Books "MADONNA OF THE SEVEN HILLS"

Judul Asli : THE BORGIAS : MADONNA OF THE SEVEN HILLS

[ book 1 of THE BORGIAS Series ]

Copyright © 2010 Jean Plaidy

Penerbit : Elex Media Komputindo

Alih Bahasa : Shandy Tan

Editor : Yuniasari S.D.

Cetakan I : April 2013 ; 502 hlm 

Nama Lucrezia Borgia merupakan  daya tarik tersendiri bagi penggemar kisah sejarah. Bukan saja karena ia merupakan keturunan keluarga Borgia yang memegang kekuasaan serta mengendalikan pemerintahan melalui Vatikan, Roma, tetapi juga permainan intrik kotor yang menyebabkan nama Borgia ditakuti oleh kawan serta lawannya. Kisah ini merupakan hasil intrepetasi sang penulis, yang berusaha merangkum fakta-fakta sejarah dan menyajikan sebuah drama misteri tentnag salah satu keluarga tertua dan paling berkuasa di Eropa.

Roderigo Borgia – Kardinal Agung di Roma, adalah sosok yang tampak lembut, ramah serta baik hati, namun memiliki rasa haus akan kekuasaan yang sangat tinggi, dan ia memiliki otak yang sangat cerdas untuk menyusun sebuah rencana demi mewujudkan cita-citanya : menjadi penguasa dunia melalui Vatikan. Langkah-langkah awal yang ia lakukan adalah menghasilkan keturunan putra-putra tangguh yang akan menjadi jenderal dalam tampuk pemerintahan yang akan diraihnya. Sebagai seorang Kardinal terhormat, seorang pastur Katolik yang diwajibkan untuk ‘selibat’ – tentunya tidak mungkin ia menikah dan memiliki keturunan. Berkat kekayaan keluarga, beliau mampu memiliki cukup banyak ‘simpanan’ ; mulai dari gadis belia hingga janda yang menawan. Salah satunya adalah Vannozza Catanei – janda cantik yang dijuluki Madonna dari Seven Hills, berhasil menarik hati sang Kardinal, terutama semenjak ia berhasil melahirkan putra-putra yang menjadi tumpuan cita-cita beliau. Dari si sulung Pedro Luis yang terpejar, Cesare yang pemberani, hingga Giovanni yang tampan dan menjadi kesayangan ‘paman’ Roderigo. Dan kelahiran bayi mungil yang cantik jelita bernama Lucrezia semakin menambah semarak keluarga tersebut.

MY WISHFUL WEDNESDAY [ 24 ] : "SASHENKA" by Simon Montefiore

MY WISHFUL WEDNESDAY ( 24 )

Back again on Wishful Wednesday !!! Kali ini menampilkan salah satu hasil browsing Website Open Trolley setelah mendapatkan voucher belanja, senangnya (^_^)  ___ kemudian mendadak ‘gigit-jari’ setelah melihat daftar harga yang terpampang... Ya ampun mahalnya, mengalahkan harga Periplus yang lumayan tinggi, bedanya di Peripulus masih ada promo sale ... dan karena frustasi dari bahagia – kecewa – gigit jari, alhasil diriku browsing salah satu tobuk online lokal, dan tertarik dengan buku ini yang menjadi salah satu Wishlist-ku ( yak, tambah terus hehe )

SANG RUBAH SALJU by Simon Montefiore

Sinopsis :

Musim Dingin, 1916: Di St Petersburg, Rusia di ambang revolusi. Di luar Institut Smolny untuk Putri Bangsawan, seorang pengasuh tengah menunggu putri tuannya untuk dijemput pulang dari sekolah. Gawatnya, begitu pula polisi rahasia Tsar...

Kala itu telah berusia 16 tahun, Sashenka Zeitlin telah berubah menjadi gadis cantik dan keras kepala. Seperti ibunya yang berpesta dengan Rasputin dan teman-temannya yang galau, Sashenka kerap menyelinap ke tengah malam yang dingin untuk menjalani perannya sebagai kurir revolusi dalam suatu permainan konspirasi yang sangat berbahaya.

