First Book Journal : My only entry so far LOL

2024 Recap number 22.

In my draft, I actually wrote 'movie' journal. As I continued tho, I realized that it wasn't a movie journal that I created, it was actually a BOOK JOURNAL! I created the first one on 1 Dec 2024.

This took me awhile to make coz once again, overthinking. 

But I thought, I really need to make use of my SMTown Season's Greeting Diary, currently have 7 more to go thru after using one. I feel like they make the perfect size for book OR even movie spread.

One at a time.

For now, let me share you the first book spread I made.

and actually, not my first time making a page spread of the book I've read; I think I've created 3-4 pages before, in one of my journals. But those were very simple; gamabr of the book I just read, plus a short detail and review of the book.

From what I have came across about book journaling (instagram mostly), the pages or spreads usually revolve around the feel or vibe of the book eg the color, base of the book cover, Summer vibe, or Winter vibe or something along that line. There were all very pretty spreads. Pasal atu I'm inspired to created one too.

The idea behind my first spread was to maintain one side of the page as what I did before, short detail of the book plus my review, while on the other side, I included pictures that are similar to what I had in my head while reading the book seperti characters' face. I think I like this spread idea. I will use the same format again on the next spread. Maybe to adjust the size of the photos abit lah. Macam tercompact ya. huhu

Maybe I should list down all my TBR. Maybe I'll be motivated to read again. and then can make a new book read spread. 🤓

Newest book pile

New book pile that I have collected thus far and then some.

I am ashamed to say that I have yet to start reading any of these new books. I must have collected some of these dari time 2020 - pandemic gais.

Macam I tried so hard to not buy a new one selagi alum tuhus yang lama2 but some times I can't help it; awesome looking cover? bali. synopsis at the back macam lawa? bali. Booktok/Bookgram influencer mentioned it? terjebak.

oh! I finally got my hands on the Hufflepuff version set! Feb 2025.

KALAU diliat gambar2 ani, I know my pile isn't as bad as others but it is still bad for 1 person to own this much unread pile. Ganya, who's keeping tab, right? I will read them eventually. 

I might need to make a visible Check List to get me feel 'competitive' with myself and see how much I can finish this month. LOL

On top of that, I also finally got my hands on this book - Behind the Attic Wall by Sylvia Cassedy.

I got it off ebay. The price was afforable for me at the time of purchase. Even plus shipping, the price was still reasonable to me for a used/old/no-longer-in-production book.

Story time...I have been wanting to read this book again for the longest of time. The first time I read it was back when I was in Secondary School. I think I was maybe 15 or 16 years old? Kan I started to really learn to speak English when I started Secondary School - coz I was embarrassed that my English was the wrost among the group of friends that I surround myself with T.T - and cara ku belajar was by borrowing any English fiction books from the library and reading them regardless if aku paham or inda what I was reading.

For some reason, Behind the Attic Wall story really stuck in my head. Awal-awal, I thought that buku was more of a horror story coz I stereotyped perkataan 'Attic' atu meaning 'berhantu' LOL

But overtime, I think it was more towards mental health issues.

So I wanted to read it again as an adult and I think as of 2025, it already been 5 years since I started looking where to buy this book - secondhand.

I think time 2024 kali, I asked a local seller and they "quoted" me something around BND80 kah? LIke ridiculous! Inda ku pasti if she was looking at a secondhand or new condition book..my flabber was ghasted. 

Lucky for me I came across a secondhand one on ebay for a much cheaper price. Yay me!

End of storytime about Sylvia book.

I have tried to read it straight away but I stopped at page 59. I think I stopped around Apr 2025? Why? becoz my brain is still in the slump. meaning I can't seem to enjoy every single one of my hobbies - including reading, for a long time now. I mean I could try but I can't seem to push pass the block in my head that says 'boring eh' 'ngaleh ku eh' 'every thing is testing my patient' 'I can't focus', etc. So, sis just follow the flow lah..

and the flow carried me into something else these past few weeks; I started reading manhwa exclusively and obsessively! 

either from a website (with annoying pop-outs) or from webtoon. I've been losing sleep becoz of them! coz I mostly cari cerita yang completed. LOL mengobsess. 

