Book Review : Half the Sky: Turning Oppression into Opportunity for Women Worldwide by Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn


Author: Nicholas D. Kristof & Sheryl WuDunn
Published by: Vintage
Pages: 320 Pages
Published on : September 8, 2009
Format : E-book (Bookmate)
Started on : December 28, 2016
Finished on : January 01, 2017
Rating : 3,3 / 5 stars











Summary :
From two of our most fiercely moral voices, a passionate call to arms against our era’s most pervasive human rights violation: the oppression of women and girls in the developing world.

With Pulitzer Prize winners Nicholas D. Kristof and Sheryl WuDunn as our guides, we undertake an odyssey through Africa and Asia to meet the extraordinary women struggling there, among them a Cambodian teenager sold into sex slavery and an Ethiopian woman who suffered devastating injuries in childbirth. Drawing on the breadth of their combined reporting experience, Kristof and WuDunn depict our world with anger, sadness, clarity, and, ultimately, hope.

They show how a little help can transform the lives of women and girls abroad. That Cambodian girl eventually escaped from her brothel and, with assistance from an aid group, built a thriving retail business that supports her family. The Ethiopian woman had her injuries repaired and in time became a surgeon. A Zimbabwean mother of five, counseled to return to school, earned her doctorate and became an expert on AIDS.

Through these stories, Kristof and WuDunn help us see that the key to economic progress lies in unleashing women’s potential. They make clear how so many people have helped to do just that, and how we can each do our part. Throughout much of the world, the greatest unexploited economic resource is the female half of the population. Countries such as China have prospered precisely because they emancipated women and brought them into the formal economy. Unleashing that process globally is not only the right thing to do; it’s also the best strategy for fighting poverty.

Deeply felt, pragmatic, and inspirational, Half the Sky is essential reading for every global citizen

Review :
This books is so good! I even barely to breath when i know there are so many unfortunate women in the outside world. I just wanna cry when i read the story about some women in Brothels and they can't escape. There are another story about high of mortality rate for pregnant women especially in Kongo, Somalia, Ethiopia etc. Did you know some of them have small pelvis so the baby cannot out safely? The midwifes even sitting on pregnant women when the baby cannot out? WHAT THE? I really agree with the author that education and women empowerment should be increase to prevent unfortunate events in the future. 

In the same time i am so proud that there are in outside world so many powerful and inspiring women that helping the other one. How she build a school to make women being more educated (somehow it is reminds me of I Am Malala: The Story of the Girl Who Stood Up for Education and Was Shot by the Taliban) and also the other one who builds some hospital in order to the mortality rate of pregnant women can be reduce. 

Seriously, I love this books. However i can't give more stars when i read chapter nine about Is Islam is misogynistic?

"...The koran explicitly endorses some gender discrimination: A woman's testimony counts only half as much as man's, and a daughter inherits only half as much as a son"

Why the author think it is a discrimination for women having an half inheritance than a man? After marriage, Is it a woman who became a breadwinner and feeding her husband and children? Nope it is wrong. it is a man should be a breadwinner and that's why Qur'an giving more inheritance to a man. 

The other thing i'm disappointed when i know This books include the story about Greg Mortenson who builds some school for Afghans. I know it is kinda incredible and superhero but did you know that books is totally fake! My heart is torn into pieces when i know everything that he wrote is totally untrue! He never being kidnapped with Taliban before and he also never build some schools for Afghans children. You can check more the validity with reading this books Three Cups of Deceit: How Greg Mortenson, Humanitarian Hero, Lost His Way by John Krakauer .

Book Review : Kappa by Akutagawa Ryunosuke

Judul: Kappa
Pengarang: Akutagawa Ryunosuke
Diterbitkan oleh: Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia
Halaman: 88 Halaman
Tanggal Terbit : 20 Juni 2016
Format : paperback
Mulai Membaca : 01 Januari 2017
Selesai Membaca : 01 Januari 2017
Rating : 3,2 / 5 bintang










Sinopsis :
Kappa menggambarkan karikatur kehidupan masyarakat modern Jepang yang maju setelah mengalami zaman teknologi modern, tetapi mengalami kemerosotan derajat rohani. Makhluk kappa dan masyarakatnya merupakan buah imajinasi Ryunosuke Akutagawa.

