Indonesians Who Love English Books discussion
If I like X, would I like Y? What else would I probably like?
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@rachel : if you enjoy Haruki Murakami's style of storytelling, imaginatively in detail for the ambiance and character (is that it?), like the way he described a cab and the driver in 1Q84 ,CMIIW.. also the characters on Sputnik Sweetheart, you can try his memoir about running What I Talk About When I Talk About Running ...to be honest I'm not a fan, but his way of writing is pretty distinctive and a memoir is always inspiring,right? mainly because it usually touches the deepest soul of the author.
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@reza: urm, not my genre so I can't really help you with that. Hopefully someone will be able to recommend you something!
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If I like book about Indian like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, what else would I probably like?
Mayday wrote: "If I like book about Indian like The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, what else would I probably like?"Hmm...How about Benjamin Alire Sáenz's 'Last Night I Sang to the Monster'? Or Patrick Ness' 'A Monster Call'.
Or R.J Palacio's 'Wonder'
@Ds: I didn't even know there was Atria publisher =w= Last Night I sang to the Monster and A Monster Call sound interesting. And thx :3
Rachel wrote: "Woah I've been away too long, haha. Didn't know this thread existed. Okay! Let's get the ball rolling. I just finished my first Haruki Murakami, After Dark, and I really enjoyed it. So which one of..."Rach, try
..kind of detective story to me. Or
..this one kind of sci-fi..actually i made a review about it (but i dont know how to put the link :p)...or if you want to read his short stories compilation, i recommend you this book 
Rachel wrote: "@fraya: I just checked out the synopsis for Sputnik Sweetheart and I'm pretty much sold! So thanks for that! Haha. I don't know what it is exactly that I enjoyed most from his style of writing: I l..."@Rachel : Definitely the emotions that leaves you hanging perpetually for the book, for me that's the magic of some brilliant authors, they managed to transport you into their life all of the sudden. Although I find Murakami is a bit too "dark", it scares me sometimes to be living in his scenes.
If I like
would I like
?
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@fraya: haha, I understand what you mean when you say you find Murakami too dark. I was a tad bit creeped out myself when I read After Dark, but I think that's part of the beauty of his work.
Regarding The Silver Linings Playbook and Looking for Alaska ... I'm going to lean towards no? Truth be told I'be never read TSLP, but I've seen the movie and I think it's very different to LfA. For starters one is YA and the other is not. One is mostly serious and the other is more comedy? However that being said, I loved TSLP the movie and I enjoyed LfA the book, so maybe you'll like it after all. Writing style is probably different though. Hope I helped, somewhat.
@rachel : you can find sputnik sweetheart at kinokuniya PS or grand indo, also ak.sa.ra kemang or citos.So LfA is kinda on the serious YA side huh..? I am one of the people that disappointed in TSLP movie version, the book rather engaged you in a more sympathic mode for the guy, because he is sweet and considerate for someone who is mentally-impaired. I would say the twistedness of the characters is still comedy, but it made me weep and overwhelmed at the same time.
Mayday wrote: "@Ds: I didn't even know there was Atria publisher =w= Last Night I sang to the Monster and A Monster Call sound interesting. And thx :3"No prob. Both books are considered YA, but I found them dealing with difficult themes. They were quite challenging to read, simply because the topics are a bit too close to home for me. Anyway, I hope you enjoy them.
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Lynossa wrote: "So I'm in love with Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books and would like to know if there are other authors who write the same style. You guys have any recommendations? Personally I love stories that set in Eu..."Er, how about 'Mr. Penumbra's 24-Hour Bookstore'?
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Sounds interesting. I'll try to find it. Thanks!
hello!!! i was linked to this page to help me find the next book i'm going to like...i was really into World War 2/Holocaust book lately. I LOVE between shades of gray, and also LOVING anne frank diary along with The Book Thief. Anyone has any other recommendation to fulfill my addiction in this kind of story? and anyway, i didn't really like Marakumi books. I find it quite depressing, specially Norwegian Woods..
Angelia wrote: "hello!!! i was linked to this page to help me find the next book i'm going to like...i was really into World War 2/Holocaust book lately. I LOVE between shades of gray, and also LOVING anne frank d..."Holocaust books? Lemme see.
Schindler's List (Thomas Keneally)
Night (Elie Wiesel)
Number the Stars (Lois Lowry)
If you want it in graphic novel format, I recommend Art Spiegelman's MAUS.
The most recent Holocaust book I read was Sarah's Key. It was pretty good if you want to check it out.
@Ds : i'm planning to buy Schlinder's list and Number the Star...but both seems to be pretty hard to find in my current city -______- does it has touch of romance on it?if it's too serious,i thought it might be quite boring and too historical. @femmy : never heard sarah's key before, is it new?