I mean, not my first time reading manhwa. I duno when I started that first story but I think it can't be last year. Awal taun 2025 kali aku came across the first one. atu pun by accident when I was looking for Demon Slayer punya comic and came across a website with lots of manhwa but no Demon Slayer. One thing led to another and yeah that was how I started.

by this point, I realized most stories are similar with different names saja. I think only 5 out of many that I came across yang storyline nya different or unique.

Currently I am reading A Child Who Looks Like Me, The Billionaire's Replacement Wife, and Can't Get Enough of You. 

Ani yang currently masih on going lah. Usually I hate anything yang masih on-going (ani termasuk drama bersiri) but their jalan cerita are so good, you just gotta know what's next. 

I have a point?? when I mentioned pasal manhwa ani...pointnya, mungkin aku inda baca novel or buku2 physical yang aku bali atu BUT aku baca manhwa and aku rasa ani counts as reading jua. 😂 

So meaning, aku masih love reading just in a different format for now. 🤭

Let's hope I have the motivation to lower my pile of Unread books by Jun 2026.

hwaiting 💪

Pretty Little Liars

I finally finished the series. I finally did it!

bought the fourth arc (book 13-16) back in 2016. 

Crushed, Deadly, Toxic, and Vicious.

took me forever to start (Four years to be exact) and when I finally started back in March 2020, I only read book 13 on the weekends whilst I was doing my laundry.

and I think I stopped somewhere in between and began again in Jun 2020 till I finished and then continue to finish the other 3 books by 3rd Jul 2020. Wow. even I find it crazy!

If I accumulate those times/days, I finished 4 books in a month! dammmmmm #readingisfun

and the ending? a bit weak. 

but you gotta give it to Sara Shepard, applause for producing them 16 books. 👏👏👏

I don't know why it took me F.O.R.E.V.E.R. to finish this series. They're the type of books that are just easy to read. I love it! but yeah, that ending, a tat bit weak. I guess you gotta give them a happy ending considering what hell they been through, right?

Look at them. So satisfying.

it's satisfying to finally see them books together in a section.

Last time, Arc 4 was put at a different section.

see how lonely.

Is it me or is it normal to not have a complete, same cover, book series? coz with this series, I have two outsider covers.

Book 1

the copy that started it all.

and

Book 8

Book 8 cover was probably released when the series was made into TV show and got famous.

I still have one more book to read of this series, Pretty Little Secrets.

I bought it probably back in 2013. its the companion book kinda thing. 

There's another one I just find out exist while reading Arc 4. At the 'by Sara Shepard' page it says, there's another companion book called Ali's Pretty Little Lies.

🙄

being the 'I must collect them all' kinda person, I need to have this book too. OR I could just download a pdf version. (I learned that book is being pdf while I was Googling for the cover)

Nice color! (Shawol anyone?)

Nyeh.

It'll probably take me another 4 years to read it once I get my hands on it.

Oh wait! it says on the cover its a Prequel? Now I gotta have it! maybe when this pandemic is over and we can finally fly again, I'll head straight to Kinokuniya and find it!

or maybe not. 

I need to move on and let this - BUT I need this collection to be complete!

argh! WHY

. . .

Challenge Accepted!

Hi guys!

quick one. and short. I hope. LOL

If you followed me on IG, you would know that I am currently rereading the Harry Potter Series.
No, I did not run out of new books to read but the last two were kinda, disappointing? 

the first book of disappointment was Songs about A Girl by Chris Russell. 

I finished this after my 7th read. Started on 29th Jul and finished on 22 Jul. Yeah, it took that long. I don't hate it but damn fanfiction can be shallow. I'm saying this becoz I was once this shallow. bahahah


Next I began the Girls Made of Snow and Glass by Melissa Bashardoust. 

