James And Oliver - The Hero And His Sidekick

1984 project progress (for class)

I was in Periplus Setiabudi One Central Jakarta to meet a friend of mine. A funny story behind this meeting is that we were bonding over mutual interest in the novel The Secret History. She and I have the same favorite character, which obviously is Henry Marchbanks Winter. That was our second meeting, so it wasn't that awkward anymore.

I am also thankful that I was able to bring two of my book wishlists: Any Ozamu Dazai's book and Normal People by Sally Rooney. Honestly, I wasn't planning to bring The Setting Sun home because I intended to buy the other one, No Longer Human. Due to the availability of No Longer Human's old cover book, I chose to bring The Setting Sun instead. The publisher of Osamu Dazai books, which version I bought, has a distinctive book cover style that matches each other. These beautiful covers surely would be my priority wishlist for the next year.

Due to many new activities I've had these past 2 months, I am trying my best now to start reading again and stacking that habit once again so I won't easily fall into a reading slump. I have not even been able to finish my current read since November. Not because the book is boring, but it was just me who gets tired easily to even be done with 10 pages minimum.

But, all good now, at least I'm trying and actually do read, although it's quite hard to beat my sleepiness.

Kings of Sin Series: Book 1 - Book 4 by Ana Huang

I've tasted the poison and no cures can even help me.

My first encounter with Ana Huang's work was with Twisted Series. Then, I've added Kings of Sin as my new addiction. But here's my honest thoughts about half of the collection from the series.

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Kings of Sin #1: King of Wrath Dante Russo and Vivian Lau Rating: 3.0/5.0 Ana Huang knows how to kick hard and right on each of her first book of the series, and King of Wrath successfully wrapped my head around it just like Twisted Love. Plot wise, predictable. I mean at this point, I don't think there would be any left billionaires corny cheesy scenario of a love scene that hasn't been written, so yes, the plot is okay enough. But, the book gave you one twisted starter that is for me personally was brilliant enough to make you sit tight and devour the whole story. And that thing is the part when Dante and Vivian's relationship actually started because of the blackmailing Vivian's Dad pulled on Dante. This twisted scene alone, make the whole story fascinating and worth to follow. Genius touch! Lastly, I genuinely am not a fan of Dante Russo, but Vivian can put me to do the house chores for the whole year and I won't complain. That woman is gorgeous.

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Kings of Sin #2: King of Pride Isabella Valencia and Kai Young Rating: 2.5/5.0 I would like to blame myself for riding the whole Twisted Series and Kings of Sin's book in very short time, which led myself to feel deadly boring of this entire. But to be honest? This book just ain't. It didn't ate, it didn't bite me hard. I took almost a month to finish the book, which is pretty confusing cause I devour the previous books in only one and half week. The steamy part might interestingly hot and phew, hot. But it's not the sole reason I read this book. I want to see two nerds, doing nerdiest and steamiest shits ever, to proof that NERDS ARE NOT BORING PERSON. Kai Young translating Latin for fun is so nerd, but yes we need to see more of that mentioned. Like, Kai Young if you wanna be a knockoff Henry Winter, you better do your job right! I really did try my best to like him but my God this guy just so unbearable to me. He was just too perfect to be a character, like I need a freaky twisted of him, like specific nerd shit he can pull. But thanks to my lovely Isabella Valencia, I can sit on this ride and finish the book. Perhaps the lack of plot building, too predictable twist on the side of Kai Young's character are ones that kinda turn me off. This book singlehandedly almost make me stop read the next book.

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Kings of Sin #3: King of Greed Alessandra Davenport and Dominic Davenport Rating: 4.0/5.0 Some people said three is not a lucky number, but it's never with me and the 3rd book of each series I've read from Ana Huang's works. The plot is about a married couple who lost their sparks and love and warmth of marriage, that initially started from a beautiful and loving relationship. The whole book basically is the series of attempts of Dominic Davenport to win his ex wife, Alessandra, yet also series of reality checks for Dominic that he was the one who firstly drove away from his own marriage. Dominc realized that his whole relationship isn't just broke because of him being greedy. Works are just the trigger for him to drive away, but trauma from the past is the root of all bad things that happen inside his marriage. So he is trying his best to solve it and save his marriage. I love how Alessandra, despite being madly in love with Dominic, still prioritize her ownself and her dignity. She stands up for herself when no one else did. She knows loving someone too much and too dearly made her lose the love for herself and she, FIX THAT. I was at the point where I don't mind to not reading any smut scene come from this book cause the way they solved the problem is so… mature. I love how feel like I'm a guardian of Alessandra and how the attempts to win her back by Dominic, slowly win me too. Dominic, you have all the blessing buddy.

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Kings of Sin #4: King of Sloth Sloane Kensington and Xavier Castillo Rating: 3.5/5.0 I felt like #3 of the series was a roller coaster for my feeling so the #4 felt like cool down. I mean, Sloane is also figuratively cold. Sloane's straightforwardness is cool and okay for me until she become unhinged like Jesus Lord, please do something to this North Pole. I almost hit the breaking point but yes thanks for the Mr. Xavier 'Horny Pantsy' Castillo, this book is saved at last. Genuinely, I don't have any other thoughts but yes well written character. But Ana really need to stop putting previous characters from the series into her new books cause it really page consuming and I rather learn and read about the reason 'why is this character being like this?' rather than seeing another appearance of Alex Volkov.

beneath the endless sky

Coffees I consumed throughout July. Became addicted to hot Vanilla Latte.

