"The Fault in Our Stars" by John Green

To all of you DIE-HARD-NOVEL-LOVERS and bookworms out there, you probably have heard about this book.

I got this from my cousin in Amsterdam- who spent her free purchase points to get me this book- & back then I wasn't into reading anymore, especially NOT Teenage drama. Though this book is not just about that ordinary lovey-dovey drama.

It's about a sixteen-year-old patient named Hazel, who has cancer and was forced to go to Support Group by her parents. But then she eventually fell in love with a boy she met in the Support Group which happens to be an ex-basketball player and amputee, named Augustus Waters. Though due to her illness, she realized that she had to limit being involved in this love, cause sooner or later she might be just another heartache to Augustus. Sounds pretty interesting, no?

Unfortunately though, back then I was travelling and was bringing along Murakami's Norwegian Wood and it got me sick because of its unexpected mature content. The fact that it was so... phenomenal to the Japanese got me deciding that MAYBE I wasn't so much into reading anymore.

(If you're wondering what Norwegian Wood is really about, I'll give you a personal review some other time, just- gimme time to take off those images from my mind first.)

I was giving up on reading and buying new novels since I could only enjoy novels I had already bought like Mitch Albom's, Paulo Coelho's or Meg Cabot's. The "New York's Best Selling" title didn't affect me anymore because of my past trauma by Murakami, but still my cousin insisted me to read this and that I won't regret. She convinced me by saying it only took her one day to finish the book and it got her weeping.

Still, I didn't get the time to pick the book up. So for a while, I left it in the bookshelves on top of my bed.

And then the movie trailer of this book came along. I saw it 2 days ago from TheFineBro's "Teen React" and they were all pretty excited about it:

"*GASP!!*  LE BOOK!!"

It's common to see teenage girls getting all giggly,"aaaww" and teary-eyed over the book/trailer since girls are suppose to be more sentimental (HAH! STEREOTYPE-ER!), but even the boys said they were reading the book! So I got curious and finally take a peek on.

And here is the impression I had from reading this book:

( + )

To my surprise, for these last 2 days eventhough I'm busy with my thesis, I couldn't stop reading it once I started. I thought it would be one of those cheesy teenybopper novel, but no, it was even more than that. It has life lessons and deeper emotional understanding that not only teenager, but also adults can adapt. Especially understanding towards people with cancer and what people around them went through. There is this honesty and humanity that Green portrayed in his characters. His narrative, his description, were really SMART. I love how he showed his broad and deeper knowledge, humor and empathy in this whole book. It's easy to see that he really did gave this book a serious thought.

I mean, he even put a thought to titled the book based on one of Shakespeare's famous quote from his play Julius Caesar.

( - )

Though I have to admit some of the words and language he used aren't commonly used, it's not that typical slang you'd find an ordinary teen would be using (in most chick-flicks, by the way). But the sense of vocab intelligence somehow became one of the attractions the book gave. I mean, usually if a word doesn't make that much sense to me, I'd just leave it laying somewhere and eventually forget its whole existence. Yes, that's how low my endurance is. But this book had this... charisma and easy flow that made me want to try harder and it's still surprisingly easy to immerse in it. It again shows the seriousness Green pour out on this book. 

Conclusion!

Maybe there really is no downside to this book, just minor difficulties.

Hence, to all you readers who love to have deep thoughts about life, people, humor and love, this book is a complete combination! Its honest narrative and distinctive characters will definitely not fail nor waste your time. Me, for example, couldn't remember the last time I enjoyed reading so much (especially because you, Murakami, ruined it with your writings that emphasizes lust-over-love matter). It felt REALLY nice to have read this book to remind me and restore my faith in humanity and good books.

Soooo... Yes! I'm going to promote this book to YOU LUCKY BLOG-READERS by showing off my selfie with my kitty-like eyes staring intently at you from behind le book (with hopes they would somehow mesmerize and hypnotize you.)

I'd love to know your comments about this book, so feel free to write it on the comments section!

Me and My Otome life :')

It's been quite a long time since I wrote here. Well,  I wouldn't be writing here today if a friend of mine didn't remind me I even have a blog.

Nothing much to say about me, beside the fact that the final exam is coming soon, and we're currently having our one-week-rest before it starts. Though I've been spending a lot of my time at Gloria's house, playing the guitar or just hang out there and brag about my Tokimeki skills.

*sigh*
and to remember that I actually HAVE a boyfriend.
Me and my LDR and my Otome life.

yesh, baby! I'll poke you til you love me!

If I have to analyze myself psychologically, this is how I cope the emptiness I'm feeling. well, I don't see any better alternative, seeing that I myself am already in a relationship, what, would you rather I flirt around?. I mean, c'mon girls, most of you play these kinds of games to feel the emotions right? At least on your first attempt playing these kinds of games, those urgent doki doki feelings are the ones you're trying to achieve right?

and that moment when that guy that you've been chasing for 3 years (of the game) finally comes to the church to make the legend come true...