I began maybe few days after I finished Chris's. like maybe 27th Jul or 29th Jul. the story line is base of Snow White and her step-mom/queen. but no matter how much I try to engross myself in this story, I just can't. Like, I can't. I even read super slow. I stopped completely by chapter 4. Like, I am so done.

Disappointed and frustrated for not being able to get the satisfaction from finishing a book, I decided, I'm gonna reread my Harry Potter series. I've been wanting to do it for a while and thought, PERFECT TIMING. Also, I am confident that Harry Potter will fill in the void other books can't.

some people claimed to have read the books for like quote 13 timesss unquote, but I think overall, not including this round,  I only every read all 7 books, twice?
First Harry Potter book I read was actually Goblet of Fire, my cousin lent his book to me. then I went to the school library (this was back when I was 15 or 16) to start reading from the beginning; an English teacher was clearly a Potterhead becoz she supplied TWO SETS of Book 1-5 to the school library.

so that was my first read of Book 1, 2, 3, and 5. second read for book 4.

My sister bought me Order of the Phoenix (book 5), I forgot for which birthday but obviously I had my second read then. although, if you look closer, the spine of book 5 kinda almost torn like I read my copy more than once. I probably did. I just, can't remember as I'm typing this.

I bought my own Half-Blood Prince (book 6) when it came out. my first read.

I remember rereading Book 4 becoz the movie's coming out! - my third read.

I didn't read Book 5 when the movie came out coz I learned from previous preparation that you'll just be expecting so much and be left disappointed.

Deathly Hallows came out when I started working. first read. 

Let's not start with the sadness of the book ending coz I still have 3 movies to look forward to at that time.

I finally able to purchase my own Harry Potter book 1-4. I bought them two at a time. read them once after purchased. 
my second read of Book 1-3, fourth read for Book 4. 
obviously, rule of thumbs, after I finished book 4, i have to continue and finish with Book 5-7, making it my third read of book 5 (I was right! I read my own copy more than once), and second read for book 6-7.

Dammmmmmmm meaning, right now, I'm rereading Goblet of Fire for the fifth time!

(ok. here's a legend so you won't get confuse: first read. second read. third read. fourth read.)


I wanted to scream "BEST DECISION EVER" I mean, it is the best decision I made so far but now, I'm missing the Wizarding World of Harry Potter a lot!

sighh~~

anyway, the plan was to finish all seven books in seven weeks. Currently in reading book 4; Goblet of Fire.
i think i've excelled myself this time:
Book 1, Philisipher's Stone - start 7th Aug. finish 10th Aug
Book 2, Chamber of Secrets - start 11th Aug. finish 14th Aug
Book 3, Prisoner of Azkaban * - start 14th Aug. finish 22th Aug
Book 4, Goblet of Fire - start 22nd Aug. **

* yeah, Prisoner took longer to finish becoz I hang out a lot during my lunch time when starting that book and I didn't pick it up when I was at home. so, a little slow. 
** as for book 4, I plan to finish reading on 30th Aug. 

Now, lemme share you a conversation I had with my friend from work (and also the inspiration behind this post):

AND DAM RIGHT IMMA FINISH THIS BOOK BY 30TH AUG!

😂😂😂

I don't know if I ever mentioned this before but I'm the type yg will be hard on myself when I didn't reach the goal I set for myself, meaning I'm gonna stress about this. but I know I can do this. tonight I've already baca up until chapter Fifteen. the Beauxbatons and Drumstrang are arriving at Hogwarts. 

but then again, I could just be "meh~"

oh, why 30th Aug? becoz I'll be going for a short trip from 31st Aug - 2nd Sep. So i thought, finish book 4 before the trip and continue with book 5 when I get back. 😉 IF ONLY I'm this organize with everything else in my life.

Anyway, 
so much for a short one. LOL who can shut me up when I start talking about my favorite things??

One thing for certain, doing this rereading; Harry Potter the books are so much better than the movies. Of course i still love the movies. it's just, book Ron is far more superior! than movie Ron. just saying. and anybody remember Peeves? Winky? Professor Sinistra?

alright folks, i think I've said enough.
I'm afraid this will be my final update for August. 
soooo
I see you in September?