Dua puluh tahun kemudian. Sashenka adalah istri seorang suami yang berkuasa di pentas politik, seorang pejabat partai; bapak dari dua anaknya. Dalam suasana politik setelah Revolusi Oktober, orang-orang terdekatnya lenyap entah ke mana, namun keluarganya sendiri aman. Tetapi, jalinan cintanya dengan seorang penulis—seorang mata-mata politik, barangkali—mengantarkannya menuju kehancuran: pribadi, karier politik, bahkan keluarganya.

Selama setengah abad lebih, kisah Sashenka tertutup rapat, hingga kemudian seorang sejarawan muda berhasil menelusuri arsip pribadi Stalin dan mengungkap sebuah cerita memilukan tentang hasrat dan pengkhianatan, kekejaman dan heroisme, sejarah dan penyelamatan: perihal seorang perempuan yang dipaksa mengambil pilihan sulit.

 

[ sumber : bukabuku.com ] 

Sayangnya edisi terjemahan ini sampul depannya kurang menarik ya, coba dibandingkan dengan edisi sampul luar, pasti lebih menarik jika dibuat seperti ini ___ nah, satu buku lagi masuk dalam wishlist, adakah Santa yang berbaik hati mau ‘kasih-kado’ ultah buku ini *wink-wink* --- modus-banget-nih.

SASHENKA by Simon Montefiore

Preview :

Winter, 1916: In St Petersburg, Russia on the brink of revolution. Outside the Smolny Institute for Noble Young Ladies, an English governess is waiting for her young charge to be released from school. But so are the Tsar's secret police...

Beautiful and headstrong, Sashenka Zeitlin is just sixteen. As her mother parties with Rasputin and her dissolute friends, Sashenka slips into the frozen night to play her part in a dangerous game of conspiracy and seduction.

Twenty years on, Sashenka has a powerful husband with whom she has two children. Around her people are disappearing, but her own family is safe. But she's about to embark on a forbidden love affair which will have devastating consequences.

Sashenka's story lies hidden for half a century, until a young historian goes deep into Stalin's private archives and uncovers a heart-breaking tale of passion and betrayal, savage cruelty and unexpected heroism - and one woman forced to make an unbearable choice.

[ source : fantasticfiction ] 

 

As alwalys, if you want to join this Wishful Wednesday Blog Hop, just follow this instructions below :

MY WISHFUL WEDNESDAY HOP

• Silakan follow blog Book to Share – atau tambahkan di blogroll/link blogmu =)
• Buat posting mengenai buku-buku (boleh lebih dari 1) yang jadi inceran kalian minggu ini, mulai dari yang bakal segera dibeli, sampai yang paling mustahil dan hanya sebatas mimpi. Oya, sertakan juga alasan kenapa buku itu masuk dalam wishlist kalian ya!
• Tinggalkan link postingan Wishful Wednesday kalian di Mr. Linky (klik saja tombol Mr. Linky di bagian bawah post). Kalau mau, silakan tambahkan button Wishful Wednesday di posting kalian.
• Mari saling berkunjung ke sesama blogger yang sudah ikut share wishlistnya di hari Rabu =)

Best Regards,

ZOLADDICTION [ Wrap-Up Post ]

This month of April 2013, I enter another challenge, reading Emile Zola's works host by Fanda, since I have one book of his works in my pile, I'll join (finally) and quite really surprise with the result. Did I like Zola's works, well it rather difficult to say because the one book I read not really a good example on human's character, but still interesting. If I have spare time this month (don't know how to find it) I will at least try another of his works. In the meantime, here is my update post on the progress :

• Therese Raquin
• My Character Thursday [ 15 ] : Therese Raquin

Note : as the result, I have no time to read another Zola, my reading schedule really hectic until the last minutes on the end of April. But I really enjoying this month, not only I'm having several new experience on reading books who I never knew will capture me with great surprises and pleasure too, and getting know some of new authors (classic and modern) who I never heard their name before until now. It's such a wonderful feeling to open-up new challenge, new adventure who written so well in those books. I'm not a writer, but I'm hugh fan of stories. So I will awaits another event to meet new author and new books too. Thanks for Fanda and o (delaisse) for hosting this event, it might be (if I still have a chance) open-up my interest to read some of Zola's sometimes in this year (^_^)
 