...and how he (FINALLY!) confess, how much he loves you (though it's kinda obvious throughout the crazy nonstop date calls you're getting) and how you realize that all those years (or literally hours)  you've spent has finally come to its end and it's all worth the time?

 "That's why, come closer."

and when it actually, ends, you have those mix feelings of accomplishment and disappointment.

 

and you kinda wish that.. somehow something magical, would happen to you and suddenly something strange happen to your NDS and you feel like those people in your fantasy starts crawling out to make your dreams come true...

If so, then you must currently be in Disney World!

but no people, those things don't happen in real life.

At the end of the day, this is just a game, a game to help spend your time feeling less lonely, only to make you realize that all good things must come to an end.

But hey, even for a moment, it's still enough, it's enough to cheer you up even for a while.

(Especially if you're a melancholist)

It's a good runaway, for me at least.

And that's how I end up spending so much time playing otome games OVER AND OVER again.

Kisah "Kasih" di Indomaret

Aku masuk Indomaret dengan terburu-buru. Mencari rak tempat makanan kecil yang manis-manis diletakkan. "Walens Choco Soes, Walens Choco Soes" aku terus mengulang nama itu di kepalaku. Makanan kecil favoritku, tapi kali ini aku membelinya untuk Mama. Aku jalan cepat menuju rak pojok karena sekilas melihat makanan yang manis-manis di situ. Ketika itulah aku melihat lelaki itu berdiri, bersama seorang temannya yang tertunduk membelakangiku mengambil sesuatu yang terjatuh di lantai, sehingga wajah lelaki itu menjadi sangat jelas untuk kulihat. Aku sadari kami beberapa detik saling menatap, dia tertegun menatapku. Aku tidak bermaksud memperhatikannya, aku ikut tertegun karena mereka langsung berhenti berbicara saat aku datang. Segera aku alihkan pandanganku ke rak-rak di sebelah kananku. Aku menunduk dibelakang temannya. Dengan sigap kuambil Walens Choco Soes yang terletak di bagian bawah rak dan langsung berbalik pergi. Menuju antrian.

Sekilas kulihat lelaki itu masih terus memperhatikanku. Aku memang tidak melihat wajahnya dengan jelas -apakah dia tersenyum, ataukah hanya melongok di situ sambil terus menatapku- tapi aku bisa merasakan pandangannya, dan jelas sekali wajahnya mengarah kepadaku. Karena di Indomaret saat itu hanya ada dua petugas lelaki yang sedang jongkok di depan lemari es mengatur minuman, seorang kasir perempuan dan seorang ibu-ibu chinese yang daritadi rewel dan sibuk memilih gelas cantik yang dia dapat dari membeli beberapa buah es krim Magnum. Aku mengantri di samping ibu-ibu itu, berharap lelaki itu sudah melupakanku dan kembali melakukan -atau, membicarakan- apapun yang dia lakukan di belakang tadi. Namun, ternyata dia sudah berjalan saja dan berdiri di samping rak yang paling dekat dengan kasir. Apa yang membuatku yakin dia mendekat semata-mata hanya untuk memperhatikanku? Karena bukannya menunduk melihat-lihat rak di samping kirinya atau sekedar menghadap pada rak-rak itu, dia terang-terangan berdiri di situ, badannya menghadap ke arahku sementara temannya sibuk mencari ntah apaan di rak-rak sekitar situ.

"Jangan lupa masukin gelasnya ya Mbak!" kata si ibu rewel ke kasir yang malang itu.

"Iya, Bu.." kasir menarik laci di bawah mesin, mengeluarkan plastik putih bertuliskan Indomaret dan memasukkan gelas-gelas Magnum itu satu persatu dengan hati-hati.

Bagus, pikirku, setelah gelas-gelas ini masuk aku bisa langsung membayar dan segera pergi, karena aku bisa melihat dari ujung pandanganku, lelaki itu perlahan berjalan menuju kasir, TANPA MEMBAWA APA-APA. Jadi, sudah cukup jelas kalau aku tidak ge-er tanpa alasan. Lagi-lagi aku tidak terlalu memperhatikan wajahnya, aku hanya melirik ke kanan, tapi bisa kulihat mulutnya sedikit terbuka. Tersenyumkah dia?

Tapi kulihat langkahnya terhenti, dia dipanggil oleh temannya. Syukurlah, aku bisa mengistirahatkan jantungku yang sedaritadi berdegup kencang.

"Mbak, kok kembaliannya segini?"

Baru kusadari, urusan si ibu ini daritadi belum selesai juga, dan dia kembali berceloteh, "Kok jadi 204 sih?"

Si Kasir memperhatikan mesinnya, beberapa saat baru menyadari kesalahan yang dia perbuat "Oh, iya, maaf Bu." Buru-buru dia mengetik kembali di mesinnya.

"Harusnya kembaliannya 1500 kan!?" ntah mengapa ibu itu merasa harus banget menegaskan kesalahan si kasir dengan suara yang sedikit keras.

