There's a Japanese phrase that i like, Koi No Yokan. It doesn't mean love at first sight. it's closer to love at second sight. it's the feeling when you meet someone that you are going to fall in love with them. Maybe you don't love them right away, but it's inevitable that you will.
— Daniel —

“Somehow it seemed as though the farm had grown richer without making the animals themselves any richer—except, of course, for the pigs and the dogs.” — Animal Farm —

Hello there! We are back again with the Author's Works Fave off Series where i compare two different works of one author and find who's the winner in my heart at the end. This time we are going to talked about George Orwell, an author who's no longer living in this world ( which is rare for me because i usually read book with author who's still alive. It sounds weird, thanks to John Green who once said he divides his shelf with the death author and the alive author) anyway, let's get into it already! 

Which should i read first?

By the publishing date, it's suppose to be Animal Farm first then 1984, but i found in internet to read 1984 first then animal farm (which the one i did) and to be honest i think you should read Animal Farm first then 1984 if you are new for this kind of genre, book with lots of political intrigue.

What's it all about and Comparison

1984

I've done the full review of 1984 so just in case you missed it, just click the picture below.

To sum it up it's about a totalitarian world set in 1984 where the author see in the possibility of how future could be like (since George last breath was in 1950) and how he see the totalitarian country could be so scary.

Animal Farm 

The core of the story concentrate in politic, coup d'état, revolution, corruptions, well you got the vibe. But the story just more easier to read than 1984 because of the writing style and the theme suppose to be "fairytale" in the beginning tho not every copy that published included that "fairytale" word in the cover. 

In Comparison 

I think i would keep it simple, 1984 is thicker than Animal Farm because Animal Farm counted as an allegorical novella instead of book, but nonetheless i still found myself hard to pick up the book and read it. Although i can say 1984 is a lot grimmer than Animal Farm.

Plot

Both 1984 and Animal Farm is talking about political issues, tho 1984 is more complex with adding a love story in it, while Animal Farm is more pure, that i think it's more suitable for younger reader if i have to compare it with 1984 because 1984 is more vocal about sex and seriously scary in the last few chapters of it. I would definitely suggest you to read animal farm first, if you like it then continue the next step to 1984 so you can really enjoy the reading, since i think not anybody gonna like this kind of plot. 

Both has same pace for me, although 1984 is a lot slower but again like i said before, animal farm also didn't has that charm for me to read it fast enough. Both has same grim ending the plot twist that shocking enough although at some point we can see it coming but can't really believe it ends like that.

Character Development

I can't really say much about character development in 1984 because it goes slow, and weird, from hating to love then to happy to rebel, then in the end betray, i see no deep character development in this book, also i'm not really sure i like the ending because of lots of unanswered questions after i finish the book. 

In Animal Farm tho, we got lots of different characters that we can see them as the mirror of mostly people, the pig, the smart one, who can lead, the persuasive one, who can change people memories by altered it, the horse, the hard working one but fool, the donkey, the one who knows the truth but keep themselves silent. 

Both also made the figure that become the main of the government, the one that unites people but in different way, In 1984 we got the big brother, the one that the people love, the leader. In Animal Farm they got the Human, the one that animals agree that they hate and don't need in the farm, the reason why they unite in the farm to work together. But both of the figures are just the diversion in the end, because the core is not the big brother and not the human, but the people inside of the party (in case of 1984) and Pigs who lead the farm (in animal farm).

Overall

I keep repeating myself that they both has the grim vibes while reading it, with plot twist  in the end of course (again) always  shocking that how the story turns out by the end of the story. We can see how politic has big role in governance, and who behind it is the one can control it. Of course we can still relate it to the real world since it's the same anyway when we are talking about politic. 

My Verdict

I would say Animal Farm win this game for me. I think the plot is easier to understand, it's less explicit about love and sex and tyranny, in comparison with 1984 which super scary in last few chapters. 

Read previous chapter 

“People see stories everywhere [...] We take random events and we put them together in a pattern so we can comfort ourselves with a story, no matter how much it obviously isn't true [...] We have to lie to ourselves to live. Otherwise, we'd go crazy.” — Regine —

 Hello hello again everybody! welcome to the book review post of the book that i highly anticipate (yet i keep it long enough in my TBR just in case i'm in slump) and the time has come! (not because i got into slump, okay maybe i am, a little bit, but because finally i read it!) Patrick Ness has been in my list for favorite author, thanks to the Chaos Walking series, (which if you haven't read it already, please do!) which i always try to recommend you to read in most of my book recs. Anyway, let's dive in!

Synopsis

"Here is the boy, drowning."

