought that he never really cares of me and knew what I want in life. He had his assumptions about me but actually, it was so wrong on another level.

March

He told me that he (once again) got tested positive for COVID-19. Ck. I really wanna scold him when I knew, but then, I still kind enough to suppress my temper and TRY my best to understand him. But yeah. He won't ever care if I did that. He even didn't realize about it.  

On this month, I really like reading a lot of BL manhwa. Ah, I was glad I can find a happiness through this small matters. Why would try search for a grand happiness if the small can make you smile all the time, right?

April

It's my birthday's month! I spend my birthday with my lovely and supportive friend--which are Kak Rand, Sup, and Nurul. I was really happy that day. I hope we can meet up again this year. I really hope so.

Then, starting this month, I just know about him who can also watched k-drama like Business Proposal. It felt weird to discuss about BP with him. I did wonder, why he watched BP after all? I mean... maybe he got closer with someone, and that person recommends him to watch that. I believe he won't find this blog, so, whatever. I want to write what I want.

May

Yeay, my first official online course certificate. I am so proud of myself for this. From this, I believe I know I have managed my time well and I want to take another course after. 

This month, I finally decided to go to dentist and got a lot of treatments. A lot of things should be fixed but luckily the doctor is very patients. I glad I decided to take care of my teeth. 

I don't know where I got the courage, but I send him a video message. Smh. What was I thinking?

June

When we talked about June, we couldn't skip it without talk about BTS Second chapter. Hmm. I know all along it would be happened. So, I just can pray my best for them and supporting them the best I could.

Then, finally I also managed to finish another online course this month. What an achievement for myself during the pandemics.

And I think, starting this month I also found that Notion will be very helpful for me to organize everything. Therefore, I tried my best to try utilizing it.

July

I just remember that I have that annual foundation meeting at Mandarin Hotel. What a very bizarre experience. I don't know. Sometimes, I felt so weird to stay at that 5-star hotel by myself even though it's for work related.

August

I send my favorite lyrics for a month to him. This was indeed a crazy thing that I did.

I don't think many things happened on this month. Hmm, I didn't find many notes for this month. 

Ahh, I just remembered. It's full of drama for this month. The OSF Visit at Jakarta really drained my energy :/

September

Well, I got a chance to travel to Aceh. Smh. So many things that I could experience from this trip. Even though it's a little bit awkward because I only go there with Mas Donny. But overall, it's one of the memorable trips.

Before the trip, I managed to send a long wish for him. I didn't know if he ever read it, but let it be. That's just so me. 

Sadly, after the trip, the reality hits me. Long story short, my supposed to be co-worker, decided to resign and that's the beginning of the attack from the fire country. Geez. I end up crying a lot in this month.

October

Que sera sera
Whatever will be will be~~

I think, that was my motto for this month. I really don't care about anything that will happened on my work. I just do what I can do without thinking about the consequence.

Thankfully, I got a little bit happiness when my sister came to Jakarta. I was happy to be her guide for a moment even though we couldn't go anywhere that much.

This month, I also managed to finish another online course. I am so happy about it. Since I struggled a lot to finish this course, I felt so proud of myself.

Another happy moment on this month, I decided to watch the Coldplay Liveplay. Oh my, I never regret that I spent a lot to watch it. Hope someday, I can watch it in real life concert.

Well, about him, I got the confirmation that I am the only person he chatted at Telegram. Sigh. Yet, he still doesn't want to contact me through another way,

November

Finally, I gained my confidence to retake the Sejong test. At the very least, I have made some progress and managed to get 2A. 

My highlights for this month? I went to Banyuwangi for travel and got the chance to go home. Then, what I didn't expect to be happened to me, I got tested positive for COVID-19. My goodness. After three years I managed to avoid it, at the end I finally got positive.

December

Still have to do the isolation because of COVID-19. But I am happy cause I can spend my time at home. I really grateful for Astro, Halodoc, and also Healthy Go for helping me through my isolation day. 

On the last month last year, so many things have also happened.

Me, Nurul, and Supri finally got a chance to visit Museum Tanah dan Pertanian at Bogor. The museum is so cool, and we are very happy to go there. So many funny experiences we got that day. 

Then, Me, Supri, and Kakrand spent the last holiday in 2022 with visiting Ragunan Zoo, eating all you can eat at Sogogi, and also karaoke.

Things that we didn't expect at all is about Nurul who have to move from Depok to Surabaya. We were kinda sad about it. I hope she can manage to live there, and we can also meet very soon.

So, what's 2022 means for me?

I felt calmer than 2021. If I go through my notes, I know sometimes I felt so frustrated of something, but nowadays, I can more embrace it. 

I don't know if I can reach it on 2023 or not, but I do really wanna continue my study. I should start my preparation very soon. 

About my love life, at this point, I know there's only a tiny chance we could be together. All of the rejection and heartbreak sometimes felt so real. But I just know, he just didn't care at all about me. So, I just want 2023 made me become a better version. 

So, thank you for the memories, 2022! And, hello, 2023!

Sincerely,
Ra
23.01.01