The collections of novel reviews by Dian Astuti Karyani

Dian Karyani Astuti (109014000045) of English Education Department 1B

 State Islamic Syarif  Hidayatullah University Jakarta

Previous School : State Senior High School 2 Tebo, Jambi

A. Novel : A Patience for Life and Love

It is not only narrates so beautiful, attractive, and innocent of Angelina Lange is. The author, Elizabeth Lowell wrote A Woman Without Lies (380 pages), an admirable romantic novel, that is filled lesson of life, love, patience, suffering, and pain of irretrievable. Whole story,  presents a very good theme, with story that arouse the reader`s heart deeply.

Angelina Lange, the main character, always efforts to survive in life after her parent and Grant Ramsey,her fiancé dead in a accident. She survives to live with sadness and loneliness. She has spirits and strength to steady in life. Angel efforts to face the true obstinacy, and she is a very patient, innocent and strong woman. Finally Angel meets Miles Hawkins that makes her fall in love. But Hawk doesn`t have a trust to women. He hates for women. But Hawk lies him self and doesn`t confess his love feeling to Angel. Hawk says that Angel is like the other women with lies. Hawk judges that Angel is damn and hell woman, of course it makes Angel`s heart hurt and sad. She tries to make Hawk believe to her, she is very patient, she efforts to tell the truth to Hawk.

The plot of  A Woman Without Lies, is a complete plot with interesting story. The story starts from Angel`s  life after her parent and her fiancé,Grant Ramsey dead. She lived with her loneliness in this world patiently, Derry, Grant`s brother  and Carlson, Grant`s friend always give her spirits and supports to face the life. After four years from the Angel`s  love accident, she met Miles Hawkins, Derry`s friend, a man with no trust to women. First, they made friendship. Finally they fall in love each other. But Hawk lies him self about his love to Angel. He said that Angel is like with the other women, Angel has no true love and just took a advantage of money from him. Angel is sad, but she efforts to make Hawk believes that she is not like what Hawk`s  says.  Angel thinks,” What would it have been like if I had known only violence,only rage,only cruelty? what would it be like never to have known love?(Elizabeth Lowell 247 )”. Hawk judged that Angel is a damn and hell woman, he doesn`t know how is Angel`s life and her sorrow. Finally Angel told about her life and her fiancé, Grant Ramsey. After she told it, Hawk regreted so much about all that he judged to her. Angel asked to Hawk why does he have no trust all women? finally Hawk told  about his life and “Jenna” a woman he loved much  left Hawk for other  man, for  money after she promised to Hawk they would  marry. So because of  it, Hawk hates all the women and doesn`t have  trust to them. Then, Hawk tries to love her with his heart. He said “ I love you, Angel” (Elizabeth Lowell 353). After that, they live with love, forget their suffer in past and  welcome the true love.

A Woman Without Lies narrates a story base the main theme. This novel content is very good for all people, especially for women. In life, when we hava a problem, we can`t avoid that problem, we should steady to face the real fact  patiently, strenghtly, reach the true happiness, and brave to say the truth. While Angel is judged by Hawk as a damn and hell woman, she is very patient, she tries to make Hawk believes her. She believes that her  love makes Hawk changes his assumptions about her. And Angel successes to do it, finally they live together with love.

Everyone  should  read A Woman Without Lies because Angelina Lange teaches us from her patience, attitudes, her love, and how to face the true obstinacy and all problems and heavy suffering. The most  important, it is an inspiring novel for human life generally, and for all women especially.

B. Novel : The Mind Gam

Author  :  Hector Macdonald

Publisher :  Penguin Group (437 pages)

A science experiment, adventure, betrayal, manipulation and romantic love were presented in this “The Mind Game” novel. I knew it from the synopsis, so I was challenged to read this novel because I thought it was nice and interesting. This novel talked about Ben Ashurst who tried to escape from James Fieldhead`s science experiment and crime that made him in suffering, humiliating, abandoned, and was betrayed by her lover, Cara.

Ben Ashurst, he realized that he wasn`t only used  for Oxford hottest researcher, but also was used by James Fieldhead`s interest. He efforted to fight Fieldhead`s  game, he didn`t want anyone controlled his life. Ben didin`t know who were the players, and what it was for. Because Ben efforted to escape, tried to find the true secret of the game and his strength to reach his happiness, I liked Ben very much as my favorite character.

