Matilda by Roald Dahl

"The books transported her into new worlds and introduced her to amazing people who lived exciting lives. She went to olden-day sailing ships with Joseph Conrad. She went to Africa with Ernest Hemingway and to India with Rudyard Kipling. She travelled all over the world while sitting in her little room in an English village."

One of my most favourite children fiction since elementary school! I could never get tired reading this over and over again. The story really lightens up the mood. Matilda itself is always been my number one favourite children's characters. Why? Because of her passion for reading has made me love to read books when I was still in my elementary. And imagining her small room filled with so many books and accompanied by a glass of hot chocolate when she read, I would love stay for hours in that kind of room. Matilda Wormwood might not be fabulous like Eloise or outgoing like Madeline (I also love these girls too, though) but her maturity, simplicity and intellectual talents made me love her even more. And let's not forget that she has the ability to move objects through her mind, shall we? :p

"Never do anything by halves if you want to get away with it. Be outrageous. Go the whole hog. Make sure everything you do is so completely crazy it's unbelievable." — Matilda


P.S. Sorry for not blogging for a really, really long time (almost one and a half year if I'm not mistaken). 2013 really made me busy from senior high school exams to a new life of being a freshman in campus. Have a great day everybody! :)

A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett

Such a light classic reading. I think it's because, basically, it's for children. When I read this, I'm in love with Sara Crewe's character. She is such a darling little girl with behaviour. I don't have any criticism about this book, because I do like it but not that much. By the way, I read it in Puffin Classic version. But the cover, it was supposed to be Sara, when you flip the next page, oh God, the picture is not cute at all (the overall)... The book is cute, really.

Ways to Live Forever by Sally Nicholls

Summary: Sam Oliver McQueen is an eleven-year-old child, terminally ill with leukaemia, who, during one of his special education sessions decides to write a book about his life. In the book he talks about his life while being ill, the things he'll remember when he dies and, in a section called "Things I want to do", Sam makes numerous lists of questions. With the help of his teacher and friend Felix Stranger (who is also ill with cancer), they conduct various experiments, Sam and Felix break world records (including the world's smallest night club).

I read this book when I was in 7th or 8th grade in junior high. I thought that this book was based on a true story because I remembered when I was going to buy this book, I heard some of people talked about it, but no, it was realistic fiction. Yes, it was sad. Especially the part when Felix died. Things just got miserable in the end. Oh yeah, I read this in Indonesian Language, because I can't find the English one. In Indonesian, the titled is Setelah Aku Pergi or in English: After I'm Gone. The cover was a bit more calmer than the English version, don't you think?

For One More Day by Mitch Albom

Summary: Charley “Chick” Benetto, a former baseball player who encounters a myriad of problems with his career, finances, family and alcohol abuse. This leads him to become suicidal. Charley goes on a drunken rampage and decides he is going to end his life in his old home town, but when he misses the exit, he turns around driving down the wrong side of the highway causing an accident, Charley flees to his old home – his suicide attempt an apparent failure – to see his mother, who had died eight years prior.

Benetto returns to his old family home, and spends one more day with his mother, wherein a number of previously unknown factors related to his difficult childhood and troubled relationship with his father are revealed to him. His mother assists him in resolving his issues and getting his life back on track. The day ends when Benetto regains consciousness at the scene of the accident in a police officer's arms.

One of the saddest novel that I ever read. More likely, it's about love of a mother and a son, and about baseball. Especially when Chick Benetto found out the truth about her parents marriage, why his father evicted by his mother when he was still a child. I cried when I read this book. For One More Day is really easy to read and short novel (about 200 pages). The minus is some said that the story is almost the same like his previous novel, The Five People You Meet in Heaven (Well, I haven't read that book, though). 

If I have some time, I would read his another novel that called, Have a Little Faith, if you guys already read it, tell me, is it good or not? Because I already bought it last year and I still haven't read it.

p.s On Monday, I already have school activities, holidays are officially over *sigh*. Maybe I'm going to post something on my blog, but not as often as when it's holiday. Next year, I'm going to be in university! Wish me luck. :D

Wuthering Heights by Emily Brontё

If you love classic novels, I suggest that you have to read this book. Wuthering Heights itself is the name of a big house in Yorkshire, England. First, don't expect such a lovey-dovey story in this book, you will find mostly about revenge, anger, and hatred. This gothic yet dark novel is really worth to read. Especially Heathcliff who seeks revenge to Earnshaw family. By marrying Isabella Linton, because he wants to inherit Thrushcross Grange (another house that is located not too far from Wuthering Heights), and he treats Isabella very cruelly. 


"Is Mr. Heathcliff a man? If so, is he mad? And if not, is he a devil? I sha'n't tell my reasons for making this inquiry; but I beseech you to explain, if you can, what I have married."


Also, I have difficulties when I read this book. One of them is that I didn't understand any single word from Joseph. Well, I think it's because it's in Yorkshire dialect.
I read Wuthering Heights that published from Penguin Classics. But the cover from Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition is more artistic but it's not hardcover, I prefer hardcover, because it's more durable.

Penguin Classics

Penguin Classics Deluxe Edition