Synopsis :
Winning what you want may cost you everything you love...
As
a general’s daughter in a vast empire that revels in war and enslaves
those it conquers, seventeen-year-old Kestrel has two choices: she can
join the military or get married. But Kestrel has other intentions.
One
day, she is startled to find a kindred spirit in a young slave up for
auction. Arin’s eyes seem to defy everything and everyone. Following her
instinct, Kestrel buys him—with unexpected consequences. It’s not long
before she has to hide her growing love for Arin.
But he, too,
has a secret, and Kestrel quickly learns that the price she paid for a
fellow human is much higher than she ever could have imagined.
Set in a richly imagined new world, The Winner’s Curse
by Marie Rutkoski is a story of deadly games where everything is at
stake, and the gamble is whether you will keep your head or lose your
heart.
This book has a really slow pace and lack of romance. It took me months to finish this book.
I dislike slow-paced books.
The story started with..
Kestrel is a Valorian and Arin is a Herrani.
Valorian won a war over Herrani hence Herrani became their slaves.
Arin is a spy sent by the auctioneer, Cheat.
Arin's auction was meant for Kestrel only. Kestrel did not realize that and bought Arin.
The Herrani do not want to be slaves anymore.
They want to be independent. They planned to fight the Valorian back even though they know they will not win.
The Herrani leader was Cheat for a moment until Arin killed Cheat because Cheat was dangerous for Kestrel.
This book is full of lies, betrayal, and definitely not for me.
Favorite Quotes
“Isn't that what stories do, make real things fake, and fake things real?”
― Marie Rutkoski,
The Winner's Curse
“The truth can deceive as well as a lie.”
― Marie Rutkoski,
The Winner's Curse
“Your promises are worth nothing.” ― Marie Rutkoski,
The Winner's Curse
Rate
★★★
GERD adalah singkatan dari GastroEsophageal Reflux Disease atau simplenya adalah asam lambung atau maag.
Namun asam lambung ini berbentuk batuk dan harus mengeluarkan "dahak" (baca: asam lambung).
Orang tua saya juga punya penyakit maag. Namun, yang mereka alami adalah dalam bentuk sakit perut, tapi tidak batuk.
Kalau yang saya alami adalah dalam bentuk batuk, tapi tidak sakit perut.
2 tahun saya batuk, dibawa kedokter kesana-sini, diberi obat ini itu, tidak membuat saya sembuh2.
Orang tua saya selalu berpikir batuk2 ya karena paru-paru. Oleh karena itu, saya selalu dibawa ke dokter THT.
Selama saya ke beberapa dokter THT di Indonesia, tidak ada yang mention GERD ke saya.
Sampai saya ke 1 dokter THT Singapore (saat itu kebetulan saya lagi sakit radang tenggorokan dan studi di Singapore), dokter mengatakan mungkin saya GERD.
Saat itu saya belum mengerti GERD dan saya hiraukan itu.
Sekitar setelah 9 bulan dari dokter Singapore itu, saya mulai research tentang GERD di google karena saya sudah mulai lelah batuk2.
Saya baca-baca dan saya merasa kok deskripsinya pas banget sama apa yang saya alamin.
Saya dibawa ke dokter internis yang ayah dan ibu saya sudah langganan daridulu.
Dokter itu kasih saya obat yang sama dengan yang ayah saya minum bertahun-tahun lamanya yaitu OMZ.
Saya minum obat itu dan merasa kok sama aja, gak ngurangin batuk saya juga.
Ternyata, orang yang mengalami asam lambung itu cocok-cocokan dengan obat-obatnya!
Ayah saya cocok dengan OMZ, belum tentu saya juga cocok.
Berkali-kali saya merengek-rengek ke orang tua untuk membawa saya ke Malaysia untuk mengobati GERD saya.
Lalu ayah saya menawarkan, mau gak ke Professor dulu di Indonesia? Untuk membandingkan hasilnya dengan dokter di Malaysia.
