Eleven Minutes

Eleven Minutes by Paulo Coelho
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I've never read any novels twice or more. For me once is enough. But this Paulo Coelho novel Eleven Minutes marks my first time ever reading a novel twice. 

I once read it in 2007 (thanks to goodreads shelf). I think I wasn't quite sure about the content. All I remember is a prostitute in Rue de Berne, a famous road in Switzerland. But I forgot the story line. 

Having not reading lately, I have the urgency to light up my old neglected hobby : reading novels (ever since I found hay day :P). That's why I think I have to reread it. 

Eleven Minutes is the only Paulo Coelho's novel I have. I even haven't read the most famous the Alchemist. I don't know why I picked Eleven Minutes back then. And I once lent from library Witch from Portobelo, but never understand a word on it *too heavy for my chick-lit head*.

When I reread it I found that Paulo Coelho is trying to tell the readers to love without posses. All is written beautifully in Maria, the prostitute's eyes. Maria was a little Brazilian innocent girl who had a dream to find love and get settled with a rich husband, lovely kids in a sea view house (Who doesn't want it anyway?). But the universe had something else for her in Switzerland. 

I recommend this novel to those who are 21 and above. No under age please. Because some terms maybe too 'harsh' ('prostitute' and 'orgasm' are everywhere) and yet you won't get the point. As I reread it now I understand it better. Yes, I take this Paulo Coelho novel seriously as if it's a life lesson.

Good read, indeed.

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Don't You Forget About Me

Don't You Forget About Me by Alexandra Potter
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

After a long pause reading books (Gosh, I checked on my shelves it was like ages ago!), I finally managed to read a new book from Alexandra Potter: Don't You Forget About Me.

Anyway, this book is entertaining, kind a same old like other chicklit, but Potter did it great. She wrote the ups and downs story of Tess beautifully funny. Tess was broken hearted, messed up, but she got second chance! The other interesting story was about Tess's friend and her socialite life. The sarcasm of Tess added some more.

I enjoy the book, and look forward to another Potter's book!

Don't You Forget About MeAlexandra Potter


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I could have

I am now at home, having nothing to do. 

I could have watched Lee Min Ho in City Hunter. But the 18th episode is missing >,< so I have to wait the complete episodes tomorrow from my friend. Anyway Lee Min Ho is a handsome Korean actor you will fall in love the second you watch him on this series. 

I could have watched tv. But Indonesian tv are all crap in this hour. Either it's horror movie, dangdut show or cheesy comedy. So sorry, no offense, they are just not my cup of coffee. I wish I had tv kabel ._.

I could have read novel, I have the latest Alexandra Potter's. But I lose my appetite on reading. Why o why. I used to love reading in my spare time, but now I am enjoying playing games or watching Korean drama series instead >,<

I could have played Icon Pop Quiz or Logo Quiz on my brother's iPad. But since he is away bringing his iPad, so there is no hope for me T_T. Anyway I found Kang Gary (Running Man cast) on Icon Pop Quiz! He becomes so famous by his square face XD

I could have babysit(ed) Karen, my niece. But she is sleeping soundly now. She's getting bigger and cuter everyday. And the best scene of babysit her, is seeing her smiling :")

I could have talked to C on the phone. But he's not home yet, having meeting at this hour is suck. 

I think I will just close my eyes and day dreaming until I get sleepy XD

I've Got Your Number

I've Got Your Number by Sophie Kinsella

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


This book is simply entertain me like Sophie's other book. I always love her. And so I was so easily falling in love with the character: Poppy. Somehow I think I have something in common with her. Like end every chat with too much :) (you know, that smiley face) and sometimes have the feeling of being an inferior to others, or always do everything by myself, because I always hesitate to ask people to do what they should do, and in the end it will be just me who hustle and bustle. Poppy always has excuse that's just the sweet of her, and I just feel the same way. Lol. Oh Poppy, I feel you.

Anyway one thing I love about Sophie Kinsella is she can manage how the reader will get curious from the first page to the final page! As you know it will be a happy ending, but you can't tell the way it will be.