Booom!!! that first line! got to be honest i hooked already by this first sentence with this book. The story follows Seth who was drowning then wake up in the place that he believe is his personal hell, because he's at his old house in England, the place where the worse event in his life, that tuns into his personal nightmare, happened.  No one there except himself. Back and fort with his past memories of his life while he fall asleep, he thought he was alone then he suddenly meet another human in that place, and begin to discover the mystery of what exactly happened.

My Review

The plot is back and fort from the past to the present time. The past divided into two part, the before he got drown which lead to what is the whole reason why he got drown in the first place, and also the past long before he moved with his family to America, the story that happened in the England back when he was 8 years old, the exact place where he woke up right now.

The plot is a bit slow at the beginning with the confusion around, what happened and lots of whys and whats, i did took a lot of time to adapting the book, but as always, i love the concept of it, the newness of it, Patrick Ness always has this kind of things in his works for me, where he got the unique part, anti-mainstream writing style of his. (i will explain and compare whole of his works later in the future)

The rest of half of the book begin with super speedy pace, with kind of 180 degrees of  flipping in the plot which made it became the whole new experience and genre in my opinion. And yes that give me a sweet ride for speedy reading experience. 

The ending tho! I really don't want to spoil you, but in the last page of the story, i just want to say, as its title, i need more than this! I think if i read it like 3 or 4 years ago (in the beginning of  my reading journey) i don't think i will like this book, but because i read it now (and thank God for that) i looovee the ending! i dunno, like i said, it's always anti-mainstream for all of Patrick Ness' works! And as always, the message that left behind after you read his works always left you think more about the moral of the story.

My Rating

It's a Uh-Yeah for me  (direct to my rating system if you don't know my rating system) a bit lack is just the slow pace in the beginning but this books is worth my time. Absolutely. Also please mind that this include sensitive content (trigger warning for you) with suicide and physical abuse, but it's not that severe, but still.. just in case.

Just in case you missed it

Since last Sunday was  a Valentine's day, i think...it suits the theme to bring you the Romance Book Recs to you. This time, for book recs with certain genre, i will put the part of it, since in the next future i might give you another one. To be fair my recommendations are for YA books, and more warning in front, it's not your typical romance book. 

As usual, in non particularly order and no spoilers included. No, it's not include with sexy scene, this time is for the fluttering in the stomach kind of romance. And yes, the recommendations will be for the books I've read years ago (since i rarely read book with romance heavy lately, more into fantasy heavy) so if it's out of date, well.. suck it up baby! lol! Without further ado, let's dive in!

1. To All The Boys I've Loved Before By Jenny Han

This one is my old time fave. Suppose to be just a standalone, but of course it has to be a series since the hype is too much, demands from the reader, and viola! Another book leads to another book. The story set in high school, half Asian main characters with love letters that isn't suppose to be sent yet it made all the man chasing Lara either to confirm the feelings or just to make it clear about it. Of course it wouldn't be such a big deal if one of the letter sent to someone that shouldn't know Lara's feeling. 

Included a fake boyfriend troupes and scandalous event, the story just getting more and more fun. And OOH!! This also already adapted to movie, the whole series! In fact the last movie for the third book, Always and Forever Lara Jean already released in 12th February. I honestly haven't watch the movie, first movie i hate, second movie i love, i just can't wait for the third one. 

2. Isla and the Happily Ever After by Stephanie Perkins

The story include my fave character from the first book, which is Josh, a cartoonist, and i always love this kind of character for a male character. Artsy, cool, mysterious, yet romantic in some kind of way you know? I just can't say more, just read it!

3. An Abundance of Katherines by John Green

This one people! Is too underrated! I mean why??? i love this book yet it's too underrated.  This is John Green's second book that he published that i personally love more than Finding Alaska, his debut. I was questioning why this one didn't adapted to movie or series just like his other books, because i really like this one. 

Prodigy for math, fan of anagram, road trip to find The Theorem of Underlying Katherine Predictability as the post break-up effort to move on. The book is so unique with lots of mathematical theme in it. We got lots of graphs and formulas. Just like i always said, John Green always has his own theme for each of his creations. Which made them so unique. 

4. Selection Series by Kiera Cass

 This one would be a bit different since it's not a contemporary but a dystopian genre. But this book mostly focusing in love story. About royal prince who's searching his future queen with holding a "survival dating program" with each girl from each class (which the country itself divided into some classes of people by their job) and the last girl standing is the one who the prince will marry. 