Best Regards,

CELEBRATING DICKENS [ A Wrap-Up Post + Long Term Project ]

Last February I join 'Celebrating Dickens Event' host by Fanda, as my first attempt to read at least one of Dickens works because like Fanda says, you will never be a Classic Clubber if never knew about Dickens works. And as the result, I really enjoy it and falling love into His works. This event was done only for a month, and turn-out (I just realize it) Dickens works are so many, from short-stories, novella and novel. So I will make this as another long term project (it means I will try to get as many as my spare time to read another Dickens sometimes in this year, and it will continue for the next year and so on). But first, let me do the Recap-Post just to remind me on the list that I already read and will read it later. So here is the list (I will update it as my reading progress)

Charles Dickens' Works :

1. Oliver Twist  [ DONE ]
2. A Tale of Two Cities  [ DONE ]
3. Great Expectations  [ DONE ]
4. The Haunted Man & The Ghost Bargain  [ DONE ]
5. A Child's Dream of A Star  [ DONE ]
6. A Christmas Carol  [ DONE ]
7. The Signal Man  [ DONE ] 
8. Charles Dickens' Ghost Stories  [ DONE ]
9. The Illustrated Stories From Dickens  [ DONE ]
10.  

My Thought On Dickens' Works : 

• Me & Dickens 
• My Character Thursday [ 14 ] : My Valentine with Dickens  
•   

Best Regards,

Books "THE PRAGUE CEMETERY"

Judul Buku : THE PRAGUE CEMETERY

By Umberto Eco

Copyright © RCS Libri S.p.A. – Milano Bompiani 2010

Penerbit :  Bentang Pustaka

Alih Bahasa : Nin Bakdi Soemanto

Editor : Mahfud Ikhwan

Desain Sampul : Andreas Kusumahadi

Cetakan I : Februari 2013 ; 616 hlm  

Pernahkah Anda membayangkan perjalanan sebuah kisah sejarah yang merubah tatanan kehidupan manusia melalui berbagai perombakan serta serangkaian peristiwa yang menngerikan ? Pernahkah Anda terpikir atau memiliki rasa ingin tahu akan kebenaran di balik kisah serta aneka peristiwa yang telah terjadi di masa silam ? Karena berbicara tentang sejarah mau tak mau kita akan mengungkit sesuatu yang telah terjadi, puluhan, ratusan bahkan ribuan tahun yang lalu. Berbekal dari rasa ingin tahu dan keinginan untuk mencari fakta serta kebenaran akan tindakan-tindakan yang berkaitan denga pembantaian dan pembunuhan inilah, diriku mencoba membuka ‘pembelajaran’ yang diberikan oleh sang penulis yang terkenal akan penulisan dengan bahasa yang indah sekaligus cukup ‘membingungkan’. Sejarah tentunya lebih baik dikenang akan hal-hal yang dianggap baik, indah dan menarik. Namun kebenaran acapkali harus berhubungan dengan pemaparan sifat-sifat manusia dari sudut pikiran terkelam. Satu jawaban pasti, sejarah takkan akan lepas dari kaitan peperangan. Dan inilah sumber ide awal yang membuat sang penulis membuat kisah yang sangat unik, sebuah konspirasi yang merubah tatanan dunia.

Short Story "THE PURLOINED LETTER"

Judul Asli : THE PURLOINED LETTER

Copyright © by Edgar Allan Poe

From “The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales”

This edition published in the Penguin English Library 2012 | 330 p

Front cover illustration : Coralie Bickford-Smith

Inside front cover : Edgar Allan Poe (photograph © The Granger collection / TopFoto)

ISBN : 978-0-141-19897-2

Chapter 16 | p. 250 – 270

This is the thirth instlament of Poe’s works that reveal a unique character name C. Auguste Dupin – a man who have special interest on detail and solving mystery surrounding several crimes. After the first appears on The Murders in the Rue Morgue follow by The Mysteryof Marie Rogêt, Dupin’s specialties have been recognise by the authority, so many of them are asking for advise when comes into unsolve or strange crime. Now Dupin’s enjoying his life in his apartement on No. 33 Rue Dunôt, Faubourg St. Germain with his best friend (who like many Poe’s works, act as a narator to the story, but never reveal who actually the person is or even his name), when familiar quest come by asking for advise, Monsieur G___, the Prefek of the Parisian police.