Ok, baii~

. . .

Hello July

Hi guys.

I am recovering from a fever caused by my tonsillitis. or "tongsil" as I like to pronounce it. No, not an excuse as to why I'm not making any post. I'm not posting becoz I ran out of topic for June. (▰˘◡˘▰)

Here we are in July, starting the other half of the year. Hmm.. reflection time?

I started off slow this year with blogging; 1 post in January and 1 post in April. and I'm still not sure what drove me to make 12 posts in May. I guess I was just motivated to do so 🤷. I know what drove me with making 11 posts in June; competition with myself. LOL I know, I have issues. 

Anyway, reflections..hmmm..
I've done a lot of self reflects this year, in fact, I've been doing that a lot since last year. mostly on things like, "Why is this happening to me?" "Oh maybe it's karma" "I should control myself from doing that/ acting like that" "Not everybody gonna like me but that doesn't mean I should stop being nice" "Don't be too nice though or people may step on you"
Also, I've been thinking a lot about "Cutting people off". I had this thought a lot last year too. I'm not saying I'm gonna be better off without these people or that I'm gonna get lonely since my circle of friends is already so small, but I think, I just wanna be happy. and if cutting people yang continue to bring me heartaches will bring me peace, then, so be it.

Let's talk about Happiness.
to me, shopping, in any type, shape, or form, is my temporary happiness.
What I've been longing for is true happiness; a peace of mind, and a lighter heart.
That's the kind of happiness that I'm looking for. 
I'm not sure I'm getting there or not yet but I'm pushing thru. Hwaiting 💪

Speaking of happiness, coming back to this blog bring me a sense of purpose. a sense of purpose leads to accomplishing a certain task. and finishing a task brings me happiness/joy, no matter how small.
I know me posting here doesn't give me any financial income 🙄 but it gives me something to look forward to. It gives me the momentum I need to practice on for my next project. You know, posting at least once a week, preparing notes on what to post, etc. Blogging keeps me busy, it helps me from just looking at my phone for hours at night, it stimulates my brain. and as mentioned above, when my mind feels that sense of accomplishment, I feel happy. 💖

Another part of happiness, I am back to reading!
I finished reading Wonder by R.J. Palacio and I feel accomplished and happy 🤗
Currently reading (already half way thru) Songs About A Girl by Chris Russell. I believe this book has a sequel. I remember seeing it at the book shop but I'm not sure and I haven't Google to be sure.

wow, yo girl can write!
dam!

Ok, i think, that is enough for this post. Thank you for reading this far. 🙇‍♀️

I'm planning on making a post about my scary experience in Seoul next. So, please anticipate. 😉

Until then, ciao~

. . .

Too Soon

there are two things that I find too soon for me;

1. to read Five Days Left by Julie Lawson Timmer

2. to watch Along with the Gods : The Two Worlds

the book was too raw for me coz I tried to baca on early Jan. but by the beginning of chapter 3, I can not take it and stopped.
the story was about a woman sick with cancer and planned to take her own life at her own term. Instead of waiting for the cancer to claim her life, she decided to take her own life before the cancer did.
the part yg made me felt a lump in my throat was when she set the date of when she's going to take her life.
I feel like Jonghyun was like that too. He already set a date. there was excert from an interview where he said he wanted to rest in Dec/2017 no matter what. I just thought, as I read that book first chapter, "he planned it"
there was that security guard punya witness account about what Jonghyun was doing in the last moment at the apartment he rented; he was driving fast and making lots of noise with his car. a fan said he was contemplating. He must've had second thoughts. sigh
every time I thought if this, there are lots of "if only"

The Two Worlds was a lot tougher to handle but I get thru it. (Pasal liat diwayang. nothing else I can do but watch sampai habis LOL)
this one lagi dashyat. my heart skipped a bit part the funeral scene.
as we know, I have read a lot of article during/after Jonghyun's funeral.
Part yg aku feel was when the movie's main character's mother sat in front of her son potrait and then there was an annoucement about putting the body into the casket.
during Jonghyun's, a post said his was done privately in the presence of  his loved ones.
So, from reading to watching and hearing an enactment of that scene is hard.
I shed a tear towards the end of the movie. bukan nangis berabis. just shed a tear. LOLbut really ut was mostly becoz I was so emerse in that movie. argh! no wonder it become 2nd highest grossing Korean movie. thumbs up

I finally understand when people posted warnings before continue reading a post.

