When We Wake

When We Wake
Author: Karen Healey

When We Wake is a story of Tegan Oglietti was killed in 2027 and brought back to life by government in 100 years later. The story is set in Australia, and many has changed in 100 year later when she awake. Her revival was told to be part of the special project in bringing soldiers back to life. However, something is not right and there is conspiracy behind it - Project Ark. I hate the No Migrant policy and people from developing countries are treated as thirdies.

Basically, the story is about Tegan revived and under government supervision of getting back to daily life. However, she was told by an Inheritor of the Earth that she was only a tool for the government and mentioned the Project Ark. The guy was killed on spot. Tegan got suspicious about it and teamed with Bethari, Joph and Abdi to reveal the Project Ark to public. Bethari and Joph got caught by government, Tegan and Abdi got caught by the Inheritor of the Earth. The story ends with Tegan and Abdi managed to escape and upload a tube with the help of Curl Hurfest.

That is it. Great. Now I have to borrow the sequel While We Run from library.

I have this feeling that it is going to have its own movie. Probably in year 2016. We shall see.

The date I finished reading this book : 12 October 2014
Rating : 6.5/10

Other Brother

Other Brother
Author: Simon French

It is a little uncomfortable in the beginning part of the story, there was the urge to really give a lecture and scolding to Kieran of being mean to his cousin, Bon.

In the story, Kieran is a boy who wants to fit into the popular group in school and Bon...he is just a little different than other kids due to his unusual background. Another main protagonists in this story is Julia, a girl who had taken by her mom away from her dad, a missing girl reported.

This is a story about Kieran dislike Bon in their first meeting. When Bon comes back and lives with Kieran's family, Kieran hates him and get jealous of his present (eg. he likes Julia and wants to be friend with her but Bon is her best friend). A bully in the school, Bon is the victim. Kieran is part of the group who bully him.

Thanks that Kieran realizes his mistake and stand out for Bon when he is bullied. Julia's dad found her in the end and she leaves with just a letter behind for Bon.

Story is nice but I really want to read the final message written by Julia! 

The date I finished reading this book : 30 April 2014
Rating : 6.0/10

The Fault In Our Stars

The Fault in Our Stars
Author: John Green

It is unusual theme for a novel. Well, only to me perhaps, as I had never read a novel relates to cancer before this. 

There is a sentence I believe that is most remarkable — "The world is not a wish-granting factory". I hate to admit but no choice, sometimes it just does not turn out the way you want. 

It is a story about a girl, Hazel Grace Lancaster, diagnosed with Stage 4 Thyroid cancer with metastasis forming in her lungs. A girl who always watch America's Next Top Model and read her favourite book, An Imperial Affliction.

She was reluctant to attend support group for children living with cancer but her mom forced her to go. Then at the support group she met Augustus Waters. The story continues with the love between them and the book "An Imperial Affliction" became the point of bonding for them. 

The story is touching but sad. It is truly that "The world is not a wish-granting factory". Issac lost his eyes, Augustus's cancer had returned and died. Life is fragile. 

The ending is nice. It ends with a letter written to Peter van Houten that supposed to be the sequel to the book, an epilogue that he wanted to write for Hazel. However the letter he wrote was actually a eulogy for Hazel.

Part of the letter :

"Almost everyone is obsessed with leaving a mark upon the world."

"We all want to be remembered. I do, too."

"But Van Houten: the marks humans leave are too often scars."

"People will say it's sad that she leaves a lesser scar, that fewer remember her, that she was loved deeply but not widely."

The date I finished reading this book : 11 March 2014
Rating : 7.0/10

Forgotten Country

Forgotten Country
Author: Catherine Chung

"Gorgeous...a heartbreaking story about sisters, family, and keeping traditions alive."

-People

I could not disagree with the statement above. I was having the thought of it would not be interesting at first sight. A point must be emphasized one more time, never judge a book by its cover!

