2020 Year in Books

To be frank, I started year 2020 with sorrow, tears and sadness haha. But somehow I found the courage to live a better life, then pandemic hit us. Instead of more reading, I occupied myself with oil pastel drawing as my new hobby and some other personal development(!!!!). 24 books on 2020 Goodyear Challenge was quite easy to accomplish because all books are only thin, light, easy to read ones. Bit disappointed actually but let’s call it a small victory and I am grateful of it. Let’s start the new journey!

I purchased Kindle

I always disliked e-book. Been subscribing Gramedia Digital just because it’s cheap (IDR 89,000 for 5 persons /month) and sometimes I want to read Gramedia published chic lits or poetry books. Years ago, I thought about Nook or Kobo because too lazy to be confused with Amazon login and stuffs. But last month I bought Kindle Paperwhite.

I registered my personal info in Amazon Australia (don’t ask me why, just don’t!) and purchased Kindle Paperwhite from JB Hi-Fi because bless them for having click and collect service (and bless the low currency of AUD). Although involving some dramarama, I got my e-reader safely few days after and not in a single minute I regret it!

I learned about Kindle Daily Deals and Kindle Monthly Deal shortly. A friend often informs the interesting ones on Instagram. But holly golly, my Amazon is ended with ‘au’ which means it’s different from my peers who are ‘com’ persons, I ended up checking the deals by myself very often lol. And since AUD exchange rate is different with USD to IDR, I sometimes need to google “USD to IDR” then compare with “AUD to IDR” to ensure that it is actually the same price in Rupiah and thank God it is.

Now.. the question is why? What changes you, wanita??!

The doofus tax for bigger than USD 3 imported items is the main reason I bought Kindle. Yes, I take it very personal. I am a quite wise spender. I even don’t easily get tempted by big sales online. 10.10, 11.11, 12.12, buy 1 get 1, buy 2 get 1, you name the promo, I don’t waste my god damn money on it. But sometimes I buy books. And only selected books, the ones that spark joy, Marie Kondo says. And why I bought it online (from bookdepository)? Because it’s freaking one or two dollars cheaper than the limited bookstores here. Because why? Because I can use my one or two dollars for paying my bus tickets (and 50% off salmon nigiri sushi – I am very specific about that).

Ok, ok, maybe I am just getting too emotional. Some people I know received their book packages for free, but some that I read on twitter unfortunately paid the whatever-it-calls- tax. However, according to ‘Peraturan Menteri Keuangan No. PMK 199/PMK.10/2019‘, for books priced USD 3 – USD 1,500, the rules are exceptional because it is included in HS Code 4901, 4902, 4903, and 4904. Now I am directing you to find out by yourself about this HS Code thing because I am still upset and -again- take this very personal, someone calls me furious woman not without a reason, lol.

Three US Dollars! Who bought only three bloody USD from overseas e-commerce?? I seriously don’t understand what made them decide those brainless numbers.

2019 Year in Books

I failed my 50 and changed to 45 of Goodreads Challenge few weeks before year ended. I wrote less, posted Instagram only few, but I feel happy and content with what I did.

I enjoyed every moment I read them all, couldn’t choose what my favorites among all the books above. 2019 was fun and cheers to more enjoyable reading moment in 2020!

Monthly Motif Reading Challenge 2020

I am very bad at reading challenge. Even this year Goodreads Challenge was changed from 50 to 45 because I spent these last few months watching netflix and sleeping and chatting with friends during my free time. Read about Pop Sugar Reading Challenge here but it requires to read more than 50 books in a year which I predict impossible to do. So I googled to find simpler reading challenge and found this:

Monthly Motif Reading Challenge 2020

Here I copy the list:

MOTIFS (THEMES) FOR EACH MONTH

JANUARY-  Winter Wonderland

Focusing on ‘wonderland’, read a book set in a truly wonderful place- somewhere you’ve always thought was beautiful, somewhere with a wonderfully rich culture, a snowy setting, or maybe even a magical realm. It’s your interpretation, so have fun with it.

FEBRUARY- Seeing Red

Read a book with the word ‘red’ in the title OR a book with a red-ish cover. Bonus if it has both.

MARCH- Sub-Genre Sound Off

Choose a sub-genre of your favorite genre and read a book from it. Make sure you mention the sub genre you chose in your review. (Ex. Sub Genres of Fantasy could be Magical Realism, Fairytale Retellings, or Epic Fantasy to name just a few.)

APRIL- Classics or Currents

Read a book published before the year you were born (classic-ish) OR a book published between April 2019 and April 2020 (current.)

MAY- Author Introduction

Read a book written by an author who you’ve never read anything by. Bonus if its been on your TBR for more than a year.

JUNE- Name or Number

Read a book in which a name OR a number is part of the title. Bonus if the title includes both a name and a number.

JULY- Around or Out of this World 

Read a book set in a country other than the one you live in OR written by an author who is from a country other than your own OR read a book that takes place in space or on another planet.

AUGUST- Creature Feature

Read a book that includes a creature of some kind on the cover or in the story. Cat, dog, dragon, werewolf – mythical or real – find a book that features a creature.

SEPTEMBER- When Text Just Isn’t Enough

Read a book that includes more than just text. Maybe it’s a map, a family tree, illustrations, documents like emails or letters- something else that helps to paint the picture.

OCTOBER- Thrills and Chills

Ghost stories, haunted houses, true crime, murder mysteries, a thriller keeping you on the edge of your seat- it’s up to you!

NOVEMBER- Dynamic Duos

Read a book with a couple of characters that make the perfect pair whether in business or in love. (Ex. Sherlock & Holmes, Elizabeth & Darcy)

DECEMBER- Sugar, Spice, Everything Nice

Holiday or winter themed reads, love stories and romances, happy cries, comedies; round out your year with a truly feel good read.

Simple yet fun. Wish me luck!