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Jenny Cooper

I Was Jane Austen's Best Friend by Cora Harrison

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Found this book on local bookstore, I've fallen in its cover (yes, it matters to me :P). Found it interesting at first, especially when Jenny Cooper met Captain Thomas Williams :").It was just too sweet and heroic at the same time. After that, it was a lilbit boring, until they prepared for Jenny's first ball. Aww.. I could imagined being there, seeing their ball gowns, blue muslin, beads from Jenny's late mom, and dancing all the night with her prince charming :"). Really liked it!

Affection is desirable; money is essential (Ouch!) - Quoted from Jane Austen's mom

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The Hunger Games

The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Love the book much more than the movie. Though the movie was brilliant, but there are so much questions from it. And all are answered after reading the book. I am a happy reader, and can't wait to read the sequels :D

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Juliet

Juliet by Anne Fortier

My rating: 4 of 5 stars

I love this book. I love the story of modern Romeo and Juliet which has -thank God- happy ending. I just hate sad ending like in the movie. The present plot and the 1340s made it more interesting. Anne Fortier wrote this epic drama history beautifully :")

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Reading Romance

I've loved reading ever since I was a little kid. I enjoy reading almost any kind of books, fiction or non fiction, novels, newspaper, magazines, blogs, even twitter timeline :P.  

Calvin once asked me how I could read such a thick book without any illustration. I said to him, I create the illustration in my head! That is why  I love reading novel the most. My imagination rules!  My head could go far and bring every moment in my head, in every little detail, as I am carried away with the story.

This is why I hate any horror story/movie, because I keep capturing and creating the horror story or scenes in my head and sometimes I could make the worst of it, like multiplying the horror itself. Uh. No horror story, please.

I read somewhere that people who love reading novel (story without illustration) mostly is a creative person. Hehehe.. B-)

Anyway this is what I want to share: I'm buying books online! Kinda frustrating looking around Clara Ng's books at the store, especially for complete series and rarely have the time to explore every store. So when I enter her lovely website, I saw that she has this useful link: gramedia online.  I simply entered the books' title, clicked add to cart, filled in the order form, transferred the money via Klik BCA and all done! Plus, I got 15% off! :D 

The books arrived in three days (I chose the regular delivery service).

Kinda think I will buy some more XD

Honda Myth

So, since i work at Honda, I am forced to read this super thick book called Honda Myth by Masaki Sato. I like the ideas of the founder Soichiro Honda and co-founder Takeo Fujisawa. Honda was the engineer master, and Fujisawa was the business management master. They collaborated very well even enormously to make Honda one of the biggest automotive brand in the worldwide.

Here are the quotes I like the most inside Honda Myth:

I can build anything if I can just see it once. – Soichiro Honda (p.64)

“Honda isn’t a funeral home. Come on, show me your smiles. Smile, everyone.” – Fujisawa (p.83)

Managing is more than just paperwork. An executive needs to look to the future. Every executive should be an expert of some kind. Making them deal with the miscellany of daily business life is a waste of their talents. – Fujisawa (p.106)

Life is like a staircase, climbing upwards step by step, day by day. – Tadashi Kume, Honda’s third president (p.154)

“Soichiro Honda always has a ready smile, anywhere he goes, and charms the hell out of everyone he meets. Honda is a very fortunate company to have such a man. We at Toyota don’t have that luxury.” – Eiji Toyoda, Honorary Chairman of Toyota (p.224)

In an era of rapid change, thinking ahead is the only way to achieve long-term success. (p.233)

Honda’s directors firmly believed in taking breaks whenever they could, because their responsibilities meant late nights and working weekends and holidays whenever there was a problem. (p.254)

Rather than physical youth, being a Honda director demanded having a youthful mind. (p.255)

“At Honda, it’s sink or swim. They don’t teach you step-by-step; they just throw you into the pool and let you figure it out on your own. If you don’t know how to swim at first, you need to be aggressive to survive”. – Sathosi Okubo, the third chairman of Honda (p.263)

The crisis comes with an opportunity as well. (p.299)

Giving younger workers more authority and responsibility had been one of the driving forces behind Honda’s rapid growth as a company. (p.339)

“We have to win. And we have to keep winning,” Soichiro ordered the kids at The Japan Grand Prix 1987. (p.349)