Saya iya-in aja. Professor ini bekerja di Rumah Sakit Pluit.
Dia mau cek keseluruhan, periksa darah banyak banget, CT scan, endoscopy dan colonoscopy.
Biayanya tentu bengkak! (untung saya ada asuransi)
Tapi menurut saya semua itu worth it.
Dari colonoscopy diketahui bahwa saya juga radang usus.
Untungnya, tidak ada tumor terdeteksi di badan saya.
At first, menurut saya, professor ini recommended banget! Obat dari dia ampuh dan saya merasa tidak perlu ke Malaysia lagi.
Namun ternyata, obat dia hanya ampuh sekitar 2 minggu buat saya dan detik-detik terakhir obatnya mau habis, saya merasa mual dan tidak bisa makan. Hanya bisa makan 3-4 suap. Lalu saya demam dan warna urine saya gelap.
Lalu saya periksa darah dan hasilnya liver saya melewati batas normal karena obat yang saya minum terlalu berat dan efek sampingnya ke liver.
Puji Tuhan, 2 minggu ke depan saya periksa darah lagi, semua sudah kembali normal karena saya minum temulawak.
Suatu hari, saya menemukan grup GERD Indonesia di facebook. Saya join.
Saya sangat bersyukur karena saya menemukan grup itu. Saya mendengar banyak pengalaman orang lain, keluhan mereka, dan yang sudah sembuh juga pada share resep mereka bisa sembuh. Mereka sangat supportive karena kita sama-sama berjuang melawan penyakit GERD ini.
Yang awalnya saya selalu putus asa dan pasrah, tapi saya bisa semangat lagi karena itu semua.
Melihat yang sudah pada sembuh, saya jadi ingin cepat sembuh juga.
Lalu saya membaca ada yang posting, suaminya bisa sembuh dengan resep sinse dari tiongkok. Resepnya adalah: 11 siung bawang putih tunggal, 2 siung bawang bombay sedang, dan 3 jeruk nipis. Semua itu di blender. Jeruk nipis nya berikut kulit dan bijinya juga. Bisa di simpan di dalam kulkas selama 5 hari. Konsumsi itu 1 sendok makan 2x sehari sebelum makan.
Saya coba itu dan so far, ramuan ini lah yang paling ampuh. Baru pertama kali saya makan aja, saya tidak batuk-batuk lagi. Luar biasa, bukan?
Katanya, sinse bilang ramuan ini obat penyembuh segala penyakit. Penyakit apa pun yang dokter vonis tidak bisa sembuh lagi, bisa sembuh dengan ramuan ini.
Saya juga membaca cerita orang yang gagal ginjal, gejala kanker lidah dan asam urat nya sampai angka 14 juga sembuh dengan ramuan ini. Wow.
Menurut saya, tidak banyak orang Indonesia mengetahui tentang GERD.
Proses penyembuhan asam lambung memakan waktu cukup lama. Bisa bertahun-tahun dan berbeda-beda setiap orang.
Ayah saya sembuh dari maag nya juga 5 tahun.
Orang yang menderita asam lambung juga harus pantang makan : coklat, kopi, bakmi, santen, nanas, nangka, durian, fried food, etc.
Perut juga tidak boleh dibiarkan kosong terlalu lama. Harus ngemil setiap 2-3 jam.
Bila asam lambung dibiarkan atau telat ditangani, lama-lama bisa berpotensi kanker lambung atau kanker esofagus.
Ada pula yang sudah terlalu kronis sampai tidak bisa masuk makanan dan minuman dari mulut lagi, sehingga harus memakai feeding tube dari perut.
Buat kalian yang batuk tidak kunjung sembuh2, boleh mempertimbangkan GERD dan kenali lebih dalam penyakit ini.
Semoga bacaan ini membantu! :)
I live in a society where people use branded stuffs around me.
Therefore, I like branded stuffs.
But my love towards branded stuffs is getting smaller and smaller thankfully as I grow up.
