Reading List - 2024

I didn't read as much as I wanted or planned to. 

But hey, 2024 is much better than the past 10 years. 😉

The second half of 2024 witnessed the rise of the book nerd that is me. I love it!

1. Perempuan Busana Merah by Ramlee Awang Murshid (RAM)
As usual, RAM is brilliant in linking the stories and holding them together even though the story keeps jumping between reality and fantasy even though the whole story is a fantasy. It maintained my interest, grasped my curiosity, and kept me glued that I finished reading the book in one night, sacrificing my sleep. Luckily, it's just a thin book. Towards the end, it was confusing and uninteresting to me. The ending stressed me out. I don't like it. Hmmmphhhh... It's not my cup of tea.

2. Dari Lembah Cita- cita ~ Pedoman Perjuangan Anak Muda by Hamka

Hamka's writing is always a few levels higher than the Bahasa Melayu that I'm used to. All his writings, literature or not are always literature-like. The way he arranged his sentences and even the words in his sentences challenged my simple mind. I wish I could write as well as Hamka. The kind of writing that inspires even through one simple sentence. 

Anyway, this book serves as a guideline on how to accomplish our ambitions. Learning from someone like Hamka, means that your path to success is guided by Islamic values and keeps you on the guided path. 

3. Pirate - Clive Cussler and Robin Burcell

Clive Cussler again successfully served me the actions & adventures that I craved for. But after a while, I got bored reading the story about people running around chasing treasures. Maybe I was not in the mood for a story about being chased by thugs.

4. One Day - David Nicholls

Some books immediately grabbed my interest right from the first paragraph. This book is one of them. Some books made me want to skip lines, paragraphs, pages... and sometimes chapters. Just so I can finish reading it faster. This is not one of the books.

Some books have been adapted into movies or tv series. So, I figured ok that's enough. No need to read the book anymore. Watching the movies or the tv series is enough. This book is not that book.

You'll get hooked on this book immediately from the first page.

This book has been adapted into both a movie and a tv series. 

I watched the movie and thought, gosh... why so sad.

I delayed watching the tv series. But when I got to it, I bawled my eyes out and got depressed for almost 2 weeks watching the last episode over and over. Leo Woodall is so good in the tv series. He's the reason for my depression! Grrrr... His acting was excellent. Reminds me of James McAvoy. I wish him opportunities to shine even brighter.

Then I decided, I needed to read the book. I need to know more about what happened between Emma Morley and Dexter Mayhew. Maybe once I know more, I'll be less sad because the story of two people having the chance to spend only two happy years together after ten years of misses is so very sad. 

I'm still sad after reading the book. I feel like kicking Dexter Mayhew after I finished reading chapter 3... urrrgghhhhhhh....

But not sad, sad. Happy sad? 

Gosh, I need to improve my vocabulary. 

David Nicholls, you're too good at this. 

I hope my novel will be as good as this. 

I must read more... *sigh*