An American Spy

The news for the last book of Milo Weaver trilogy which I found on Olen Steinhauer website :D

http://www.olensteinhauer.com/post/5416993892/an-american-spy

The Tourist (Bahasa Indonesia)

Well I just got a homework at school to review a novel. I've done the review for The Tourist before, but I think this one is better, so I post it here. Sorry it's in Bahasa Indonesia hehe

Resensi Novel

Judul novel: Turis (The Tourist)

Tahun: 2010

Penulis: Olen Steinhauer

Jumlah halaman: 472

Penerbit: PT. Gramedia Pustaka Utama

            The Tourist adalah buku pertama dari trilogi Milo Weaver, novel fiksi yang bertemakan spionase dan thriller. Olen Steinhauer mengangkat cerita tentang realita dari dunia James Bond, di buku ini kita tidak akan membaca tentang peralatan-peralatan canggih, tuxedo, atau yang lainnya, melainkan hanya strategi-strategi licik dan kebohongan.

            Buku ini dibuka dengan pengenalan seorang tokoh yang bernama Charles Alexander, seorang turis yang mempunyai kecenderungan untuk bunuh diri, yang baru saja melakukan tugas di Belanda untuk menghalangi seorang pembunuh bayaran membunuh seorang politisi Belanda, tapi dia gagal menjalankan misi yang dia inginkan sebagai misi terakhirnya itu.

            Turis yang dimaksud tentu bukanlah turis biasa, melainkan agen dari divisi rahasia CIA, yang keberadaannya masih dipertanyakan. Akhirnya, Charles Alexander diikutkan dalam misi dadakan untuk mengejar seorang kepala biro bernama Frank Dawdle yang menghilang dengan sejumlah uang untuk membiayai seorang penjahat perang Serbia di persembunyiannya.

            Halaman demi halaman, kita akan mengetahui bahwa Charles Alexander adalah salah satu nama samaran dari Milo Weaver, tokoh utama dalam cerita tersebut. Charles Alexander dan perantaranya yang juga adalah sahabatnya berusaha menjalankan misi itu, tapi hanya berakhir dengan kekacauan dan Milo mengundurkan diri setelah kejadian itu.

            Beberapa tahun setelah kekacauan itu, kini Milo bekerja sebagai salah satu manajer di markas CIA di New York, tinggal bersama istri dan seorang putrinya, berupaya melupakan segala kebohongan dan kengerian masa lalunya. Cerita mulai menjadi rumit saat seorang pembunuh bayaran yang dijuluki si Harimau, yang sudah bertahun-tahun diincarnya muncul dan tertangkap. Milo dituduh membunuh si Harimau saat menginterogasi oleh Homeland Security, padahal si Harimau yang kemudian dikenal sebagai Samuel Roth sesungguhnya sudah sekarat karena HIV. Samuel menceritakan bahwa dia menyerahkan diri agar bisa bertemu Milo dan meminta bantuannya untuk mencari siapa yang membunuhnya dengan memberinya virus itu.

            Saat Milo dan keluarganya sedang liburan di Disneyland, malam harinya dia kabur karena informasi yang diberikan atasannya bahwa Homeland Security akan datang untuk menagkapnya. Hal itu tanpa sadar menyeret Milo kembali dalam dunia turisme, membuka segala intrik dalam kasus-kasus yang sudah lama ditinggalkan. Apalagi setelah tahu bahwa sahabat lamanya, Angela Yates, dituduh berkhianat kepada CIA.

            Satu persatu orang-orang terdekat Milo yang mengetahui terlalu banyak tentang si Harimau terbunuh, dan Milo selalu disangkut pautkan dengan pembunuhan-pembunuhan yang tidak pernah dilakukannya itu. Menjalani hidup sebagai agen buronan untuk membersihkan namanya, menyelamatkan keluarganya dan membongkar apa yang sebenarnya terjadi.

            Buku ini bisa dikategorikan sebagai bacaan yang serius dan berat, dan menuntut kita untuk ikut berpikir, walaupun begitu, cerita ini juga disisipi oleh sedikit humor yang ringan. Buku ini memeliki alur cerita maju, tapi kita akan menemukan banyak flashback yang menceritakan secara sangat detail dari kejadian-kejadian yang telah terjadi.

Salah satu hal yang menarik dari buku ini adalah semakin jauh kita membaca, perlahan-lahan kita akan sangat dikejutkan oleh fakta-fakta yang tidak akan pernah kita pikirkan sebelumnya. Mulai dari pertemuan Milo dengan istrinya, siapa sebenarnya si Harimau, hingga kebohongan dari identitasnya sebagai Milo Weaver yang sudah direncanakan. Buku ini bisa mempertahankan rasa penasaran kita dan akhirnya membuat kita tidak ingin mereka-reka apa yang akan terjadi.