Akutagawa dipandang sebagai salah satu sastrawan terkemuka Jepang. Banyak yang menganggapnya setara dengan Gustave Flaubert. Selain Kappa, buah penanya yang terkenal antara lain: Rashomon dan Dalam Hutan

Akutagawa meninggal pada tanggal 24 Juli 1927 dalam usia 35 tahun karena bunuh diri. Tak diketahui pasti penyebabnya, walaupun ia sendiri pernah berkata, seandainya ia bunuh diri, itu karena kabut ketakutan

Review:
saya dibuat terbuai dengan perjalanan si tokoh utama menjelajahi negeri Kappa. Saya suka dengan kritik-kritik sosial tentang kehidupan dan manusia yang secara implisit disebutkan didalamnya. Saya jadi penasaran Katanya buku ini dibuat saat Ryunosuke Akutagawa ini mulai mengalami kegilaan yang pada akhirnya berujung dengan bunuh diri. 

Makin Penasaran dengan karya-karya Ryunosuke Akutagawa lainnya :D

Book Review : The Bible, the Qur'an, and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the Light of Modern Knowledge by Maurice Bucaille

Title: The Bible, the Qur'an, and Science: The Holy Scriptures Examined in the Light of Modern Knowledge
Author: Maurice Bucaille
Published by: Tahrike Tarsile Qur'an 
Pages: 272 Pages
Published on : January 30, 2003
Format : E-book (Bookmate)
Started on : December 31, 2016
Finished on : January 01, 2017
Rating : 3,8 / 5 stars











Summary :
The Bible, the Qur'an, and Science is an objective study of the Old Testament, the Gospels and the Qur'an. This book seeks to spiritually unite by highlighting similarities in the texts. It sheds new light and dispels many preconceived ideas in separating what belongs to Revelation from what is the product of error or human interpretation

Review :
I read in English but the review will be written in Indonesian Languange

Saat menjelang detik-detik tahun baru kemarin saya menghabiskan waktu dirumah sambil berkontemplasi diri apakah yang saya ingin capai di tahun 2017? Pada akhirnya dari semuanya yang terpenting saya ingin menjadi pribadi dan muslimah yang lebih baik dan lebih mengenal agamanya. 

Saya tidak tahu tepatnya tangan saya tiba-tiba tertuju dengan video youtube yang mengenai penggalian makam mumi Fir'aun di Mesir dan disini terdapat Profesor yang berasal dari perancis bernama Maurice Bucaile. Dikisahkan Profesor ini terkejut ketika mendapati Mumi si Fir'aun ini masih utuh meski sudah meninggal beribu-ribu tahun lamanya dan menganalisis bahwa sebab kematiannya disebabkan tenggelam di laut karena banyaknya kandungan garam di dalam tubuhnya. Beliau merasa keheranan akan hal itu tetapi koleganya yang muslim berkomentar "Kamu tidak perlu terkejut semuanya memang sudah disebutkan didalam Al-Qur'an, Kawan" lalu disaat itu saya teringat akan kisah Nabi Musa A.S dan Fir'aun. Saya ingat kalau ketika Fir'aun dan pasukannya mengejar Nabi Musa A.S sampai di laut merah Nabi Musa A.S mengetukkan tongkatnya dan seketika lautpun terbelah menjadi dua sehingga Nabi Musa A.S dan kaumnya yang beriman bisa melewati laut itu dengan mudah. Akan tetapi ketika Fir'aun dan pasukannya melewati laut itu dengan izin Allah SWT laut itu tertutup kembali dan akhirnya Fir'aun tenggelam di laut merah. 

Yang membuat bulu kuduk saya merinding dan juga Profesor Maurice Bucaile bertanya-tanya bagaimana mungkin Al-Qur'an sebagai kitab suci yang diturunkan beribu-ribu tahun sebelumnya sudah meramalkan kejadian Fir'aun tenggelam di laut dan menjanjikan bahwa mayat Fir'aun akan utuh agar untuk diambil pelajaran bagi kita semua? Profesor Maurice akhirnya memeluk agama islam setelah mengetahui hal ini 

Q.S Al-Yunus : 92
"Maka pada hari ini Kami selamatkan badanmu supaya kamu dapat menjadi pelajaran bagi orang-orang yang datang sesudahmu dan sesungguhnya kebanyakan dari manusia lengah dari tanda-tanda kekuasaan Kami 


Berbekal hal itulah saya akhirnya mengetahui bahwa Profesor Maurice Bucaile ini mengeluarkan buku mengenai Kaitan Al-Qur'an dan ilmu Sains. Tidak bisa dipungkiri bahwa Agama dan Ilmu Sains harus berjalan berdampingan. Menurut Albert Einstein, Agama tanpa ilmu adalah buta, Ilmu tanpa agama adalah lumpuh. Profesor Maurice Bucaile mencari tahu jawabannya keabsahan Al-Qur'an, Perjanjian lama dan Perjanjian Baru terhadap sains. 