I can control it even though I can't fully control it yet.
I want to be someone who does not enjoy the glamor of this life.
I used to always look 'up' (if you understand what I mean).
If I saw someone who has it, I wanted to have it too. Like there was an envy feeling.
But now, I can differentiate between what I want and what I really need.
It's easy. Just look 'down'. Look below me.
There are so many people who work so hard to get a penny to eat, for their living, and many more.
I feel beyond lucky with my life.
I am in the progress of learning to cherish everything that I have and be more humble.
I should not let my environment influence me.
I admit that I still buy branded stuffs for myself.
But I buy it with my own money. I never ask my parents to buy branded stuffs for me. They work so hard. They can do whatever they want with their own money to satisfy themselves but I don't want them to buy unnecessary stuffs for me.
If I really want it, I have to save my own money and buy the affordable brand. So simple!
I haven't worked and I should use what I can afford. That way I appreciate the value more.
I took a personality test and the result was I have INTP personality.
I've blogged and said that I am an introvert person. So, here's a little bit deeper about introvert. I like to read about this kind of thing/psychology things.
Here's a link that explain INTP personality:
http://www.16personalities.com/intp-personality
Have you ever wondered why…
- …you feel energetic in some situations and exhausted in others?
- …you are not quite sure how to reach your full potential in the world that sometimes seems so foreign to you?
- …you find it easier to talk to some people, but not others?
- …your friends sometimes say that you are special and mysterious?
- …you have difficulties studying certain subjects?
All of them is YES!
I will highlight some parts that best describe me:
INTP personalities are usually very shy and reluctant when it comes to
meeting other people. However, INTPs can also be very friendly and
confident when they interact with people they know well or talk about
things that interest them. INTPs are flexible and relaxed in nearly all
situations, except when their beliefs or logical conclusions are being
criticized. In those cases, the INTP is likely to become very defensive
and argue tirelessly.
People with this personality type may also find it quite difficult to
explain their thoughts to others, even when it becomes obvious that
their theories are not easily graspable.
INTP personalities tend to be very loyal and
faithful partners. INTPs are also unusually direct and honest, even if
they have just started dating someone. People with this personality type
always stick to their commitments and are actually quite easy to date
and live with – they have simple daily needs and do not demand much from
their partners. However, despite seeking simplicity in dating and
romantic relationships, INTPs do not lack passion or romantic feelings.
On the contrary, people with the INTP personality type tend to be
extremely creative individuals whose vivid imagination allows them to
always remain very enthusiastic and passionate in romantic
relationships. Anyone dating an INTP may be quite surprised by this
sometimes. (yeay!)
It is not surprising that INTPs are likely to have a very small circle
of good friends. That being said, INTPs will value
and respect their friends greatly, and work hard to keep these
relationships strong.
(-) Very private and withdrawn. INTPs are often reluctant
to let anyone inside their minds, let alone their hearts. They may often
come across as shy in social settings and even the INTP’s friends are
likely to have a difficult time getting to know them well.
I always think that I do not have any talent.
I can't cook.
I can't do any kind of sport.
I can't play music.
I can't bake.
Sounds pitiful, right? I have been desperately searching for my potential talent. Where is it?
At school, I used to be told that every person has talent, it's just maybe you haven't found out yet or you don't realize it.
Well, I can play piano a little bit (until grade 4, I guess?)
I used to hate piano so much because it was hard to learn classic songs (I'm still thinking the same).
I coaxed my mom to quit my piano course for years. My mom never wants me to stop.
Whenever I went to my piano course, my steps always felt so heavy to enter the room.
I hate going to concert and the exam.
I'm a shy person. I always get nervous when I'm on stage or people look at me.
I want to have a piano course if I don't have to go to a concert or do the exam.
I love to hear piano's sound. Sometimes I do miss piano. Guess I waste my skill, uh?
I think I give up on piano easily.
My mom's friend's daughter also like me.