MY WISHFUL WEDNESDAY [ 23 ] : "THE BOURBON KID SERIES"

[ source ]

MY WISHFUL WEDNESDAY ( 23 )

This week I just finished on one of my TBRR Pile Project, after waiting for almost two years, finally I pick-up and reading ‘The Book With No Name’ by Anonymous. Aside from too many books on my pile, I’m also have some hesitation to start reading it, that’s also because many of my friend who already read it said it not worth to even try it – but I still got hugh curiousities on the subject, so after all the argument (inside my head) I just pick-up and start to read it....and would you even surprises that I really like it, maybe because I quite like dark fantasy even the weird one, I mean really a unique story with rather twisted plot, just like when I watch Quentin Tarantino’s movies like ‘Kill Bill’ or even ‘Pulp Fiction’ (who gave such confusing story’s ending for me). 

But don’t be afraid ‘cause “The Book With No Name” was much more understandable than those movies, if I can compare it, just like Wes Craven’s movies in 1980-1990 (I’ll remember it ‘cause watching those movies actually by sneaking up from my parents, they really think it’s to dangerous, to much violation with ‘gory’ scenery for teenager, and they are right, those images really stuck in head for days after watching it – so girls, next time listen to your parents, ok). Now, being much more adult now (hoh0) I like the story beacuse the author puts a hugh mystery and riddle to solve regarding the main character, what’s really happening in the story, and finally who is the main reason behind the massacre. But at the end I foun something really makes me become ‘grumpy’ – that’s because it’s the first book on its series ... oh, bummer, and there’s no sequels on the books, at least in Indonesia, so now I must hunt down the others book just to find out the answers of the mystery !!! Now it’s on my Wishlist, there are : 

THE EYE OF THE MOON by Anonymous

[ The Bourbon Kid #2 ]

Preview :

Following a massive rampage that left the streets of Santa Mondega soaked with blood, the elusive supernatural serial killer known only as the Bourbon Kid is now himself being haunted. Hot on his heels are several vampire gangs, the Secret Service, a couple of werewolves, corrupt cops, and the Dark Lord himself, and none will rest until he is dead. But the Kid has a vengeance of his own to wreak, and young lovers Dante and Kacy, hapless bartender Sanchez, Peto the Hubal monk, and the mysterious Jessica will each be drawn into the escalating vortex of violence

[ source : Goodreads ]   

THE DEVIL’S GRAVEYARD by Anonymous

[ The Bourbon Kid #3 ]

Preview :

In the third installment in Anonymous's popular series which began with The Book with No Name and continued with The Eye of the Moon, the Bourbon Kid returns for more vengeance, this time on the contestants of a television talent contest

The Devil’s Graveyard is an area of desert. Its only habitations are a small roadside gas station, and a giant hotel, where the final of the Back from the Dead singing competition is held, in which contestants compete by impersonating dead stars. Except that someone is killing them off . . . and there are other killers out there, too—not to mention zombies. Featuring characters from The Book with No Name and The Eye of the Moon, this is a show where anything goes and anyone can enter. Even the judges aren't quite what they seem. Sanchez, Elvis, the Mystic Lady, a whole bunch of dead rock stars and, of course, the Bourbon Kid are headed to the Hotel Pasadena for what is quite literally the most cutthroat reality show there's ever been. Dreams will be crushed, deals will be made, and blood will be spilled. The latest book is a rip-roaring addition to the series by the author with no name, which is guaranteed to be every bit as gory, fast-paced, and adrenaline pumping as the previous novels. It's Tarantino meets Pop Idol in a sensationally blood-streaked adventure that takes the tale of the Bourbon Kid to new and even creepier heights.