Lagi-lagi saya dibuat terpesona dan tidak henti-hentinya mengucapkan Masya Allah.. Betapa tidak kita selalu lupa bahwa Alam semesta ini ada penciptanya, peredaran tata orbit planet, matahari dan bulan, air adalah hal yang penting untuk semua makhluk hidup, organ reproduksi manusia dan ilmu astronomi semuanya sudah diatur didalam Ayat Al-Qur'an. Bagaimana mungkin segala hal ilmu pengetahuan yang manusia temukan didalam beberapa abad ini sudah ada jawabannya didalam Al-Qur'an yang diturunkan beribu-ribu tahun sebelumnya? 

Book Review : Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops by Jen Campbell

Author: Jen Campbell
Published by: Constable and Robinson
Pages: 119 Pages
Published on : April 5, 2012
Format : Hardcover (Bookdepository)
Started on : August 15, 2015
Finished on : August 15, 2015
Rating : 3,4 / 5 stars











Summary :
This Sunday Times bestseller is a miscellany of hilarious and peculiar bookshop moments: 'Can books conduct electricity?'
'My children are just climbing your bookshelves: that's ok... isn't it?'

A John Cleese Twitter question ['What is your pet peeve?'], first sparked the 'Weird Things Customers Say in Bookshops' blog, which grew over three years into one bookseller's collection of ridiculous conversations on the shop floor. 

From 'Did Beatrix Potter ever write a book about dinosaurs?' to the hunt for a paperback which could forecast the next year's weather; and from 'I've forgotten my glasses, please read me the first chapter' to 'Excuse me... is this book edible?: here is a book for heroic booksellers and booklovers everywhere.

This full-length collection illustrated by the Brothers McLeod also includes top 'Weird Things' from bookshops around the world

Review :
I have spend my day just do nothing and i only can read one books for today since yeah i've hurt my left ankle last night when i've practiced Futsal match. So I kinda lost my mood to read a lot books and fortunately i've picked humor books that brighten my day! :)

I have bought this books from TBD since they offered me 10% more discount since i've participated on Booktubeathon 10 that was being held on August 3rd - August 9th 2015. Thank you i've got my owned copy. OMG I love this books smell, I know it weird i love the smell of paper when i sniff them.. :p

Weird things Customers Say in Bookshops is a compilation stories based on Edinburgh Bookshop and Ripping Yarns bookshop experience when they meet demanding and hillarious customer is. Hahhaa Oh my God i just wanna laugh when i read some hillarious Questions from the customers and these are most epic one for me :

Tales From the Edinburgh Bookshop 

1. CUSTOMER: Hi, I just wanted to ask: did Anne Frank ever write a sequel?
BOOKSELLER: ........ 
CUSTOMER: I really enjoyed her first book. 
BOOKSELLER: Her diary? 
CUSTOMER: Yes, the diary. 
BOOKSELLER: Her diary wasn’t fictional. 
CUSTOMER: Really?
BOOKSELLER: Yes... She really dies at the end – that’s why the diary finishes. She was taken to a concentration camp. 
CUSTOMER: Oh... that’s terrible. 
BOOKSELLER: Yes, it was awful - 
CUSTOMER: I mean, it’s such a shame, you know? She was such a good writer.

2. CUSTOMER: Do you have a copy of Nineteen Eighty Six?
BOOKSELLER: Nineteen Eighty Six?
CUSTOMER: Yeah, Orwell
BOOKSELLER: Oh - Nineteen Eighty Four.
CUSTOMER: No, I'm sure it's Nineteen Eighty Six; I've always remembered it because it's the year I was born
BOOKSELLER: ...

3. Phone rings.
BOOKSELLER: Hello.
CUSTOMER: Hi. I was wondering if you could help me. I’m looking for a book for my niece. She’s six and I’ve no idea what to buy her.
BOOKSELLER: Sure. What kinds of things is she in to?
CUSTOMER: I don’t really know. I don’t see her very often – my sister lives abroad.
BOOKSELLER: OK, what’s her name?
CUSTOMER: Sophie.
BOOKSELLER: Ah, well, have you considered the Dick King Smith Sophie series? There’s even a book called Sophie’s Six.
CUSTOMER: OK, sure, that sounds like a good idea.
BOOKSELLER: Do you want me to double check that we have those in stock? I’m pretty sure we do.
CUSTOMER: No, it’s OK. I’m just going to order them online.
BOOKSELLER: But... we just gave you the recommendation.
CUSTOMER: I know, and I appreciate it. It’s a pain that Amazon don’t have a physical person I can ask about this sort of thing. Still, I can always
rely on you guys for advice.
BOOKSELLER: . . .

