FEBRIANI KARTIKA MADUSARI
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
Alice Scott is an eternal optimist still dreaming of her big writing break. Hayden Anderson is a Pulitzer-prize winning human thundercloud. And they’re both on balmy Little Crescent Island for the same reason: To write the biography of a woman no one has seen in years—or at least to meet with the octogenarian who claims to be the Margaret Ives. Tragic heiress, former tabloid princess, and daughter of one of the most storied (and scandalous) families of the 20th Century.
When Margaret invites them both for a one-month trial period, after which she’ll choose the person who’ll tell her story, there are three things keeping Alice’s head in the game.
One: Alice genuinely likes people, which means people usually like Alice—and she has a whole month to win the legendary woman over.
Two: She’s ready for this job and the chance to impress her perennially unimpressed family with a Serious Publication.
Three: Hayden Anderson, who should have no reason to be concerned about losing this book, is glowering at her in a shaken-to-the core way that suggests he sees her as competition.
But the problem is, Margaret is only giving each of them pieces of her story. Pieces they can’t swap to put together because of an ironclad NDA and an inconvenient yearning pulsing between them every time they’re in the same room.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
It has been almost two years since she defeated the vengeful spirit of her mother, but Vanja Ros - no longer Schmidt - has finally made a name for herself. She is a God Daughter, a (reformed) thief, a sister (surprisingly!), and now a folk hero. She stands up for those with nothing against the few who have everything, bringing justice and prosperity where she can.
But members of the seven royal families are turning up dead, all found with Vanja’s red penny calling card
on the bodies. And even a beloved woman of the people cannot keep her darkest shadows from the light forever. Deepseated hatred has spurred a forgotten foe into action. As old flames, adversaries, and allies resurface, Vanja must face what it took to become the Pfennigist once and for all.
It will take everything she is to save not only herself and the people she loves, but time as we know it.
Percobaan kedua membaca karya June Hur. Dan terkonfirmasi karyanya bukan untukku.
Percobaan kedua membaca karya June Hur. Dan terkonfirmasi karyanya bukan untukku.
Updated a reading goal:
Read 40 books in 2025
Progress so far: 25 / 40 62%
Honestly, this is my least favorite book from Miss Blake. Up until the end I don't really understand the plot. I said what I said.
Honestly, this is my least favorite book from Miss Blake. Up until the end I don't really understand the plot. I said what I said.
"Hati pria sangat berbeda dengan rahim ibu, Mariam.
Rahim tak akan berdarah ataupun melar karena harus menampungmu.
Hanya akulah yang kau miliki di dunia ini,
dan kalau aku mati, kau tak akan punya siapa-siapa lagi.
Tak akan ada siapa pun yang peduli padamu. Karena kau tidak berarti!"
Kalimat itu sering kali diucapkan ibunya setiap kali Mariam bersikeras ingin berjumpa dengan Jalil, ayah yang tak pernah secara sah mengakuinya sebagai anak.
Dan kenekatan Mariam harus dibayarnya dengan sangat mahal. Sepulang menemui Jalil secara diam-diam, Mariam menemukan ibunya tewas gantung diri.
Sontak kehidupan Mariam pun berubah. Sendiri kini dia menapaki hidup. Mengais-ngais cinta di tengah kepahitan sebagai anak haram. Pasrah akan pernikahan yang dipaksakan, menanggung perihnya luka yang disayatkan sang suami. Namun, dalam kehampaan dan pudarnya asa, seribu mentari surga muncul di hadapannya.
Sama seperti The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns adalah cerita yang sunggu menyesakkan hati.
"Hati pria sangat berbeda dengan rahim ibu, Mariam.
Rahim tak akan berdarah ataupun melar karena harus menampungmu.
Hanya akulah yang kau miliki di dunia ini,
dan kalau aku mati, kau tak akan punya siapa-siapa lagi.
Tak akan ada siapa pun yang peduli padamu. Karena kau tidak berarti!"
Kalimat itu sering kali diucapkan ibunya setiap kali Mariam bersikeras ingin berjumpa dengan Jalil, ayah yang tak pernah secara sah mengakuinya sebagai anak.
Dan kenekatan Mariam harus dibayarnya dengan sangat mahal. Sepulang menemui Jalil secara diam-diam, Mariam menemukan ibunya tewas gantung diri.
Sontak kehidupan Mariam pun berubah. Sendiri kini dia menapaki hidup. Mengais-ngais cinta di tengah kepahitan sebagai anak haram. Pasrah akan pernikahan yang dipaksakan, menanggung perihnya luka yang disayatkan sang suami. Namun, dalam kehampaan dan pudarnya asa, seribu mentari surga muncul di hadapannya.
Sama seperti The Kite Runner, A Thousand Splendid Suns adalah cerita yang sunggu menyesakkan hati.
This book just isn't for me.
This book just isn't for me.
Surprisingly good, for non smut book. Although still too long for a contemporary book.
Surprisingly good, for non smut book. Although still too long for a contemporary book.