The story started when Dr. James Fieldhead who had a science experiment chose Ben, an Oxford University student as the object. He delivered Ben and Cara to Kenya. Fieldhead`s science experiment was arranged for the emotion control mission and gave a precious sensor to Ben so he knew the progress of Ben`s mind emotion. Fieldhead made manipulation, all people around Ben were  actors and actress who did the scenario to him to make the game perfect, and Ben didn`t know it. Ben stayed in prison, was accused as a drug consumer. There, he was treated like an animal, abandon and suffering. This game was for the data of Ben`s brain to know what progress in mind when somebody had happiness, sadness, fighteness and anger. Finally Ben knew that his lover Cara was also an actress who betrayed him and had love relationship with Fieldhead. Ben had broken heart about his love. He was like a crazy man couldn`t accept all that happened to him. Ben tried to escape from Fieldhead and told to Cara to leave Fieldhead. But Cara didn`t want to. Then Ben knew that the sensor was to make a tool, it`s name is emotion controller that is made by Simatec company that had a business relationship with Fieldhead. The people who used it could forget about their problems. 

The most interesting and best part of this novel was when Ben was in prison, he braved to say that he didn`t a drug consumer and refused the Fieldhead`s order to bring the drug from Africa. Ben braved to fight Fieldhead and he became a psychologist.

I learn from this novel, that we must have braveness to tell the truth. And we have to be careful to other people, because they can use us for their interest without we realize it everywhere and every time.

C. Novel : The Tender  Night

Author   :  Lilian Peakes

Publiser : Mills and Boon (189 pages) 

  When I read the romantic love title “ The Tender Night”, it gave me a sense to read this novel. This novel told about a woman, Shelley Jenner  who was betrayed  by her  fiancé, Michael. Shelley didn`t have trust to men after her wedding plan failed. And finally met Craig Allard, a man who made her disliked him very much at first, but she realized that they fell in love each other finally.

Shelley and Craig, the characters whom I liked very much. Why do I like them? Because they were romantic, Shelley was a secretary of Craig`s mother in a school. Craig met her when he was visiting her mother. Craigh was impressive with Shelly because she was a very beautiful woman, diligent, professional and  as the best of his mother`s secretary. Shelley was not only as secretary in school, but also as a teacher  who loved her students very much. Shelley had a young sister whom she loved her very much, her name is Janine. Janine was so close to Craig and they made a special friendship. Shelley was little jealous to Janine and sylva as Craig`s friends. But she tried to hide all because she knew that she failed in wedding with her fiance Michael. Sylva loved craig, but he was only though that she was only a friend. But the close of them made Shelley hurt. Craig knew that Shelley loved him, but Shelly lied her self. She didn`t want to hurt anyone.  But Shelley finally realized her feeling to Craig and they loved each other. But when they would live together, her ex-fiance came and wanted her to come back. It made Shelley and Craig were broken. But Shelley made sure Craig to love her. Finally they loved and would marry. And they lived happily ever after.

In this novel, the best part that I liked very much was when Craig was angry and disappointed to her because her ex-fiance, Michael came back. Craig would leave her, but Shelley cried and told him to believe her, said that she loved him and only Craig whom she wanted to live with. Then Craig came back, hugged her and believed in her love because he loved Shelley very much in his deepest heart.

One thing that I can learn from this novel is when we love somebody please be honest to your love and don`t lie to your love feeling.

D. Novel : The Devil`s Darling

Author      : Violet Winspear

Publisher : Mills & Boon (189 pages)

I was suspicious to read this ”The Devil`s Darling” novel. First, I thought it was a horror novel, then after I read the synopsis on back page, I know that I was wrong. A very beautiful young woman on cover page and so deep romantic love story made me interested to read. This admirable novel talked about Persepha who married to Don Diablo Ezreldo Ruy, a man who she didn`t love. She didn`t realize that her husband loved her very much and so did she.

I fell in love to Don Diablo Ezreldo Ruy. And he was really the most character I liked. Don`s gentleman power saved Persepha, his wife, very well. He tried to make his wife happy by giving her everything, and he was very protective to her. Don did all because he love Persepha as the only angel in his heart.

Persepha`s life wasn`t happy, she must married Don Diablo Ezreldo Ruy after Marcus, her guardian died. Marcus wanted Don to marry Persepha before he died because he believed Don could save her well. Don was a Mexican and Persepha was a British. Don who was sixteen years older than Persepha, wanted her become woman. But Persepha was still young enough and inexperienced, so she couldn`t do what Don wished. The over protective treatment that Don gave to Persepha made her in depression and had no freedom. She thought that Don only wanted a son from her and had no love to her. Their marriage was worse when Persepha made close friendship with Gil Howard, and Gil wanted her too. Don was jealous and angry. She tried to escape from Don`s house. Persepha didn`t realize that Don loved her very much and she had hatred to him only. Finally, Senora Joaquina Calhariz, Don`s grandmother taught Persepha to respect Don as her husband. She told about Don`s loneliness, that Don`s mother blamed him for Alvarado`s death, Don`s brother. And Don witnessed her mother killed herself. After she knew everything, she decided not to leave Don. She realized that Don loved her very much and so did she.

The best part in this novel was when Persepha forced to escape from Don, Don let her go if she wasn`t happy living with him. Persepha protested all her suffer to Don, but Don wasn`t angry to her. It made Persepha  confused  about Don`s  response at that time. 