@Angelia, it was first published in 2006 and I've seen the movie, too.
Angelia wrote: "hello!!! i was linked to this page to help me find the next book i'm going to like...i was really into World War 2/Holocaust book lately. I LOVE between shades of gray, and also LOVING anne frank d..."The Reader - Bernhard Schlink
Suite Française - Irène Némirovsky
The Twins - Tessa de Loo
The Invention of Curried Sausage - Uwe Timm
Lynossa wrote: "So I'm in love with Carlos Ruiz Zafon's books and would like to know if there are other authors who write the same style. You guys have any recommendations? Personally I love stories that set in Eu..."If you like Zafon's writing and magical realism, you might want to try Labyrinths Selected Stories and Other Writings by Jorge Luis Borges
For stories in the great depression:
The Grapes of Wrath - John Steinbeck
Mr. Vertigo - Paul Auster
Water for Elephants - Sara Gruen
I like stories with strong female character (not strong in superhero/mythical way), have a rather quirky and/or unpredictable plot, and have no or very minimal romance. Any recommendation for me?
Coqueline wrote: "I like stories with strong female character (not strong in superhero/mythical way), have a rather quirky and/or unpredictable plot, and have no or very minimal romance. Any recommendation for me?"Code Name Verity (Elizabeth Wein)
Coqueline wrote: "I like stories with strong female character (not strong in superhero/mythical way), have a rather quirky and/or unpredictable plot, and have no or very minimal romance. Any recommendation for me?"Can you give us any reference which you've read and liked about?
That's difficult, because if I found a book that is too similar to the one I have read, I tend to go for something else that I think would be less predictable. The same with author, if I found that I have read another book from that author, I tend to lose interest rather than the other way around.I know, I'm weird.
Hola! I found this thread and I would like to ask, if i like Mitch Albom's books, what else I would like?I also like one day by david nicholls
Coqueline wrote: "That's difficult, because if I found a book that is too similar to the one I have read, I tend to go for something else that I think would be less predictable. The same with author, if I found that..."Since i'm a bit on the eccentric side myself, wouldn't pass any further judgement to you, but am guessing you are young. Anyhoo, the most badass female character in a slightly twisted way for me, will be
. ...ever read any of Gillian's ? If you should be interested on giving it a try, gone girl should be the one, considering you only stand with one title for one author-rule.
Compared to most people here, I'm practically geriatric. :)But yeah, I heard about that book so much, I've been avoiding it because it's too popular. Nevertheless, good to hear about the female badass, I'll put it on my list.
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I got Oryx and Crake from that "Recommendation" page and I must say that I'm very satisfied. It also recommend Cutting for Stone, so I bought that one too, verdict pending.
Anny: Cutting for Stone is quite an epic, I really liked it.
Recently I finished The Age of Miracles and I really like it. Could anyone recommend a book similiar to that book? From the perspective of gloomy story-atmosphere and kinda bittersweet love story? (not necessarily a story about apocalypse).thanks :D
Biondy wrote: "Recently I finished The Age of Miracles and I really like it. Could anyone recommend a book similiar to that book? From the perspective of gloomy story-atmosphere and kinda bittersweet love story? ..."Perhaps Never Let Me Go by Kazuo Ishiguro?
@Coqueline: oh, Never Let Me Go has been in my to-read already. I just need the book now :pthanks for the suggestion anyway :D
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I love the romantic story line in the Bridge of D'Arnath quartet by Carol Berg (first book Son of Avonar).
I am so watching this thread right nowThe Way of Kings is epic, but no love story
There's a list of best romantic fantasy books here. I'll comment on the ones I've read.* Archangel by Sharon Shinn. I love her books. A good balance of fantasy and romance.
* The Liveship Traders by Robin Hobb. Great characterization and great story, and the romance evolves from that.
* Daughter of the Forest by Juliet Marillier. Good romance story lines in each books of the series.
* The Name of the Wind by Patrick Rothfuss. The romance is interesting but it takes second place behind the main story.
* Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. More romance than fantasy.
* Sailing to Sarantium by Guy Gavriel Kay. I like his books, but I read this a long time ago and don't remember any romance.
* The Mirror of Her Dreams by Stephen R. Donaldson. Okay story. I don't remember it as particularly romantic.
I've read the first books of the following, but didn't continue because I didn't like the story overall:
* Dragon Prince by Melanie Rawn. I found the romance rather boring IIRC.
* Secret Texts by Holly Lisle. Don't remember the story at all.
