The Other Side of Me

Author: Sidney Sheldon

Translator: Wawan Eko Yulianto

Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Publication Date: June 2007

Pages: 480

You'll never know what's next until you turn the page.

That's what Sidney Sheldon's father told him when he tried to commit suicide at the age of 17. Sidney Sheldon struggled with bipolar disorders for years. This disorder made him changed his mood easily. Sometime he's too happy, the next time he felt totally depressed. 

I have read every books Sheldon has written and although his recent novels aren't as good as earlier ones, he is still my favorite storyteller. Almost all his books has been number-one international bestsellers. This time Sheldon tells his own life story as engagingly as he tells his fictional stories.

Growing up in 1930s America, the young Sheldon knew that he must struggle to survive. Millions were out of works and the Sheldon family was forced to go around America in search of employment. His dreams were to become a writer and to break into Hollywood.

Since he wrote great novels, I thought this book will tells the detail of his life as the writer but I was wrong. He tells very little about his career as a novel writer. He focuses more on the challenges he faced early in his career as a screenplay and musical writer. He worked together with actors, legendary producers and musical stars. It turned out that he started to write his first novel when he was in his 50s. At that time he was tired of collective works and being a writer is a freedom. He can write whatever he wants. I guess much of his novels have been influenced by what had happened in his life.

This is a magical story of a life on both sides, of struggles and of the success and how one man fought himself to become the master of his game. Sheldon died on January 30, 2007 (aged 89) from complication arising from Pneumonia.

   

Shiny Happy Girls

My girls. My little pieces of HEAVEN...:))

Dari Rue Saint Simon ke Jalan Lembang

Author: Nh. Dini

Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Publication Date: February 2012

Pages: 218

The line that said, Life is a mystery is definitely true. Every time I read Nh. Dini's memoir in her  Cerita Kenangan series, I always feel amazed and curious where will it end? 

This is the 13th book of Cerita Kenangan, the latest book that I read was Pondok Baca Kembali ke Semarang. It's absolutely a long series to follow. According to Nh. Dini, the purpose of dividing her life stories into certain different books are to avoid a big-heavy-boring memoir.  By putting them in different thin books, she hoped that they will be easier and more interesting to read. So far each time I see the latest title of this series I always buy it and put it in my favorite collection books. I followed the story from Nh. Dini's childhood in kampung Sekayu, Semarang, Central Java, her experience as a stewardess, her stories in several countries when she still lived with her diplomat husband and their two kids, Lintang and Padang, and finally her saddest part, a breaking up with her husband and her plan to go back to Indonesia.

This latest book is still telling about her plan to rearrange her new life after certain period of separation with her husband. She was sure that she had to leave Europe, get her Indonesian citizenship back and  started a new life in her hometown, kampung Sekayu, Semarang.

Choosing to have a divorce and being on her own is definitely a big and hard decision. She met several obstacles along the way but with the helps from some of her relatives, best friends and colleagues finally she could make it. Moreover with her writing skill and environmental concern, she  was chosen to join the Ministry of Environment to some remote areas and directly dealt with the ecological issues.

Other interesting topic is the process to obtain her Indonesian citizenship back. When she decided to arrange it by herself at the Central District Court in Jakarta, she found out that it's not a light issue. It's a long process and would take a very long period until finished. There is a strong reason behind her decision to get her Indonesian citizenship back, at first she wanted to live in Europe and started writing stories in France but a good friend of her said that France writers are already a lot while Indonesian writers are still limited. That suggestion finally ensured her to leave Europe and go back to her homeland, Indonesia.       

  
 

Kingdom of the Golden Dragon

Author: Isabel Allende

Translator: Fanny Yuanita

Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Publication Date: March 2012

Pages: 360

Isabel Allende is never running out of great stories. This one is the sequel to City of the Beasts. After having traveled with his 'unique' grandmother, Kate Cold, to the Amazon, Alexander Cold could not wait to join her grandma on her next adventure.