I felt a lump in my throat and my hear skipped a beat from the above. I'm sure others might be a lot more emotional and will be triggered easily.

Some still need to time to heal

I don't know if I am healed or apa, but like i once said, you can never get over a death of your love ones, you just learn to cope and move on.

. . .

Composed on: 15th Feb 2018
Edited on: 14th Mar 2018

1. finished reading Five Days Left (read most of the book on 3rd and 4th Mar, and finished the rest on 9th Mar) and boy that was tough! I kept catching my breath at some parts. I kept wondering if that was what went thru Jonghyun's head. Like, he kept having second thoughts but certain things happened and his decision became more resolute.
2. Life goes on.

Harry Potter 2.17 version

Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone turned 20 this year.

and JK Rowling released a limited edition Hogwarts House cover for the first book.

*bite nails*

I. LOVE. IT!

but that doesn't mean that I'm gonna buy it. House Pride or not.

I mean, If I were to succumb to this madness, my collection would look like this

LOOK. AT. IT.

but I'm not gonna.

It's pretty and I LOVE the scarf colored paper edges! argh! but

(there are going to be a lot of butt in this post)

let's be rational here.

If I were to have all four houses color, have them in paper back AND hard cover, it's just going to be like having 8 (NINE! if we include the copy I already have) copies of the same book!

its riddikulus!

wait. actually, I would've have 10. coz I have that big book with pictures version of the Philosopher's Stone book. :p

The point is, I think I have enough Harry Potter collection;
the complete series 

I read book 1-4 from my High School library. I only bought my copies when I started working.
I got book 5 as a bday gift from my sister.
and book 6-7 I bought on the released date. by this point, I was an addict. Harry Potter fanatic. 


and the on going illustration version of this series, by Jim Kay which I think come out once a year? 

I think getting my hands on Jim Kay version would be ok. although same story but at least this version is full of colors and illustration. ;)


and speaking of 'Have enough Harry Potter collection', don't get me started on the amount of Merchandises I have on this franchise.
Keychains,
Mugs,
Journals,
Phonecase,
DVDs,


and also, to those who keep suggesting I buy the Hogwarts Library collection

No, thank you.
it's pretty but really, no.

it's because I already have mine from 8/10 years ago.

and let's not get me started on how Harry Potter isn't my only obsessions!

I have Stationery, Kpop, Tupperware, BOOKS in general, Journals! obsessions to name a few.

I don't have money growing of trees, dammit!

I need to find a new hobby and obsession that don't involve spending money :P

anyway,
there goes my little rant.
but I'm pretty sure, if I had the money, I would've spent them on the-old-book-with-a-new-cover books in a heartbeat.

*shrug*

OH!
was browsing bookdepository.com for that House covered version and found below

I mean, how many version can you make?

P/S: Ms. Rowling, that is not a challenge, please don't answer by making any new ones. I am not a rich person nor do I have a rich parent to support me with my Harry Potter addiction. thank you.


. . .

Extra note: Images without 'Penniless Crime' are not mine, found them via Google, credit to respective owners. the screenshot from bookdepository is cropped and edited by me.

Reading again

I started reading again

and I love it!

but I think I can't go on like I used to.

Before, I could read a book 8 hour straight without food and water. 
but now, I have to stop and eat properly. because, 

continue to read below.