Jantungku kembali berdegup kencang karena ternyata lelaki itu sudah berdiri kira-kira 2 langkah dari tempatku berdiri. Aku buru-buru mengeluarkan uang 10.000 agar bisa langsung membayar dan tidak perlu berlama-lama lagi di tempat itu. Untungnya, saat itu juga si ibu selesai dan membawa pergi 3 kantong belanjaannya yang besar keluar dari pintu kaca yang tidak tertutup. Aku bergeser mengambil posisi ibu tadi, tersenyum kepada kasir sambil menggeser Walens Choco Soes mendekat ke tangan kasir.

"Enam ribu sembilan ratus." sebelum ia selesai berbicara langsung kusodorkan  uang sepuluh ribuku, karena kini lelaki itu sudah mengantri bersama temannya, di sampingku.
Setelah kasir itu memasukkan belanjaanku ke kantong plastik, aku langsung mengambilnya, dengan tidak sabar menunggu uang kembalianku. Aku sudah setengah berjalan saat kasir itu menyerahkan uang kembalian dan langsung mengambil langkah keluar, masuk ke dalam Nissan March merahku.

Eti yang duduk di sampingku, memperhatikan aku yang hanya diam saja di dalam mobil terus menaruh perhatian ke antrian di Indomaret, bukannya menyalakan mesin.

"Kenapa Wan?"

Aku melihat  Eti sekilas, lalu melempar pandanganku ke dalam lagi, ingin memastikan jika apa yang kucurigai memang benar. Lelaki itu, biarpun berdiri di balik temannya, ternyata memang masih memperhatikanku. Aku tidak yakin pandangannya bisa menembus ke dalam kaca mobil, tapi ia jelas-jelas mengintip dari balik bahu temannya, sambil tersenyum. Senyumnya tampak tulus. Tapi...

Aku sadar Eti mengikuti pandanganku. Segera kujelaskan, "Itu orang. Aneh."

"Kenapa?"

"Daritadi ngeliatin. Senyum-senyum."

"Serem amat."

Ya, biarpun aku melihat secercah kebaikan dalam senyumnya, dan jika dibayangkan pertemuan kami yang diawali dengan tatapan-tatapan itu serta bagaimana dia kemudian tidak dapat melepaskan pandangannya dari diriku dan berusaha mendekatiku namun ragu, ini seperti pertemuan-pertemuan yang mengingatkanmu akan suatu adegan di sebuah film, atau novel, atau komik, atau video clip "Wajahmu Mengalihkan Duniaku" Afgan. Ini bisa jadi manis. Ya.

Kalau saja, dia tidak berambut gondrong pirang rusak, berkulit hitam pekat seperti terbakar dan memakai jaket kulit serta berjalan seperti preman. Tidak heran jika jantungku berdetak kencang saat dia mendekat, karena perasaan gelisah dan risih. Atas dasar itulah, aku setuju dengan pendapat Eti. "Iya, serem amat."

Aku berharap pertemuan ini tidak akan berlanjut seperti di film-film.

UPH Festival: Semangat JKT48!!!

Okeh, aku tanpa sengaja menghapus post aku terakhir di blog ini yang judulnya "Whine Whine Whine" padahal ada comment dari Gaby....!!! I'm so sorry Gaby... and yes, satu-satunya hal yang bikin aku menyesal udah hapus itu post karena komennya ikut kehapus doang.

Well, udah setahun lebih aku ga update blog ini ya. Aku terlalu sibuk dengan kehidupanku, dunia maya langsung terlantarkan (halah, twitter update tiap hari pun @wandatanya ). Aku lagi ga punya apa-apa yang seru buat di-share kecuali aku jadi anggota Senat, dan di UPH Fest nanti aku jadi PIC anak Psikologi buat Impartasi Maba. Jadi nanti aku dan satu lagi temanku bertanggung jawab bimbing mereka buat nari-nari di depan satu UPH. Pilihan impartasinya itu ada tiga dan akan diundi nanti, jadinya anak-anak cuma bakal perform salah satu diantara pilihan ini : nari pake lagu "Aku Bisa", Pom Pom Boys and Girls (semacam Cheerleading), atau yang terakhir yang paling menarik dan -aku sangat sangat sangat berharap kepada Bapa, maba Psikologi dapat ini- yaitu COVER DANCE POCARI SWEAT.

...
...
...

1, 2, 3 GO!!!!

.... I WANT YOUUUUU... I NEED YOUUUU...

(nari-nari ala JKT48)

What could be more fun than... DANCING. along. to. JKT48's. HEAVY. ROTATION!!??? Well nari sayur anak-anaknya Kyary Pamyu Pamyu seru juga sih (PRESS THE LINK YOU WON'T REGRET! Tsah! Tsah!). TAPI INI LOMBA!!! LOMBA YANG AKAN DITONTON SATU KAMPUS!! HAHAHAHAAHAHAHAHAHAHAA!!!!

Sorry. Aku terlalu bersemangat.  :">

Lagipula itu masih diundi kok, jadi 1:3 aku bisa dapat Cover Dance Pocari Sweat buat Impartasi.

...

BUT WHO CARES!

I'm gonna try the dance anyway!

MARI NONTON TUTORIAL DAN LATIHAN BERSAMA!