            Di dalam buku ini kita juga akan merasakan emosi yang cukup dalam dari Milo Weaver dan membuat kita seperti berada dalam cerita itu, kebingungannya, kehilangannya, kepanikannya, perasaannya saat istri dan anaknya menjauhinya, perasaan saat mengetahui bahwa selama ini dirinya dikambing hitamkan, dan lain-lain.

            Salah satu hal menarik dari cerita ini adalah sandi-sandi yang diberikan untuk memberi perintah atau petunjuk seperti “Riverrun, past Eve, and Adam’s” yang digunakan dua kali dalam buku ini, atau “The Last Camel/ Collapsed at Noon”, dan juga saat seseorang  menyuruh Milo untuk menceritakan tiga kebohongan dan satu kebenaran jika Milo tertangkap dan diinterogasi, sampai saat ini kami belum tahu apa tujuan sebenarnya dari rencana itu.

            Kami setuju dengan pendapat banyak orang yang mengatakan kemampuan menulis Olen Steinhauer hampir sama dengan John Le Carre yang terkenal dengan novel “The Spy Who Came in From The Cold.” Buku ini mungkin mudah dimengerti oleh orang-orang yang sudah sering membaca novel-novel spionase.

            Sayang sekali buku ini mempunyai akhir yang agak datar karena tokoh penjahat dalam buku ini tiba-tiba terbunuh dengan latar belakang yang tidak jelas dan seperti dianggap tidak terlalu penting. Mungkin karena ini baru permulaan dari seluruh cerita. Walaupun demikian, akhir cerita buku ini menimbulkan kesan penasaran.

            Menurut pendapat kami, novel ini adalah bacaan yang sangat bagus dan harus dibaca oleh penggemar-penggemar novel spionase. Novel ini sepertinya masih dikategorikan untuk remaja karena didalamnya hanya ada beberapa kekerasan dan hal-hal kurang pantas yang diceritakan secara detail.

25 Best Book Adaptations

Long time no write.. I found this article, while I was browsing. I'm still confused about what book I can review, so I planned to post this. I deleted some, but you can visit the full article through the source link I attached. Enjoy! :D


1. GREAT EXPECTATIONS by CHARLES DICKENS
Published: 1860-1861
Film adaptation: 1946
Director: DAVID LEAN


2. WUTHERING HEIGHTS by EMILY BRONTË
Published: 1847
Film adaptation: 1939
Director: WILLIAM WYLER


3. TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD by HARPER LEE
Published: 1960
Film adaptation: 1962
Director: ROBERT MULLIGAN


4. DOCTOR ZHIVAGO by BORIS PASTERNAK
Published: 1957
Film adaptation: 1965
Director: DAVID LEAN


5. THE LEOPARD by GIUSEPPE TOMASI DI LAMPEDUSA
Published: 1958
Film adaptation: 1963
Director: LUCHINO VISCONTI


6. THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS by THOMAS HARRIS
Published: 1988
Film adaptation: 1991
Director: JONATHAN DEMME


7. DANGEROUS LIAISONS (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) by PIERRE CHODERLOS DE LACLOS
Published: 1782
Film adaptation: 1988
Director: STEPHEN FREARS


8. THE BIG SLEEP by RAYMOND CHANDLER
Published: 1939
Film adaptation: 1946
Director: HOWARD HAWKS


9. THE 39 STEPS (The Thirty Nine Steps) by JOHN BUCHAN
Published: 1915
Film adaptation: 1935
Director: ALFRED HITCHCOCK


10. THE PRIME OF MISS JEAN BRODIE by MURIEL SPARK
Published: 1961
Film adaptation: 1969
Director: RONALD NEAME


11. MOBY-DICK by HERMAN MELVILLE
Published: 1851
Film adaptation: 1956
Director: JOHN HUSTON


12. BRIGHTON ROCK by GRAHAM GREENE
Published: 1938
Film adaptation: 1947
Directors: John and Roy Boulting


13. DRACULA by BRAM STOKER
Published: 1897
Film adaptation: 1931
Director: TOD BROWNING


14. THE DAY OF THE JACKAL by FREDERICK FORSYTH
Published: 1971
Film adaptation: 1973
Director: FRED ZINNEMANN


15. ALL QUIET ON THE WESTERN FRONT by ERICH MARIA REMARQUE
Published: 1929
Film adaptation: 1930
Director: LEWIS MILESTONE