She was forced to learn piano since little, she hated it, but maybe her parents are more stubborn than mine so they never allow her to quit or she didn't try to coax harder (?) I don't know.
Now she can be a piano teacher. All of the hatred towards piano and hardships, she can pass it through all. It what makes her today.
I hate myself.
Why am I so stupid? Why do I waste my only skill? Why do I give up so easily?
I know it's all my fault. I always blame myself for being so stupid.
I asked my parents that I wanted to have a baking course but they never give me the chance. They said, "What for? You don't like to cook. You rarely go to the kitchen. You don't have the hobby of it."
The impact now that I envy a lot of people who able to cook, play music, bake, and what-so-ever!
What can I do to make me have something special in me?
Synopsis :
As an obedient orphan of
the U.N.A. (the super-country that was once Mexico, the U.S., and
Canada), Alenna learned at an early age to blend in and be quiet—having
your parents taken by the police will do that to a girl. But Alenna
can’t help but stand out when she fails a test that all
sixteen-year-olds have to take: The test says she has a high capacity
for brutal violence, and so she is sent to The Wheel, an island where
all would-be criminals end up.
The life expectancy of prisoners
on The Wheel is just two years, but with dirty, violent, and chaotic
conditions, the time seems a lot longer as Alenna is forced to deal with
civil wars for land ownership and machines that snatch kids out of
their makeshift homes. Desperate, she and the other prisoners concoct a
potentially fatal plan to flee the island. Survival may seem impossible,
but Alenna is determined to achieve it anyway.
A lot of people say this book is similar to Divergent and Hunger Games. I will say yes, it does, but don't worry! The similarities are just a few. Really! At the beginning, the story starts every child, one by one, sits on a reclined chair and ends up stay in U.N.A or The Wheel. That! The similarity to Divergent. Just it.
And The Wheel is the similarity to Hunger Games. It is the arena that the story takes place. The plot and the story itself are different inside the arena.
The story starts a little bit slow, made me kinda bored. But in the middle of the book, I can feel the suspense and got hooked up.
The Wheel takes plenty of people to be sacrificed.
Rate
★★★★
I have been very busy because of my internship and final project.
20-12-13 was my 19th birthday and also my final project presentation. Oh-ho! What a great present for my birthday. What worse was.. I was the first one to do the presentation!
I can't even sleep.
Luckily, you know what? I was told I was the best presenter. Yeay!
And I really wanted to go home faster. I had a reason for that.
Because Ochan was waiting for meeee!!! Special guest on my birthday!
I never get this excited on my birthday.
I requested my brother to bring Ochan to home. I feel it is a must to meet Ochan again before I leave.
My second family (read: best friends) also came to my house. Stefanie gave me a necklace.
She has her necklace from long time ago. She just put it there to take a photo of it together. We have our friendship necklace now! This is the most precious gift from the most precious person.
Ah!
My best friends gave me a surprise on 19-12-13. We went to karaoke. Stefanie got a call and she went out. She did not come back for quite a long time. I wonder what took her so long. When Kevin Ong and I sang 'Hunter Hayes-Wanted', it stopped in the middle we were singing. The whole room was in bewilderment. What happened? Suddenly, Stefanie came and held a cake. Of course, the others grasped the situation and then sang a happy birthday song to me. It was not an usual birthday song. It was Jambrud's song (an Indonesian band).
Why she gave me the surprise on the wrong date? Why earlier?
It was because I already knew the cake. That was her reason.
It was said, that was Ariel cake. However, the barbie did not have the red hair.
But, whatever! That was the most beautiful cake so far on my birthday.
My crush *ahem* and my friend also came to my house. He brought a cake for me. However, he forgot to ask the candle because he was in a rush. He had a class on that day and skipped the class. I really appreciate his effort. He did not need to do that though. Unfortunately, I forgot to take a picture of it. I cut it right away!
I asked him to come inside my house but he refused because there were my friends. I felt terribly sorry to him.
To conclude, my birthday in this year was so satisfying!
