to Tokyo to Love, a novel by Mariskova

Everybody has a dream. To Nina, her dreams is having a perfect life: stay at home, raise kids, take care of her family and husband and as a result, she gets husband who’s staring her with loving eyes. Perfect life she sees in her mom.

She almost get her dream. But, before her marriage, Ian Prayogo, her fiancé, giving her bad news: he has affair with his ex-girlfriend and has to marry her.

Nina has to bury her dream. Without dream, love and soul, Nina goes to Japan to forget Ian. In Tokyo, Nina tries to get her life back. She finds her medicine, a mysterious-man-in-black she meets everyday in subway and a cyber friend whom she never met called Takung.

One by one, Nina can face her life. Those are because of her cyber friend and her love to the mysterious guy in subway. But, when Nina can almost forget her past, Ian comes to her and asks her to be back with him. And he is not alone. Karina, Ian’s wife comes, too and asks Nina to stay away from her husband or she will kill her…

It is a good story. I know Japanese culture from anime and manga. And reading this, I even know a lot more. Mariskova wrote with some simple sentences.

The story is told by flashback style. Sometimes Nina is dreaming about her past, too. What I hate about this is Nina’s life is too bitter. Little by little, Mariskova open up Nina’s heart by meeting her with her-man-in-black-in-train. It’s romantic.

I think Mark is in love with Nina. He just can’t tell her how he feels. Poor Mark.

Septimus Heap: Flyte, a novel by Angie Sage

It's been a year since septimus heap discovered his real family and true calling to be a wizard. As Apprentice to Extra Ordinary Wizard Marcia Overstrand, he is learning the fine arts of Conjurations, Charms, and other Magyk, while Jenna is adapting to life as the Princess and enjoying the freedom of the Castle.

But there is something sinister at work. Marcia is constantly trailed by a menacing Darke Shadow, and Septimus's brother Simon seems bent on a revenge no one understands. Why is the Darke Magyk still lingering?

Not as good as the first book. The adventure is plain and boring. I’m not too excited when Septimus finally gets his Flyte Charm. This must be happen in the end, though. But the sensation is flat. There are no thriller and suspense when DomDaniel’s bones walk through Marcia and wants to touch her to death.

The good thing here is Septimus meet his missing friend in Young Army, 409—now called Wolf Boy. The other surprise that not too surprising is Jenna’s real father is back. But… what I like the most is: DRAGON! Septimus has green baby dragon that chew and scratch everything named Spit Fyre. It’s a funny name. Of course a dragon spit fire from its mouth. At the end of the book, Spit Fyre is as big as a pony and Septimus is riding on it (reminds me of Eragon and Saphira). He must be very cute.

I’m waiting for the third book. I hope the adventure is better. Keep on practicing, Septimus.

The Wish List, a novel by Melanie La’Brooy

Who says a modern girl can't believe in fairytales?

Scatty, funny and smart, Lucy is a hopeless romantic. With an unshakeable faith in happy endings, she drives her friends Meg and Chloe crazy as she tries time and again to make her best friend Tom fall in love with her.

Then Lucy meets the man of her dreams - or so it seems. But when she's faced with a case of mistaken identity, a noble quest, a lovelorn serenade and a duel to the bitter end, Lucy must confront the eternal question: is true love fact, fiction, or something in between?

Reading Lucy and Tom’s argueing communication, reminds me of the same thing happen to Clark Kent and Lois Lane in Smallville TV series. All the time they’re together, in all condition—Clark helps Lois, both Clark and Lois are acting like heroes to save friends or victims, Clark and Lois are at work—they argue to each other. To me Lucy and Tom show their love with their own way.

I think La’Brooy did weird things: everytime Lucy or Tom had problems, they will forget to sit down and talk to solve their problem because their friends had smaller problems that seems more important. It is the core of Lucy and Tom’s unsuccessful relationship. She called it flea powder—or scum powder? I don’t know what’s the real words, I read it in Indonesian. Something itchy make their relationship on and off.

