Another year has swiftly passed. I'm back in the start of the year... Kinda scary actually. Not to feel the time passing... ooops, let's not get into depressed mode ^^;; Anyone who want to see the list of books I read in 2011, please click after cut ^^ More information for each book is available in this link.

Here is the list not based on any orders. The number will be less than 30 since I'm combining series.
1. Catching Fire (The Hunger Games, #2) and Mockingjay (The Hunger Games, #3) from Suzanne Collins
   I would recommend this to everyone who like survival story. The plot is realistic though not much character development. Our main chara, Katniss, cannot make you totally hate/love her. I wanted to write down why but it will be a spoiler lol A movie will be out by March, I wonder if it will live up to the book...
2. Frankenstein (Collins Classics) by Mary Shelley
   This story is only getting interesting when you reach book/part 2. There is no way for us to know whether Frankenstein is really kind or as what the creator had mentioned, that he marvels in his choice of words. But I find both Frankenstein and his creation are similar. Egoistic, view themselves as victim, and revenge is the only thing in their mind. Too bad, all classic reading has that same aspect. The story and the characters feeling feel so detached from the reader.
   
3. Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum
   Another classic. It's a fun reading for all age :D
4. 盗墓笔记 (1-6) by 南派三叔
   For horror lovers and Chinese literate, I would recommend the book. No, I'm not talking as a yaoi fangirl though if it encourages you to read, there are a lot of loveable pairings in it LMAO In overall I give 4 ranks because the story is interesting and chara development is quite nice =) I'm still in the middle of 7th book. It is said that 8th book will be the end but not yet published until now.
5. Grimm's Fairy Tales (Barnes & Noble Classics Series) by Jacob Ludwig Karl Grimm
   Classic. I read this before in junior high and judging from unabridged fairy tales I read so far, if anyone want one that's safe for kids, go for Disney version.
6. Anthology of Japanese Literature by Donald Keene
   Booooring. It's like the author just slap in miscellanous materials to make a book.
7. The Book of Heroes by Miyuki Miyabe
   This book is a story about a girl who want to save her brother accompanied by a mouse-dictionary, monk, and a wolf. Before you roll your eyes, no, it's not werewolf (Thank God this book has nothing of sort. I'm going to bang my head if I found another book with werewolf and vampire.) Asking for romance is a too high of expectation of course. Traveling to different world is not unfamiliar concept, also the idea of saving the world. But don't let them make you put this book back to shelf yet. The 'story' concept is something that is quite different here. It makes your head spin when the sages are trying to explain it. The usage of suspended mystery/truth was used once too many but without holding the truth until the end, this story won't start at all. Our girl won't become allcaste and we won't have this story. The main character is a fifth grade student called Yuriko Morisaki. The transformation of Yuriko into a more matured U-ri was quite forced at first. However, the rest of the events proved that even if you have access to all knowledge, that doesn't mean you can fully matured and turn wise in 24 hours. U-ri's heart in the end still belong to our little girl Yuriko, with all her fragility and fright.The ending is not considered a 'happily ever after' but it's not a tragedy either. It's actually quite realistic and enforces the 'story' concept that has been introduced since the start of the book. It opens the chance of having a sequel though I don't think it is needed. I'm giving the book rating 4 of 5 because I was really hoping for a romance between U-ri and Sora (Sky) - like I said, it's a but too high of expectation on my end. This book is suitable for those who are tired to common story concept where our main character save the whole world. It was an enjoyable reading. After finishing the book, you will be left with a question. Does the desire to live a story is really a sin?
   
8. Paprika by Yasutaka Tsutsui
   Impressive, as the movie itself. I find the sex theme is quite disagreeable though. Not much explanation about the tech used to enter the dream but the idea about how it works is plausible. Recommended if you like sci-fi and... can be open minded about sex and adult life.
9. Samurai Strategies: 42 Martial Secrets from Musashi's Book of Five Rings by Boy Lafayette de Mente
   Another boring book. This book is trying to praise a certain teacher for the author instead of explaining the strategies *roll eyes*
   
10. My Stupid Boss: Impossible We Do! Miracle We Try! Bersakit-sakit di Gue, Bersenang-senang di Lo and My Stupid Boss 2: Impossible We Do Miracle We Try by Chaos@work
    A local book given by a friend. Humor is good at first but it become repetitive after the first book...
11. A Christmas Carol by Charles Dickens
    Nice. Very suitable for Christmas season. Reminded you of things you forgotten in the past =)
    
12. Japanese Fairy Tales by Yei Theodora Ozaki
    Mostly are famous fairy tales known to the world. Nothing special.
13. Traditional Irish Fairy Tales by James Stephens
    Confusing. I'm not even sure the Fionn mentioned in the book is one person or all the great people in Irish's fairy tales are called Fionn... ^^;;
14. English Fairy Tales by Joseph Jacobs
    Hurmm... I know most of the fairy tales. A few of them are just a repetition of words *roll eyes*
15. Gregor the Overlander (Underland Chronicles, #1-#5) by Suzanne Collins
    Quite nice. Recommended if you like adventure and doesn't mind if the main pairing ended up not together. Or you can quit at third book before it happens lol The story is nice until the author decide to give Gregor super abilities and force him to fall in love (reminds me a lot of Harry Potter x Ginny Weasley *roll eyes*)
16. Starcrossed (Thief Errant, #1) by Elizabeth C. Bunce
    Uh... This book has more political and planing discussion instead of action. I made it through the book but won't be interested picking up the continuation. Did I also mention the way the author introduce each character is suck until I cannot remember who they are and what role they have until half of the book? Anyway... Quite okay if anyone like political stuff but... just not for me.
17. The Princess Curse by Merrie Haskell
    Based on a fairy tale where 12 princess disappear at night and their soles are worn out every night (+ some sort of Beauty and The Beast after half book). It starts slow and kind of boring but it turns out okay. I only recommend this for anyone who like to read a twisted fairy tale. Aside from that, nothing much it can offers the reader. Happy ending I assure you though.
18. I Am a Cat: Three Volumes in One by Natsume Souseki
    Actually it's an interesting book. Witty lines and sarcasm over human's behavior. It is interesting in the first book and just like any other book, it falls into repetition after it. Too bad. Recommended for everyone to read the first book. Early warning though, this is a literature piece - it is nowhere near 'easy reading'.
19. The Spirit of Christmas (Christmas Classic) by Henry Van Dyke
    Sermon book. Kinda. I think I heard one of the stories in the catholic school sermon back when I was in primary school... Why am I picking it again? LOL
20. Ketika Semua Jalan Telah Tertutup by Heri Kartono, OSCIt was given by a friend also. A local Christian book. Personally of course I won't be picking up/reading this kind of book (I'm not even a Christian...) but since it's a gift... Of course I have to read lol