"Break my heart. Break it a thousand times if you like it. It was only ever yours to break anyway." — Maxon —

I think it's more proper if i give you the most famous quote for this series. I love this series, but only the first three of it, since the fourth and the fifth is basically counted as the season two of this survival dating program because the main character is not the same from the first book but the children of the prince. This book has become the "common" book that you will find in almost every reader since it's so famous. So i think if you haven't read it, you must. Specially if you also into dystopian not just contemporary. 

Well, that's a wrap for this recommendations, like i said before, it's not the typical book recs that you would expect. Am i disappointing you? i hope not. I will do the next part in the future, let's pray that future is not that far ahead. See ya!

Read Also :

We are back again with another Is it worth reading? series where i will rate is the companion book worth your time to read or not. And i promise this would be my last Rick Riordan books review. For well... at least next month? who knows? I might read his Magnus Chase series in next few months or maybe next year depends on my mood. Anyway, without further ado, let's dive in!

Reading Order

By our book bible goodreads, this book didn't really listed with the number of the series, since it's not a novella but a companion book. BUT!! no worries fellas, i will give you a good reading order to you to avoid spoilers!

1. Read the whole Kane Chronicles (book 1-3)

2. Read Demigods & Magicians ( Percy Jackson and Kane Chronicles Crossover) IT'S A MUST!

3. Then read this book

Why? Because the demigods and magicians include the story about Setne and how he end up in this book. At first i was going to read this book first then Demigods and Magicians (since it's a crossover, so i think i will finish Kane first then the crossover) but it end up a bit spoiler there. So, since I've done it, and you shouldn't, use this guide instead. Unless if you okay with spoilers. 

What is it All About?

So this book is talking about a guide for Brooklyn House magician, more like introduction about the house, how it looks like, talking about Egyptian Gods also, so yeah, just like its title, it's the manual for young magicians who's new, just joining the Brooklyn House. But it also added fun stories after the war and Setne the crazy magician ghost. 

Is It Worth Reading?

I think it's fun read, since the characters took turns to write the book, not only Carter dan Sadie, but also other characters in the Brooklyn House, even some gods included as the narrator.  I felt so challenged to answer all the quiz in the book tho i find some part of the book doesn't really fun, like the Bas's section to get ugly thing, i don't think it's really informative or fun read.

I like that if there are some comment added in the book by other characters who didn't narrate that chapter, they use different font. Just like the concept of Kane Chronicles where Sadie and Carter bickering and adding comment in each time they take turns to narrate, this one is also made like this which is  good because Riordan sticks to its concept even for this companion.

My Verdict

I would say Neutral for this one, even skip it. It's not because it's not a good read, i like it. But it doesn't really necessary for you to read this one in order to finish the whole series, but yes it is a fun read indeed. 

Previous Chapter :

 

"How can you make appeal to the future when not a trace of you, not even an anonymous word scribble on a piece of paper, could physically survive?"

It's February already but yet i still hasn't really give you my 2020 recap for best read. Yes i did a 2020 recap (click the picture below if you missed it) but i think it's only fair if i really give you my best read for 2020 not just answering the questions.

All the list below are not based on the rating but based on the timeline i read them, of course all of them are not 5 stars read (since i think i become more picky to give a 5 star lately, probably because i've read more great books) but still all of them worth your time to read. I will only give you 8 recommendations (since i love number 8) which is hard since i read lots of good book in 2020, but it wouldn't be a recommendations if i list all of them right? I will try my best to tell you the synopsis of the book (which i probably almost lost the memory of it) but i won't include spoilers of the series. Okay, that's long already. Let's goo!

1. Heroes Of Olympus Series By Rick Riordan

If you don't know already that i will recommend you to read this book, you must be a newbie for this blog. I always love Rick Riordan books, lowest rate for his books are 4 stars (which is low for me for his book since i always rate the book that i don't enjoy 3 stars, so 4 stars is quite insulting). 

The story took time after Percy Jackson and The Olympian series, which end with another new prophecy for 7 people. Of course i won't tell you who are the characters except that Percy and Annabeth are in it. But It's not only Greek Mythology included only, but another Mythology included, which also i won't tell you because it won't be fun if you haven't read the book to know.

The Series of course consist of 5 books, with each book has its own small goal to the biggest goal that will happen in the last book, which one thing that i always love about Rick Riordan, he knows what he's doing for whole series even before the second book released. And ooof! beware of cliff hanger ending! So get the next book ready before you finish the book!

2. The Infernal Devices Series By Cassandra Clare

Set in Victorian era ( again, another reason why i love this series) with magic in the city of London, usually i don't really like an urban fantasy but this one is good! (probably because it's not too urban? since it's Victorian). We met the Shadowhunters, descendants of angels, we got demons, warlocks (witches), Warewolves,  Faeries, you name it! All the magical beings are there, even Vampires! 

