Where She Went by Gayle Forman #2

 

Title                      : Where She Went
Writer                     : Gayle Forman

Edition Language           : Bahasa 
Series                     : Where She Went #2
Characters                 : Adam Wilde, Mia Hall

Translator                 :  Poppy D. Chusfani

Editor                     : Dini Pandia
Publisher                  : Gramedia Pustaka Utama (July, 2012)

Paperback                  : 231 pages

ISBN                       : 978-979-22-7650-3
Rate                       : 4/5

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Instead of receiving Mia’s viewpoint (the prequel story), Where She Went is told through Adam’s viewpoint (past and present). It is just takes place several years after If I Stay. It’s set in NYC. Mia is a famous cellist. Adam is a rock star. They’ve broken up in the years between If I Stay and Where She Went. The reason is given in the book and totally not a cop out, either. Anyways, Adam’s not satisfied with his life, even though he has it all, money, a hot girlfriend, and fame. You see, he’s totally living that ‘the girl who got away’ situation. Right, so the majority of Where She Went takes place in one day and it’s completely fantastic.

"The clothes are packed off to Goodwill. I said my goodbyes up on that hill. The house is empty, the furniture sold. Soon your smells will decay to mold. Don’t know why I bother calling, ain’t nobody answering. Don’t know why I bother singing, ain’t nobody listening."
(Disconnect - Collateral Damage, Track 10, page 85)

Then, I label Adam Wilde a.k.a Wilde Man as "The Man Who Can't Be Moved" in this novel. He is genuine and still the fabulous guy from If I Stay. But, fame and breaking up with Mia has hardened him. Yet, we see how he becomes a completely different person around Mia, when he reunites with her after not seeing her for years. And I love that, because it is authentic. Plenty of us become different people from our public places when we are around those close to us, those who know our essential selves. I loved that Adam is still carrying the torch.

And Mia, she’s wonderful, heartbreaking and still passionate about classical music.

This novel is not really sad at all, but it is about how life has a funny way of working out and the people we carry in our hearts are always truly a part of us, whether they are in our lives or not.

“I needed to hate someone and you’re the one I love the most, so it fell on you.” (Mia Hall to Adam Wilde, page 207)

If I Stay sneak peek (source : as tagged)

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If I Stay by Gayle Forman

Title                      : If I Stay
Writer                     : Gayle Forman

Edition Language           : Bahasa 
Series                     : If I Stay #1
Characters                 : Mia Hall, Adam Wilde, Kim Schein

Translator                 :  Poppy D. Chusfani

Editor                     : Dini Pandia
Publisher                  : Gramedia Pustaka Utama (January, 2012)

Paperback                  : 200 pages

ISBN                       : 978-979-22-6660-3
Rate                       : 4/5

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If I Stay is a young adult novel by Gayle Forman published in 2009 (United States). The story follows 17-year-old Mia Hall as she deals with the aftermath of a catastrophic car accident involving her family. In a coma, Mia has an out-of-body experience, and watches as friends and family gather at the hospital where she is being treated. Mia watches as her memories flash before her eyes as she comes to realize that she must decide if she should wake up and lead a life far more difficult than she ever anticipated, or slip away and die. It has received positive reviews. A sequel hit shelves in April 2011, entitled Where She Went.

The writing was great and Gayle Forman did a spectacular job with this 200-pages-book, not too long and not too short.
The best part about the book for me was that Mia thinks about her past to try to figure out whether she should live or die. And also that Gayle Forman explored this subject and I think what she wrote could be true to an extent. For example, if you were on a car crash like Mia was, and your injuries are really severe. Your lying limb and semi unconscious in a hospital bed. Your mind is still thinking, you can hear and feel everything around you, but you can't move. Don't you think its YOUR choice whether to live or die?

Then, there is a lot of language in the book that I don't really think was needed, but it showed the parents personality a little so that's why I tolerated it.

Again, If I Stay, Gayle Forman’s outstanding debut novel, is an emotionally gripping story. As readers follow Mia's life after the accident, we also learn via plentiful flashbacks about her life before tragedy struck. Her colorful, vibrant family members are recalled so vividly that they could step off the page --- and break our hearts. Her remembrances highlight Mia's romance with her boyfriend (Adam Wilde) and her passion for her music. Readers will find her predicament absorbing, and the book’s climax poignant and satisfying. So, I recommend to younger readers and fans of relationship drama to read this novel.

“If you stay, I’ll do whatever you want. I’ll quit the band, go with you to New York. But if you need me to go away, I’ll do that, too. I was talking to Liz and she said maybe coming back to your old life would be too painful, that maybe it’d be easier for you to erase us. And that would suck, but I’d do it. I can lose you like that if I don’t lose you today. I’ll let you go. If you stay.” (Adam Wilde to Mia Hall, page 192, If I Stay)

Oh yeah, FYI, it adapted into a movie (with same title) and it is still coming soon in Indonesia (starring by Chloë Grace Moretz, Mireille Enos, Jamie Blackley).

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Korean Slang

I covered 12 popular Korean slang. Listen for these when you watch your favorite K-dramas and K-variety shows!

source : as tagged

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