[ source : Goodreads ] 

THE BOOK OF DEATH by Anonymous

[ The Bourbon Kid #4 ]

Preview :

Believing the Bourbon Kid to be dead, the Egyptian Mummy Rameses Gaius has formed an undead army to take over the city of Santa Mondega. Vampires and werewolves are swarming the streets killing thousands of innocents. The local cops have all been murdered and replaced by…. Sanchez the bartender and his new sidekick Flake.
As the skies darken over the city, JD and his childhood sweetheart Beth plan to leave the city to start a new life. But when Jessica the Vampire Queen gets her hands on Beth it sends JD to Hell.
And back…. as the Bourbon Kid.
Featuring returning characters Dante and Kacy and a few other surprise guests, this new addition to the international bestselling series is crazier and more bloodthirsty than ever.
The Book of Death is the fourth Bourbon Kid novel, following on from The Book With No Name, The Eye of the Moon and The Devil's Graveyard

[ source : Goodreads ]  

 

As alwalys, if you want to join this Wishful Wednesday Blog Hop, just follow this instructions below :

MY WISHFUL WEDNESDAY HOP

• Silakan follow blog Book to Share – atau tambahkan di blogroll/link blogmu =)
• Buat posting mengenai buku-buku (boleh lebih dari 1) yang jadi inceran kalian minggu ini, mulai dari yang bakal segera dibeli, sampai yang paling mustahil dan hanya sebatas mimpi. Oya, sertakan juga alasan kenapa buku itu masuk dalam wishlist kalian ya!
• Tinggalkan link postingan Wishful Wednesday kalian di Mr. Linky (klik saja tombol Mr. Linky di bagian bawah post). Kalau mau, silakan tambahkan button Wishful Wednesday di posting kalian.
• Mari saling berkunjung ke sesama blogger yang sudah ikut share wishlistnya di hari Rabu =)

Best Regards,

Short Story "THE GOLD-BUG"

Judul Asli : THE GOLD-BUG

Copyright © by Edgar Allan Poe

From “The Murders in the Rue Morgue and Other Tales”

This edition published in the Penguin English Library 2012 | 330 p

Front cover illustration : Coralie Bickford-Smith

Inside front cover : Edgar Allan Poe (photograph © The Granger collection / TopFoto)

ISBN : 978-0-141-19897-2

Chapter 14 | p. 199 – 238

[ source ]

The main character is William Legrand was one of the heirs of an ancient Huguenot family – who many centuries ago are famous and wealthy. His past life are still quite good, but by several misfortunes all the family he inherited had reduced and left him poorly. To avoid the consequences of his disaster’s life, he left New Orleans and took up his residence at Sullivan’s Island, near Charleston, South Carolina, where he life single only accompanied by a loyal servant – a former black slave named Jupiter. 

This story again using the first person as the narrator and taking part as friend of Wiliam Legrand, who one day when this old friend come to visit him, suddenly he act strangely and it was start when Will trying to tell a story about his amazing discovery on those spesific day. The subject of this conversation are a bug with gold color on his back. That not only impossible but if its true is a very rare bug had ever discover. Soon when the narrator are back to his home, he got sudden visit from Jupiter, who really scare of his master’s life. He said that William Legrand become very different man since he discover those golden-bug. His act seems nonsence and almost crazy in the eyes of his old servant. And Master Will also ‘requested’ the arrival of his bestfriend back at his home, to discover and solve a great mystery.

[ source ]

I really like this kind of stories, involving mystery and the effort to solve a riddle with hidden secret clues, just like a treasure-hunt. And I think Sir Arthur Conan Doyle also inspire to write a very similar story – when he write about the first mystery young Sherlock manage to solve : The Musgrave Ritual (from the stories collection at The Return of Sherlock Holmes), the first prolog when two old friend are meet after separated long time, then the old buddies asking a favor and urgent help to solve a mystery surrounding family secret. The way ecah author describe the riddle and in searching the hidden treasure’s map then in pursue step by step all the terms and condition to get full picture on where about the hidden treasure. Similar in themes but different on inside. Never there else, is really interesting to read (^_^)

[ more about the author, books and related adaptations, check on here : Edgar Allan Poe | The Gold-Bug | Poe's Works ]

Best Regards,