Rachel wrote: "Guys, I need help. I really want a fantasy book to read - not the YA kind, but the really rich and epic kind. The twist is that I also want an intense and epic love story in it; a couple that I can..."Lots of Epic fantasy book but with an equally epic romance in it? Romance is not my thing so i'll just recommend a couple that has a female main protagonist instead :P
Dragonriders of Pern by Anne McCaffrey, pretty famous series some people like it some don't.
Riftwar Saga by Raymond E. Feist, actually my first fantasy series i read it when i was 14. Although I'm mentioning this one but the series i actually want to recommend is The Empire Trilogy By Janny Wurts, It's set on the same world and runs parallel with each other.
I think i read one random book of the The Liveship Traders series by Robin Hobb recommended by Femmy above a long time ago. Didn't continue the series but all i remember about it was.... ships. And it definitely has romance in it.
Also recommended by Femmy, Outlander has a tv series now and its just starting on season 1. Heard people liking it but just too much romance for me.
Oh and I always love, love, love the romantic story lines in Brandon Sanderson's books. The Mistborn trilogy, Elantris, Warbreaker... Elantris is unique in that the couple fall in love despite having never met each other. So I'm a little surprised that The Way of Kings doesn't have any romance in it. Maybe it will show up later on? (I'm waiting for my copy of Words of Radiance, now that the ppaperback edition is out.)
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I'm confused about Elantris, to be honest. I have the graphic audio book - but I couldn't get into it. I really couldn't. Is the romance really epic? Should I give it a go again?
Thanks Femmy and Gerry for the recs. And Oon too :* I've actually read Daughter of the Forest (and the rest of the sequels and also other Marillier books) and I've read Outlander (which I stopped after the first book, because it was just too much - although I am enjoying the show).
I think I will try Archangel (there's a Rachel in there!) and The Name of the Wind. Thanks, guys! Will let you know if I ended up loving them :D
Femmy wrote: "Oh and I always love, love, love the romantic story lines in Brandon Sanderson's books. The Mistborn trilogy, Elantris, Warbreaker... Elantris is unique in that the couple fall in love despite havi..."Wow, I'm quite surprised reading that part. I have always thought that romance is Brandon Sanderson's weakness. In all his books that I have read, the romance tend to be contrived and awkward, some scenes even made me cringe. Vin x Elend in the Mistborn series, for example. But that's just me, I guess.
Anyway, hive, I read The Stand by Stephen King a few weeks back and I loved it. The dark atmosphere, the supernatural vibe, the mass killing, the deaths of several pivotal characters, I could go on and on. So what do you think I should read next? Thanks!
I read a couple of novels by Stephen King and I think quite a few would match that description (dark, supernatural, deaths). Personally I love Under the Dome the most, the thrills, the suspense, and the sense of doom was much much thicker.Lisey's story was another that was quite memorable for me. It's like what a fairy tale would be if Stephen King wrote it. Plenty of the supernatural and otherworldly, a world so beautiful and yet so chilling.
Anny wrote: "I read a couple of novels by Stephen King and I think quite a few would match that description (dark, supernatural, deaths). Personally I love Under the Dome the most, the thrills, the suspense, an..."I've checked Under The Dome and it looks promising. I have only read 2 books by him, The Girl Who Loved Tom Gordon (cmiiw about the title) and The Stand. Thank you!
Lisey's Story. I kinda imagined Maleficent-ish story from your description only. Thank you again!
Idan wrote: "I've checked Under The Dome and it looks promising...."Well, to me, it went down towards the end of the book. Building proper ending is always a King's weakness, and it is more evident in his longer books. And I am not even sure if Under The Dome is supernatural (I hope I am not spoiling anything).
However, dark+supernatural+deaths is pretty much It, my favorite book of his. I've read it several times and it never stale. Be careful what you wish for, though, the deaths can be nerve wrecking.
Idan wrote: "Wow, I'm quite surprised reading that part. I have always thought that romance is Brandon Sanderson's weakness. In all his books that I have read, the romance tend to be contrived and awkward, some scenes even made me cringe. Vin x Elend in the Mistborn series, for example. But that's just me, I guess."Interesting :-) I guess we have different tastes in romance.
Rachel wrote: "I'm confused about Elantris, to be honest. I have the graphic audio book - but I couldn't get into it. I really couldn't. Is the romance really epic? Should I give it a go again?"I don't know if it's "epic", but it's certainly unique.
Indonesians Who Love English Books
Books mentioned in this topic
Last Night I Sang to the Monster (other topics)A Monster Calls (other topics)
Delicate Monsters (other topics)
Archangel (other topics)
It (other topics)
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Try your luck right here and consult the hive mind.
If I like _____, what else would I probably like?
If I like _____, would I like ______?
Maybe you'll get the perfect recommendation, maybe you won't. Either way, it's worth the try. See what people recommend, check out the synopsis/review, and maybe by then you have just found your next read.