16. EMPIRE OF THE SUN by J.G BALLARD
Published: 1984
Film adaptation: 1987
Director: STEVEN SPIELBERG


17. TRAINSPOTTING by IRVINE WELSH
Published: 1993
Film adaptation: 1996
Director: DANNY BOYLE


18. APOCALYPSE NOW (Heart of Darkness) by JOSEPH CONRAD
Published: 1902
Film adaptation: 1979
Director: FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA


19. NO COUNTRY FOR OLD MEN by CORMAC McCARTHY
Published: 2005
Film adaptation: 2007
Directors: JOEL AND ETHAN COEN


20. THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by KAZUO ISHIGURO
Published: 1989
Film adaptation: 1993
Director: JAMES IVORY


21. THE SHINING by STEPHEN KING
Published: 1977
Film adaptation: 1980
Director: STANLEY KUBRICK


22. THE HARRY POTTER SERIES by J.K ROWLING
Published: 1997-2007
Film adaptation: 2001-2011
Directors: CHRIS COLUMBUS, ALFONSO CUAR”N, MIKE NEWELL, DAVID YATES


23. THE HEIRESS (Washington Square) by HENRY JAMES
Published: 1880
Film adaptation: 1949
Director: WILLIAM WYLER


24. SCHINDLER’S LIST (Schindler’s Ark) by THOMAS KENEALLY
Published: 1982
Film adaptation: 1993
Director: STEVEN SPIELBERG


25. THE LORD OF THE RINGS SERIES by J.R.R TOLKIEN
Published: 1954-1955
Film adaptation: 2001-2003
Director: PETER JACKSON


Source 
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/books/books-life/6166774/25-best-book-to-film-adaptations.html

Sense & Sensibility (1811)

Authored by Jane Austen
Original language: English
Genre: Romance/Classic/Satire
374 pages

Knew this book after reading "Pride & Prejudice." Well, I'm a fan of Jane Austen now :D Just like the other books that were written by her, "Sense and Sensibility" is also classy, charming, beautiful and has "something." (I can't explain this feeling)

At the first time, I felt that the story went quite flat, but pages after pages, everything changed. It made me feel so curious.

This book is interesting and cool, the emotions are deep, it has a few twists too. The book was adapted into a movie of the same name in 1995. Although it's not Jane Austen's best, but it's easier to understand and the plot is less complicated. Somehow, I prefer "Pride and Prejudice", but "Sense and Sensibility" is still magnificent. I would definitely recommend this.

Blurb~

Sisters Marianne and Elinor couldn't be more different. Marianne is desperately romantic and longing to meet the man of her dreams, while Elinor takes a far more cautious approach to love.

When the two of them move to the country with their family, miles away from London, there is little prospect of them finding anyone at all. But then they meet their new neighbours - including kind Edward Ferrers and the good-looking, dangerous Willoughby - and it seems happiness may be just round the corner after all.Things aren't always as they appear to be, though. Soon, both sisters will need to decide who to trust in their search for love: their family, their new friends, their heads - or their hearts?

Haven't watched the movie, but this is the trailer

Hahihuheho

Still confused about writing the next review.. Any idea?

The Pelican Brief (1992)

Authored by John Grisham
Original language: English
Genre: Legal thriller
436 pages

Another story in bookstore, somehow I'm getting bored of telling how I could find this or that book haha.. Let's skip it

Just like the other books by John Grisham, this book is also about law.

The blurb~

In suburban Georgetown a killer’s Reeboks whisper on the front floor of a posh home… In D.C. a patron is swiftly garroted to death… The next day America learns that two of its Supreme Court justices have been assassinated. And in New Orleans, a young law student prepares a legal brief… To Darby Shaw it was no more than a legal shot in the dark, a brilliant guess. To the Washington establishment it was political dynamite. Suddenly Darby is witness to a murder — a murder intended for her. Going underground, she finds there is only one person she can trust — an ambitious reporter after a news break hotter than Watergate — to help her piece together the deadly puzzle. Somewhere between the bayous of Louisiana and the White House’s inner sanctums, a violent cover-up is being engineered. For someone has read Darby’s brief. Someone who will stop at nothing to destroy the evidence of an unthinkable crime.