4. CUSTOMER: I’d like a refund on this book please.
BOOKSELLER: What seems to be the problem?
CUSTOMER: It’s broken! I barely touched it. It’s ridiculous!
BOOKSELLER: What do you mean?
CUSTOMER: I mean all I did was drop it in the bath by accident. And now, I mean, just look at it: the thing’s unreadable!

The Tales from Ripping Yarns 

1. CUSTOMER (Holds up a biography): Do you have this book but without the photographs?
BOOKSELLER: I think the photographs are published alongside the text in every edition.
CUSTOMER: Why?
BOOKSELLER: I suppose so you can see what everyone looked like
CUSTOMER: I don't like photographs
BOOKSELLER: OK
CUSTOMER: Could you cut them out for me?
BOOKSELLER: ...

2. CUSTOMER (peering over): Do you have brown eyes?
BOOKSELLER: Yes, I do.
CUSTOMER: My mother told me never to trust anyone with brown eyes.
BOOKSELLER: . . . You have brown eyes.
CUSTOMER: . . .

3. CUSTOMER: Hi
BOOKSELLER: Hi there, how i can help?
CUSTOMER: Could you please explain Kindle to me?
BOOKSELLER: Sure. It's an e-redaer, which means you download books and read them on a small hand-held computer.
CUSTOMER: Og OK, I see. So..this Kindle. Are the books on that paperback or hardback?

And so on.. You should read by yourself for more hillarious question for the customer is. Haha the books is totally Funny! :D 

Book Review : 5 to 1 by Holly Bodger

Images credits to : Goodreads
Title: 5 to 1
Author: Holly Bodger
Published by: Knopf Books for Young Readers
Pages: 256 Pages
Published on : May 12th, 2015
Format : E-book
Started on : June 28th, 2015
Finished on : June 30th, 2015
Rating : 3,1 / 5 stars










Summary:
In the year 2054, after decades of gender selection, India now has a ratio of five boys for every girl, making women an incredibly valuable commodity. Tired of marrying off their daughters to the highest bidder and determined to finally make marriage fair, the women who form the country of Koyanagar have instituted a series of tests so that every boy has the chance to win a wife.

Sudasa, though, doesn't want to be a wife, and Kiran, a boy forced to compete in the test to become her husband, has other plans as well. As the tests advance, Sudasa and Kiran thwart each other at every turn until they slowly realize that they just might want the same thing.

This beautiful, unique novel is told from alternating points of view-Sudasa's in verse and Kiran's in prose-allowing readers to experience both characters' pain and their brave struggle for hope

Review:
  
"In the year 2054, after decades of gender selection, India now has a ratio of five boys for every girl, making women an incredibly valuable commodity. Tired of marrying off their daughters to the highest bidder and determined to finally make marriage fair, the women who form the country of Koyanagar have instituted a series of tests so that every boy has the chance to win a wife"

we will being told from two POVs - Sudasa in free verse and Kiran in prose. Kiran is one of the contestant that have to be participate in some test to get married with Sudasa. The test such as running, make some poems, cooking and how well do you know the girl. In the other hand, i just realize that in this books is one of unique dystopia books since it doesn't have ROMANCE at all! waww. >__<

I liked both characters Sudasa and Kiran. They were strong, pleasingly rebellious, and I sympathized with both their situations since they have an difficult situations. In the end they just want to be free. FREEDOM is hard to get and need some sacrifices.

Reason why you should read this book!
1. The dystopia setting is in Future India. This is really good point. Can you mention how many dystopian books that location in Asia? they usually takes place in America.
The Hunger Games by Suzanne Collins --> North America
Divergent by Veronica Roth --> Chicago
Slip by David Eastes --> United States of America
Legend by Marie Lu --> Western United States

2. Zero Romance level
If you doesn't like any too much romance level in dystopia such as Shatter Me or The Selection Stories: The Queen & The Favorite you will love this books

3. The gender imbalance between men and women until 5 to 1 it is interesting one
4. The POV is being told by Prose and verse
5. Beautiful and eye-catchy cover! I really really love it >__<

Reason why you don't like this book
1. The ending is for me is so-so not a great one but yah it was Ok
2. Bad Setting description for dystopian world