The time is finally coming, here they are Alexander, his best friend Nadia Santos, Kate and the International Geographic crews start their adventure to the desolate Himalaya on a mission to seek the legendary statue of a dragon made of gold. The legends says that the statue can tell your future. No wonder that other party known as the Collector also has the intention to steal the statue. He wants to use the statue's future telling powers to become the richest man in the world instead of being the SECOND richest man for the rest of his life. With the help of a tribe of yeti, a monk and his disciple, Alex and Nadia fight to protect the holy rule of the Golden Dragon.

What I like most about Allende's writing are the strong and vivid characters she creates and her detail research. Every time I finish reading her book, I always feel full of new things. 

How about this book? I fall in love with the wonderful and hilarious relationship between Alexander and his grandma, Kate, and also the peaceful and beautiful Himalaya description. A complete book of an educational, fictional, adventurous, magical and suspenseful, all in one.

 

A Long Holiday Means...

it's time to collect all dirty shoes and sandals, wash and dry them up. 

Since we're so enthusiastic in accomplishing this 'cleaning' mission, it turned out that we washed all things in the shoes cabinet at the same time. 

When suddenly Najla decided to go cycling, she's confused which sandals to wear *just realized that all of her sandals' still wet* hahaha...... 

Fresh Graduate Boss

Author: Margareta Astaman

Publisher: Penerbit Buku Kompas

Publication Date: April 2012

Pages: 246

Is it possible to be a boss although you're just a fresh graduate? Does the stereotype that say 'old people must be having more experiences therefore they are just the right candidates to be a boss (yang tua yang dipercaya)' still applicable? So how come? Should we wear a make up and dress to look older just to attract the interviewers? What should we say when we asked a question like 'what will you be doing in the next 10 years'? 

All those witty questions will be answered by Margareta aka Margie in her simple yet interesting way. This is Margie's third book that I read after After Orchard and Excuse-moi. So far I am still enjoying her writing. Although the topic sometimes a bit serious but Margie always finds her way to deliver it easily.

According to Margie, it's all started with a dream. To dream the impossible. How can we reach our dreams if we have none?  Yes, we tend to have a plan than a dream.Although as Paulo Coelho said, when you want something so badly, the universe  will conspire to make it happen. It seems that if we  want something badly, the confidence, the optimism and the spirit will move the universe elements in order to simplify our hard effort.

Margie delivers all office stuff in a detail yet witty way, for the sensitive topics like the office politics (it's always there), the office romance, the colleague, the power syndrome boss, and all. Although Margie herself is one of the excellent example for young people, in the age of 20s, she's already been a Country Editor in one of the International News office, an Asst. Vice President in a multinational company and a Chief of Content in an internet media, but she's said this is not an autobiography. This is merely a sharing about the process in achieving a career through the eyes of a fresh graduate young lady who happens to be posted in executive managerial. She also wants to show that we don't have to wait until we're old to dream and to become a leader.

So what is your dream job? Is your current job your dream job? If not, then why are you here? Let's start the journey now. Go find the things you like so you don't have to work for the rest of your life. The loudest person in the world who says that you can't make it is yourself. BEAT YOURSELF. 

A Hectic June

Whew...it's already June 11 and I just posted one post in my blog. Time does flies. June is a busy month. It's started with the school test, it means I have to stand by assisting Najla with her lessons, then continued with the preparation of the school performances, the class meeting, the school reports and finally my girls and all kiddos in the world favorite moment which is the longgggg school holiday, yay...!!!! 

Actually there is still no special plan for this coming long holiday *whispering* but I am sure there are a lot of things to do to have a simple yet memorable holiday *thinking hard* Happy Holiday everybody....!!!   

In Books We Trust

At the moment I caught this red books holder at Informa Furnishing, I instantly fell in love with it. It's just too cute to be true, don't you think so? Well...it seems that all things related to BOOKS will always be special for me:)