I laughed when I read this book. It’s fun when I read it at home, I can laugh everytime I want. But I can’t do that in public places. It killed me reading histerically drama queen Lucy without laughing the funny things. I can’t even smile. People will look at me and think something’s wrong with me.

Lost in Teleporter, a novel by Tria Barmawi

Dewey has never thought that teleporter the most he adored made him lost his nose. Who knows super sophisticated technology still has bug which, unfortunately, are known when he used it.

But, Dewey got confused. Is it possible that this is a miracle? First, he never like the shape of his old nose. Second, he meets the beautiful and genious from NatioTrans that make his heart beating around, Meylana.

Or, is it a disaster? First, because now he has weird face after his nose changes. Second, he had enganged and is preparing his marriage with Nilam.

It is a funny science fiction love story in 22nd century. Gadgets have been important for human being. Many developments are made for human comfortability. Earring cellphones, foodporter, teleporter. Maybe we will make that happen in the future. Someday. But I hope there won’t be so much troubles like Dewey had. I can’t imagine if I lose my nose or replace with someone else’s nose. Me with stranger’s nose? Nope, thanks.

Information technology jargons, astral projection, wayang and love. All in one book. I can read many aspects completely in just one book. Barmawi’s style is funny and easy to enjoy.

Reality TV Bites, a novel by Shane Bolks

Allison Holloway may be one of the last holdouts: a true reality TV junkie. (Hey, there's no shame in admitting you enjoy watching the Donald say "You're fired!" for the millionth time.) But when her boss signs up their interior design firm for Kamikaze Makeover, Allison knows things are never going to be the same again.

Dozens of cameras are set to tape every embarrassing moment as two teams compete for $3 million by executing a bold design concept using unorthodox materials (sex toys, anyone?). As if that wasn't bad enough, a hunky producer tries to seduce Allison with fine champagne and limo rides, while an equally hunky Dave wants to introduce her to the finer things in his life like beer and basketball games, and a piranhalike press hounds her day and night -- and let's not forget the vibrator wall art.

Will Allison ever get her life back? Will she finally find her prince after kissing so many frogs? Join Allison as she fights back against the lies, the double-dealing, and the backstabbing to prove that she's a survivor even a gooey round of pudding wrestling can't defeat.

Blue bloods really exists and they do businesses like us. Prince Nicolo Thierry Ferdinand Ignazio Alfonso Roberto Paolo Tadero Giovanni Boubon-Parma. Oh, God, the whole male names in the world are there! Handsome, rich, sexy and have power. But, he is a jerk. After he failed taming Allison, he uses his aristocracy pushing her to the deepest hole.

Firstly, Allison is a bitch but she is not. Sometimes she can be one, but it’s all because of her teenage life. Poor Allison. Hiding in Ms. Fashion-Perfect face. Thank God, Dave saves her. I confessed: I think Nicolo is Mr. Perfect for Allison because Dave rejects her. I can’t believe there is a man like him! (Ok, there must be a lot of man like him if authors wants to.) He rejects beautiful, smart, success,sexy red-haired woman for a reason: Dave loves Allison. Oh, how sweet!

The most interesting part is reality show. Of course it is the background. I can’t imagine there is reality show like this. MTV have this kind of show and designers do makeover someone’s place with their own style. But in this book Kamikaze Makeover! do that to someone’s place with things given by the producer/creative team. Such as empty soup cans and vibrators. Yeah, you don’t have eyes problems. Vibrators ! Ugh! I will not allow designers to put sex toys in my table and use them as lamp posts, even the best team do that and they give me a lot of money.

Novel on Screen 2009-2010

Hollywood are running out of original story. They make sequel, prequel, spin-off, remake and the most of films nowadays are ADAPTATION. From comic books, novels, tv shows.

Below are the second part of Novel on Screen:
1. The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger, August 14, 2009
2. New Moon by Stephenie Meyer, November 20, 2009
3. Cirque du Freak by Darren Shan, 15 January 2010
4. The Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of Dawn Treader by C.S. Lewis, May 7, 2010
5. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows by J.K. Rowling, November 19, 2010