I learn from this novel that in marriage we have to try to understand each other. And sometimes somebody has his/her own way to show  and express their love.

D. Novel : Play to the End

Author      : Robert Goddard

Publisher : Corgi (441 pages)

Romantic love, revenge, danger, a mystery, and murder were presented  impressively in this “ Play to the End” novel. When I read the synopsis for the first time, I was sure this novel was different with others. This novel really woke my desire up to read and buy. This amazing novel talked about Toby Flood who wanted to win back his wife, Jennifer Flood. Toby did not want if Jenny married Roger Colborn, a dangerous and revenged man.

Toby Flood was a patient and faithful man. I loved him so much as the best character. He was a very wise husband, He really wanted to prevent his wife married Roger Colborn, a man who had very complicated life background and many problems in his life. Toby loved Jenny very much although they could not live together. Toby was not only a famous actor, he was also a husband who cared about his marriage, family and friends.

The problem started when Jenny visited Toby after they didn`t meet for so long time. Jenny asked a help to Toby that she was followed by a stranger man, Derek Oswin. Jenny was Toby`s wife, they were still married but they lived separately after their son, Peter, died by a tragic way, drowned in the oversized swimming pool. It made they blamed each other. Then, Jenny met Roger Colborn and they planned to marry. Derek told Toby that Roger wasn`t a good man. Toby ensured Jenny to not marry Roger, but she thought Toby was jealous . Toby helped Derek to publish the” Plastic Man”, a book about Roger`s bad company that caused cancer. Derek accused that Roger asked Mr. Kenneth Oswin, Derek`s father to kill Mr. Walter Colborn, whereas Mr. Walter was Roger`s father. An old cassette recorded that Mr. Kenneth Oswin was Roger`s natural father. Roger didn`t accept Derek as his stepbrother and hated Toby as Jenny`s husband. They revenged each other. They died together after fighting. Toby`s deep love let Jenny chose her own happiness. But finally Jenny realized her fault and she still loved Toby much and they began their new life happily. 

The best part I like so much in this novel was when Toby went to Roger`s house to save Derek, instead Roger kidnapped Toby so that Toby  missed” The Lodger in the Throat” stage as the main actor. Roger treated that he would kill Toby and Derek. But he wasn`t  afraid of  Roger. Toby still fought Roger bravely for Jenny`s sake and Derek. Although Toby was in danger.

I learn from this novel that if we love someone, we have to save her/him for a sake of her/his happiness. And we have to help our friends, moreover they are in difficulties and danger.

E. Novel : Chasing the Dime

Author      : Michael Connelly

Publisher : Orion (341 pages)

This” Chasing the Dime” novel did not only present a mystery of murder very well, but also have a romantic love story. This novel talked about Henry Pierce who tried to detect an escort`s life who was in danger. The interesting story made me curious to read this amazing novel.

Henry Pierce was the best character in this novel. He tried to know Lilly Quinlan`s life, an escort who never met him before and was in danger, Lilly remembered him about Isabelle, Henry`s sister who was found died on the street. And Henry finally found the mystery of Lilly`s death. But when Henry had to solve Lilly`s problem, he also struggled his love to Nicole James, a beautiful woman he loved.

The story started when Henry moved to his new apartment after his love relatioship with Lilly was over. Henry was phoned by many men who looked for Lilly, all of them wanted to meet Lilly. Henry guessed that she was an escort or prostitute. Henry didn`t know why did he has same number with Lilly`s. Henry searched about Lilly in L.A Darling site. And He finally knew that she was an escort. He asked a help to Cody Zeller, his friend to find Lilly`s identity from the site, because Zeller understood well about the site. Henry also asked to detective Renner to help him, because Henry felt there was something wrong with Lilly. Henry had called on the Lilly`s apartment but he didn`t find her and found blood on the bed. Zeller said that the Lilly`s data was lost, but Henry didn`t believe it. Henry thought that he played him, because only Nicole and Zeller who knew about Isabelle`s death and it was rather similar with Lilly`s case. Finally Henry found Lilly dead in her apartment, she was saved in freezer. Henry and Renner finally knew that Zeller was the murderer of Lilly. Zeller was the Lilly`s boss in L.A Darling site and Lilly had job problem with him. That murder remembered Henry about his sister`s death and that he loved Nicole so much. Nicole wanted Henry to change, became a more serious man. And He finally had change to be better man after Lilly`s murder that gave him a precious lesson.

The best part of this novel I liked very much was when Toby found Lilly`s death, he realized that he really loved two women in his life, Isabelle, his sister who died on the street after escape from house and Nicole, his ex-lover who want him change to be better. Henry regretted  all that happened to his life and blamed his self.

The precious lesson that I take from this amazing novel are we have to save and take care to our family, father, mother, sister or brother. And we have to be better and try to be the best person for our lover.