2009 Resolutions

I never do thing like this. So, this is my first time. I hope it works.

My resolutions:
1. Get my book published
2. Get a job or business to make money
3. More creative and better in getting ideas and writing
4. Read more good fictional stories
5. Traveling abroad (give my parents ticket to do it too)

Dog Handling, a novel by Clare Naylor

Yesterday, Liv Elliot had it all: a great flat in London’s Notting Hill, an actual career (okay, as an accountant), and a coveted fiancé. Every girl’s dream, right? But then Tim declared that the wedding was off—leaving Liv shell-shocked. Luckily, she’s got her best friend’s fab Australian beach house in which to recuperate.

The restorative powers of the Sydney sun, sand, and sea soon have Liv feeling wonderfully anti-accountant. Then she runs into old flame Ben Parker. It’s been years since they fooled around during a summer fling, but Liv never forgot that genetically blessed face. Raring to help her land beautiful Ben, Liv’s friends teach her the Rules of Dog Handling: Treat a man like a dog and he’ll be eating out of your hand. But surely this can’t actually work? Liv is about to find out that it can—but she’s hardly prepared for the results.

Treating men like we playing with dogs. It’s interesting and I never think about it. Before, I hate when I read the male character throw the female protagonist (or women, commonly) away like rubbish. In this story, women take control.

We can look Liv’s character develop. She’s just broke up, very desperate and do her job halfheartedly. She goes for vacation, have fun with her friends, have relationship with wrong guy again and learn how to treat them like dogs. She make her business well. She’s successful but not in her love life. There’s no one good point in lying – though it’s white lie.

I can imagine Australia in Liv’s point of view. The market, pubs, Mardi Gras parade, the beach. It’s like traveling promo to attrack tourists. And I can’t believe Ms. Naylor put homosexual characters. But, it’s ok. I think they make the story alive and even funnier. I laughed when I read Dave and James transformed to Cher or whoever they wanted to. I imagine handsome and tall guys (yeah, make me happy) but they wear and do women stuff (wig, makeup, waxing, OMG!) It’s look like my eyes hopped out of its place. Make me “Wow!”

Book-O-Meter

Septimus Heap: Magyk, a novel by Angie Sage

The 7th son of the 7th son, aptly named Septimus Heap, is stolen the night he is born by a midwife who pronounces him dead. That same night, the baby's father, Silas Heap, comes across a bundle in the snow containing a newborn girl with violet eyes. The Heaps take this helpless newborn into their home, name her Jenna, and raise her as their own. But who is this mysterious baby girl, and what really happened to their beloved son, Septimus?

A different magical world from the one that stuck in our head (Harry Potter sagas). Wizards and witches live with human, ghost and soldiers in ancient country which was lead by a queen. They live in castle, tower or barracks. They wear robes and tunics and hunt animals for food. The spells are unique. We hold the charm and then say the incantation. It’s in English, tends to poem style with modification in writing. For example: Magyk for Magic, Darke for Dark. Half Harry Potter, half Chronicles of Narnia. This story is full of imaginations.

Good story, but I feel a little bored especially before Boy 412 started to talk. After that, the intensity grow bigger and bigger. A child knows nothing about magic and he doesn’t realize there is super magic inside of him. I can’t stop reading. I see their world, I see their journey, I see many weird creatures. In the end of the book, Ms. Sage gives us surprise (actually I can gues what it is and I’m right).

I can’t wait to the second book, Flyte.

Book-O-Meter

Shopaholic and Baby, a novel by Sophie Kinsella

Becky’s life is blooming! She’s working at London’s newest big store, The Look, house-hunting with husband Luke (her secret wish is a Shoe Room)...and she’s pregnant! She couldn’t be more overjoyed—especially since discovering that shopping cures morning sickness. Everything has got to be perfect for her baby: from the designer nursery…to the latest, coolest pram…to the celebrity, must-have obstetrician. But when the celebrity obstetrician turns out to be Luke’s glamorous, intellectual ex-girlfriend, Becky’s perfect world starts to crumble. She’s shopping for two…but are there three in her marriage?

Ms. Kinsella is genious. What Becky thinking of is different than Luke’s. Readers are influenced to think like Becky and wondered what is happening with them. She thinks like that because Luke is mysterious. And with affair symptoms, Becky’s suspicious is complete. When I think it is clear, the antagonist is back.

Becky have to face problem she had made and the consequence is her marriage. I like the ending (although The Brandons still don’t have their own house). I let my tears flow when Becky feels Luke has cheating on her (thank God he is not).

All the female characters are brand-minded, though not so crazy as Becky. They help and support Becky when her husband is not around with their own way. Luke is the best male character from all the book I’ve read (so far). Very kind, gentle, caring, dedicated to his work, clever and rich. Perfectly perfect. I will be very happy being his wife.

Book-O-Meter

Behaving Badly, a novel by Isabel Wolff

All men are beasts…

…or so Miranda Sweet believes. As an animal behaviourist, she can get inside the heads of deluded Dalmatians and introverted iguanas, but she can’t work out why the men in her life behave so badly. Animals are braver kinder and a lot more reliable. So Miranda’s given up on love to open her own clinic and work her magic on neurotic pets and their grateful owners.

But can she keep the whole male species at bay for ever? Her best friend, Daisy, an incurably romantic wedding-planner, doesn’t think so. When a delicious photographer comes into her life, even Miranda starts to wonder if she’s been a bit hasty. But, just when she’s letting her guard down, her past starts to catch up with her. Now, she has to face up to her own behaviour, which hasn’t always been as sweet as she’d like to pretend…

It’s a good story (with very few sex scenes , I like it). The main character is not too cheerful, yet not too shy. She’s average. Miranda is a pet psychiatric and she receives email from her patients that asks about their pets. From the story, now I know pet’s behavior. Why my dog likes bulying other dog, why my cat likes water, etc. I’m sure pet lovers love this book. Ms. Wolff also wrote about photography. Though a little, I know what they’re doing in the dark room (is it its name, isn’t?). I know they go to places and takes landscape photos, feel the wind and see themotion of the cloud and capture the dawn or twilight.

Miranda’s guilt makes her brave. She look for the one she wants to see, she finds him and she asks for forgiveness. I can say the story is rather black because Miranda tell readers she did bad thing in the beginning of the book. Readers know Miranda’s feeling and how she can’t tell the truth. Nevertheless, Miranda hates her ex-fiance, so her feeling is more stress than before.
The story is so me. When I read it, I realize, “Wow, it’s me”. No, no. I never do bad things like Miranda. But what they say, feel, think, do; their behavior, their relationship, it’s like me. The book is my other life that people can consume. I feel like I’m the role model of the character. Yeah.

The rarer action is in virtue, than in vengeance…

Book-O-Meter