I Who Have Never Known Men by Jacqueline Harpman

I need everyone to go to bookstore and grab this book ASAP.

This book wrecked me in a very great way.

March to April: Caffeine's Gallery.

Crazy how this bitter liquid (although not all of them are) helped me cope with everything.

Ulasan, Aborsi adalah Hak Perempuan

Penulis : Pat Grogan dan Evelyn Reed

Tebal: 90 halaman

Penerbit: Penerbit Independen

Kategori : Feminisme dan Sosial.

Nilai : 9/10

Pat Grogan dan Evelyn Reed telah mencurahkan akumulasi pengetahuan mereka selama bertahun-tahun ke dalam 90 halaman buku, dengan pelbagai teori, argumentasi, pengalaman ketubuhan serta penelitian untuk menegaskan—bahkan memperjuangkan sesuatu yang seharusnya memang berada dibawah kendali perempuan. Aku tidak mengerti kenapa buku ini bahkan harus ditulis, dan kenapa muatan dari buku ini terasa seperti pengetahuan baru bagiku. Seharusnya perempuan memang mengetahui bahwa mereka memiliki hak atas aborsi, hak untuk menimbang dam memilih apakah sel yang tumbuh di rahim mereka—ya milik mereka—akan mendapat kesempatan untuk tumbuh menjadi anak atau tidak.

Menurutku sebagai pembaca, Grogan dan Reed menulis buku ini dengan apik, dimulai dari sebuah peringatan bahwa para penguasa telah menggunakan isu aborsi untuk mengkonstruksi perkelahian antar buruh perempuan. Hak kita sendiri ternyata digunakan sebagai alat untuk menciptakan konflik horizontal, sehingga alih-alih memerangi sistem dominasi maskulin atau hukum yang tidak memihak perempuan, warga sipil malah saling dipertentangkan.

Mereka juga menegaskan bahwa ketika hak perempuan untuk memutuskan atas tubuhnya dirampas, bukan hanya kebebasan mereka yang dipertaruhkan, tetapi juga masa depan mereka—hak untuk menentukan kapan atau apakah mereka ingin menjadi seorang ibu. Ini bukan sekadar isu hukum, tetapi juga soal keadilan sosial. Negara yang melarang aborsi bukan hanya merampas hak dasar perempuan, tetapi juga membahayakan hidup mereka dengan memaksa mereka mencari jalan yang tidak aman.

Grogan dan Reed menyajikan fakta bahwa negara-negara yang melegalkan aborsi dengan layanan kesehatan yang baik justru memiliki tingkat aborsi yang lebih rendah dibandingkan negara yang melarangnya. Akses terhadap pendidikan seksual yang komprehensif dan alat kontrasepsi yang mudah dijangkau terbukti lebih efektif dalam menekan angka kehamilan tidak diinginkan dibandingkan dengan kriminalisasi.

Namun, yang membuat buku ini begitu kuat bukan hanya data dan analisisnya, tetapi juga cara penulis mengangkat pengalaman perempuan yang dipaksa melahirkan, yang kehilangan nyawa karena aborsi ilegal, yang dihukum karena memilih hidup mereka sendiri di atas kehendak negara.

Membaca buku ini rasanya seperti dihadapkan pada kenyataan yang seharusnya tidak perlu kita hadapi—bahwa hak atas tubuh sendiri masih harus diperjuangkan mati-matian. Grogan dan Reed tidak menulis untuk memberi kita pengetahuan baru, tapi untuk mengguncang kesadaran kita.

Abortion is a healthcare!

The Secret History by Donna Tartt

I liked Henry. It was happened rather naturally due to the tendency of mine to like cold and mysterious characters. The book synopsis on the book, will not giving you anything rather than a thought of 'ah this book is about students who discovered about the lost history from Ancient Greek and the fact is they're going to change the world with their discovery'. Mind you, I wasn't a Penguin Publisher collector/reader type of girl. Rather, I am more like 'I read what I want and what my heart desired, whenever I want'. So to be frank, this was my very first 500+ pages English novel that I could finish. Which is surprising cause I remember I bought this book only for the aesthetic.

The beginning of the book was so brutal, with the fact that someone has died, not just died but murdered. What a start, isn't it? But it's classic, it ought to be mysterious and made you uncomfortable to sleep without knowing what happen next. The thing about this type of book (modern classic), you'll know that this is a masterpiece when the first sentence of the book was about death.

I lost my words, to be honest. But me, here, right after finishing the book, not for criticizing the book, but only to stay sane. The thing that solely going through my mind is how furious I am yet I feel so empty cause this book is just end like that. Not giving me enough closure that I need!

I almost hate everyone in this book, even with Bunny. But then, by the end of the book, I pity myself. I pity myself for even mad at them all.

Bring back my sanity. I pity myself for not even mad at their wrong-doings to Bunny

Sometimes we need poetry to endure our most painful moments for it makes everything beautiful