I think this series is perfectly balance between the fantasy action part and the romance part, i definitely would suggest you to read this one if you are new to fantasy books. 

3. Call Me By Your Name By Andre Aciman

This one, everybody, will took you to an emotional roller coaster. I mean not only the Call Me by Your Name book, but also the sequel of it  Find Me. This one set in old Italy, and believe me when i say this, this book break my paradigm of LGBT relationship. 

I always find myself skeptical for a LGBT relationship for a romance. I found myself imagining two person with same gender in love is a bit cringey and weird. But this one is just beautiful! I found the beauty of the love, not male to male, or older man with younger man, just beautiful love between two people. I even love the movie a lot. I was watching it every night for a month or more i think. Can't wait for the sequel Find Me to be released, hopefully soon!

4. Beautiful Boy by David Sheff

You can guess already that i was in the spiral of stalking Timothee Chalamet by reading this book. But believe me (again) when i say this (again) this book is so well written. Beautifully,  yet brutally honest. I thought i'm not a fan of a biography anymore (i used to read lots of philosopher's biography back in junior high) but this one just bring me back to that vibe.

A memoir that i never thought i would get my hands to it, end up being one of the top reads of my 2020. David Sheff's ability in writing with his background as a journalist, just surprises me. I definitely love his writing style. I end up thinking a lot when i finished the last page of this book too. Definitely worth to read for you, not because you might be an addict, but for everyone to know what it feels like to be torn and helpless in something that you can't really control. 

5. The Folk of The Air Series by Holy Black 

Okay this would be a bit challenging. To be honest i don't really like The Cruel Prince when i read it. I don't like bully, no matter what you say to justify that action. Faerie also not my face creatures to me so far thanks to The Mortal Instrument series, plus i just finished that whole series that i think the series, tho not bad, still good series but overrated to me.

But i always like female character with strong will (or should we call it a thick headed character?) and i think the pace is fast, specially with political intrigue in the story just made it really sweet for me. I finished this series less than 10 days i think, and thanks to that fast pace book, it become one of my best read 2020

6. Turtles All The Way Down By John Green

Okay, i know i have my own unique taste in reading, but this one is a bit controversial for some reason. Some people hate it, but i love this one! I found myself pretty objective for John Green books tho I'm a big fan of him, but some people just don't like his works, apart from The Fault in Our Star, which for me is an okay book but not his best. I found Paper town is better, yet of course not everyone agree with me.

This one tho, i would say the best work of his. I really like the flow of the story, the character, the mystery in it to be solved, the science bits about stars in there, the writing vibe of the blog, and of course the bits of the author's own anxiety included in it. I always love his writing style and concept every book he wrote, and yes! The ending! Oh, i'm not gonna spoil you, but i think John Green always succeed in made every ending of his books memorable. 

7. Shades of Magic Series by V.E Schwab

By this title you probably think "oh here we go again, another hype books" but well.. you can say that since it IS a hype book. I got a big expectation for this one, since i really love the cover (i think i can stop explaining myself to you that i do judge book by its cover, can't i?) and people just so hyped about this book years ago. 

Yes the book is great. I think it has "the most memorable first sentence" kind of book. I really like that first sentence (yes, no spoiler) and again another strong headed female character, and dark dark fantasy indeed. Always love when the author made the main character not "flawless", with their lacking, just made them more "human" you know what i mean? or maybe I'm just too tired to meet the "perfect" main characters already, so the one with flaw is fun.

Also this series consist of 3 books with the second book got different concept than the first book which i find it fresh, i think i love diverse concept in the series. 

8. Warcross Duology  by Marie Lu

 Okay moving on to the last one, honestly this one is the hardest pick, since i binge read her books and i can't really pick between Rebel or this Warcross Duology. Both because it based in futuristic world, which i like, but in the end i choose this one since it's more complex. I love the futuristic world wit AR included in here, I love the characters, the main, the villain, everyone!

I mean, the way Marie Lu develop the character's story plot is just so interesting that i just can't put it down. The way we want to pat the villain in the back because of the back story of it, or slap in the face because of what they've done is just unacceptable. The feeling of being torn you know what i mean? Also with the touch of gaming added, made the story just more fun to read and just imagining it is just...urghh!  Anyways, just read it!

Okay that's it guys. I made it. You've made it till the end. Hope you enjoy reading it, i will do it next year too, but until then.. adios!

Also Read : 

"Giant-chicken mode," I remembered.
"Dude, my avatar is a falcon-headed warrior."
"I still think you could get a sponsorship deal with KFC. Make some big bucks.”
— Percy and Carter —