I started reading Anna Kendrick Scrappy Little Nobody on Sunday, 27th Aug night at around 10pm and finished on 30th Aug at 12:30am! of course, I have pauses. I can not read during working hours. thus, I read during 1 hour lunch break and once I got off work. So, if I bothered counting the hours, I finished that book in 2 days.
and by daylight of 30th Aug, I was having nausea and stomachache. I began my morning by drinking lots of plain water and trying to eat solid food was a pain.
It took me until later afternoon of 31st Aug to finally had my stomach felt ok with food.
and that was when I concluded that I can not dive into a book and not eat. 

but thats the thing, once I started reading, i was too into it that I didn't realized anything else around me. :S


anyway, about the book.

Such a motivational piece.

and I can't believe she disclosed her sex life too. LOL

She is so weird and awesome at the same time.

I love it.

and 

love the book more.

am I allowed to post bits and pieces of the content of the book here?

I think it should be ok, since I'm not posting the entire content, right? :P

If only I marked/highlighted my book during school time like this, I would be your average cool student LOL!

I hope those attached pictures will intrigue you and you shall read it in the near future.

it really is a fun read.

or maybe I was deprived of reading and this was the first book I read after such a long time. :P

but really, a good read, is a good read.

. . .

Throw Back Saturday

throw back to 10th Sep 2016

remember last time when I can not post a video in my USJ, Harry Potter world post?

welp.

Here it is

a short clip of me

fangirling

when entering Hogmeade

#Iwanagoback

edit: wow. that uploaded so fast and I am impress! too bad I have no other video to upload.

. . .

Pressies!!

tenth of August

a month until my actual birthday

and

29 days until my Japan trip.

Excited and Nervous at the same time.

not a very comfortable feeling to have :S

BUTT

that is not why this post is made.

this post is dedicated to 

first,

MY BELOVED SISTER! hashtag KakaKuSayang hashtag LOL

She bought me the Harry Potter eighth (script) book as an early birthday present.

initially she wanted to buy me this via bookdepository.com coz she's buying 'academic' books there but since I couldn't stand the idea yg someone who is isn't a Potterhead, showing it off on their IG like they actually read the previous seven books when in reality they were just watching the movies, thus I gotta have the book NOW! (My sister's reaction to this reasoning? 'Oba polangg')

So, my sister bought me the book.

kekeke

thanks ka!

and also, I feel the need to mentions this:

the fastest 14 likes I got this year

woohoo!!

second,

my boss.

She told me not to 'blab' but I'm gona thank her still

I was about 'done' but when she explained to us of why she gave us this, I thought, well, there are some truth in that and its the thoughts that counts.

So, thank you boss. and thank you for saying what you said.

I feel a tat bit better.

In conclusion,

it's not my birthday 

but heck I love presents!

whether or not its meant for my bday.

. . .

I am Me

whats Rajin in English?

coz I know Lazy like the back of my hand. and while I was searching for an old post, I found out that I never exaggerate my laziness. I really AM a lazy person! I really mentioned it so many times in so many post. my goodness!

anyway,
the last time I read was on 29th May with this book

the story line was refreshing.
The story was well layout and had me intrigued right from the beginning. 
The main characters were in their 30+ so I can relate a lot. 
I'm not 30 yet but I'm close to being 30.
I remember thinking, I want to read this kind of genre if the characters are in their 30+ only. 
hahaha kira, aku 'mature' sudah lah. inda bleh baca buku urg2 teens. *ketawa pasal rasa2han*

I should continue with the next book from the same author but I have not inspired enough to pick up the book to read.

currently, I spent so much time on my phone, browsing posts from FB and IG. mcm, addicition. *shudders* I need to do more outdoor activities, like, pasang lampung cucul, main bunga api, and feed otters (if ever I see one).

but I found this during as i laze around on my bed,




it's owned by Line.
aku download sal namanya, Egg.
*ketawa*

this app is similar to the famous snapchat selfy thingy.

I did something to it and now, I uninstall it. hahahah useless~~

lagi pun, I already have Camera360. similar berabis dengan Egg.
so, i didn't bother to download back the Egg.

Egg. Talo.

LOL

. . .