The night before Janie's, Hannah, is born, her grandmother tells her a story: Since the occupation of Korea, their family has lost a daughter in every generation, and Janie is told to keep Hannah safe. Years later, when Hannah inexplicably cuts all ties and disappears, Janie goes to find her. Thus begins a journey that will force her to confront her family's painful silence, the truth behind her parents' sudden move to America twenty years earlier, and her own conflicted feelings toward Hannah.

Indeed, this is the most beautiful book I have ever read. It is touching and heartbreaking. I could resist myself to stop reading once I flipped page one.

The date I finished reading this book : December 2013/ January 2014
Rating : 8.5/10

Undone

Undone
Author: Cat Clarke

It is not that I fancy of beautiful, fantasy, Disney kind of stories. But this "Undone" is truly a ugly stories. Not that the story is not interesting, just it reflects how ugly reality could be.

Gay, suicide, revenge and etc.

Jem Halliday is in love with her best friend, Kai. However, Kai likes guys, he is gay! When a video, of Kai giving a blowjob to a guy, goes viral in the school. He can't take it and subsequently commit suicide.

Due to the 12 pieces of monthly letters, Jem Halliday postpones the course of commit suicide to a year after. Meanwhile, she wants to revenge! To whom has caused the death of her best friend. She wants them to deserve the pain Kai has suffered.

Stories continues with Jem joins the Team Popular as she believes
STUART HICKS
LUCAS MAHONEY
DEREK BUNNEY (Bug)
filmed the video and spread it around.

She couples with Lucas. Plan to dump him when he is in deep love with her.
Places the gay magazines in Bug's car, makes everyone to think he is gay.
Makes a graffiti in every girls lavatories in school of "STUART HICKS RAPED ME"

Things even get uglier when Sasha gets into accident as she got burns on her beautiful face and hair when Jem is doing the final step of her revenge.

The shocking is truth behind the video, it was filmed by Kai's sister, Louise! And the another guy in the video making out with Kai was Louise's boyfriend.

The stories is relatively good, it is very different type of stories I normally read. Tragic, sad, completely knock me off of unexpected plot.

The date I finished reading this book : 28 November 2013
Rating : 6.0/10

Monsieur Linh and His Child

Monsieur Linh and His child
Author: Philippe Claudel

Tao-laï

This is a beautiful and extraordinary novel. I had found this novel in purely coincidence when searching for another novel "Undone" from the local public library.

A thin book, only 130 pages and hard cover. Actually, the reason i picked this book and selected it at sight is just merely the cover picture. Yes! books' covers are important! At least to me, not easy to not judge a book by its cover.

It is a story about Monsieur Linh is traumatized by memories of his war-ravaged country and his grandchild, Sang diû has became his sole reason to stay strong and protect her. Monsieur Linh travels with the child with ship and disembark on a foreign land along with other refugees.

He was placed temporarily in a dormitory with two other families. The story goes on with Monsieur Linh takes Sang diû out for a walk in unfamiliar and big town. They meet Monsieur Bark as address to a fat man in the novel.

Monsieur Linh and Monsieur Bark have became friends! Despite that they do not speak each other's language, they seem able to understand each other. One keeps saying and one is willing to hear. It was astonish that both of them are able to communicate with just gesticulation. Monsieur Bark becomes the only friend of Monsieur Linh in this big unfamiliar town. They meet up every day, the bench on good days or the restaurant on rainy days. It is just so amazing that they only know to say 'good day' in fat man's language where both understands. Yet, they seem to understand each other...even without words.

As the dormitory is only temporarily, soon Monsieur Linh and the child are transfer to a mansion but it is like an old folks home. He cannot leave the mansion and unable to meet his only friend. Days by days, he misses his friend and unwilling to be trapped within the fences. He makes attempts to escape from the mansion and search for his friend.

This novel is so beautiful especially the ending. Though it was short but the story is really interesting. Friendship of two who not speak each other's language.

There is a song mentioned in the novel (in Monsieur Linh's language). A song sung by Monsieur Linh to Sang diû.

Always there is the morning

Always the light returns

Always there is another day

One day it is you who will be a mother

A very touching story. Plain and classic.

The date I finished reading this book : October 2013
Rating : 7.5/10