"The Pelican Brief" is an interesting book with good twists and plot. But somehow I didn't know why Darby's running until mid (maybe) into the book when the author finally reveals what's written on the brief. I want to read more John Grisham's novels. Love the book better than the movie, it tells much more details. Though "The Pelican Brief" isn't as good as "The Firm", I think everyone should read it :)

The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic (2000)

Authored by Sophie Kinsella (Madeleina Wickham)
Alternative title: Confessions of a Shopaholic
Original language: English
Genre: Chick-lit/Comedy/Romance
319 pages

Just watched the movie a few months ago, then went to bookstore looking for this. But somehow, I love the book better :)

This book as absolutely funny, light, and creative. I love the part when she tries to hide her debt collector and says that he's stalking on her, and when she wants to buy the Denny & George scarf but she needs twenty pounds more, she asks her friend but no use, then Luke Brandon hears it and stops the whole Press Conference just so he can give her twenty pounds because she has made up a story about she needs the money to buy a present for her sick aunt.

"The Secret Dreamworld of a Shopaholic" is the first book in the Shopaholic series. The story is about Rebecca Bloomwood, a journalist, who is addicted to shopping and has a serious amount of debt because of her addiction.

The blurb~

From Publishers Weekly

Add this aptly titled piffle to the ranks of pink-covered girl-centric fiction that has come sailing out of England over the last two years. At age 25, Rebecca Bloomwood has everything she wants. Or does she? Can her career as a financial journalist, a fab flat and a closet full of designer clothes lessen the blow of the dunning letters from credit card companies and banks that have been arriving too quickly to be contained by the drawer in which Rebecca hides them? Although her romantic entanglements tend toward the superficial, there is that wonderful Luke Brandon of Brandon Communications: handsome, intelligent, the 31st-richest bachelor according to Harper's and actually possessed of a personality that is more substance than style. Too bad that Rebecca blows it whenever their paths cross. Will Rebecca learn to stop shopping before she loses everything worthwhile? When faced with the opportunity to do good for others and impress Luke, will she finally measure up? Rebecca is so unremittingly shallow and Luke is so wonderful that readers may find themselves rooting for the heroine not to get the man although, since Shakespeare's time, there's rarely been any doubt concerning how romantic comedies will end. There's a certain degree of madcap fun with some of Rebecca's creative untruths; when she persuades her parents that a bank manager is a stalker, some very amusing situations ensue. Still, this is familiar stuff, and Rebecca is the kind of unrepentant spender who will make readers, save those who share her disorder in the worst way, pity the poor bill collector. (Feb. 13) Forecast: This is a well-designed book, with a catchy magenta spine, and a colorful and kinetic double cover which will attract many browsers. Major ad/promo, including national NPR sponsorships, will enhance sales, despite the novel's flaws.

Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

The book is followed by "Shopaholic Abroad" (2002)

The Ghost (2007)

Authored by Robert Harris
Alternative title: The Ghost Writer
Original language: English
Original country: United Kingdom
Genre: Thriller
352 pages

I was strolling around at a bookstore and looking for novels, still trying to find The Nearest Exit. Somehow, I accidentally found this book on the dusty self on the top haha.. I read the blurb, the book seems interesting. I started to read it and so far I'm going to say "Oh, dear! It's true" Many people say it has such a great ending. Don't want to spoil :D

The blurb~

Adam Lang, the recently ex British Prime Minister, is writing his autobiography. There is just one small problem, his ghost writer was just found dead and the publishing deadline is fast approaching. A new ghost is quickly drafted in and gets to work finishing the book. Unfortunately he keeps find discrepancies between archive material and Adam Lang's accounts of his past. As he investigates he suddenly finds himself in a whole world of trouble with no idea who to trust.

Review from Bookmarks Magazine~

Known for Fatherland (1992), Pompeii (**** Selection Mar/Apr 2004), and Imperium (*** Jan/Feb 2007), novelist Robert Harris opens his latest work with a derisive account of the publishing business. From there, it quickly gains momentum, merging a shrewd indictment of the war in Iraq with a literate, page-turning thriller. Harris, who was once a friend of former British Prime Minister Tony Blair, offers a withering, barely disguised attack on Blair’s policies and his collusion with the United States in the Middle East. Some critics felt that the fictional backdrop weakened the political invective. Other complaints included some stock characters, formulaic plot points, and far-fetched twists, but most critics dismissed these as trivial and agreed with USA Today that Harris has produced "one of the most politically informed novels of the year."

Copyright © 2004 Phillips & Nelson Media, Inc.

This book was adapted into a movie called The Ghost Writer in 2010 with Ewan McGregor and Pierce Brosnan starred in it XD

From Paris to Eternity (2010)

Authored by Clio Freya
Language: Bahasa/ Indonesian
Genre: Teenlit/ Teen fiction/ Adventure
360 pages

Long time no write on this blog. I was trying to write a story about an accidental spy, but somehow it didn't work out up until now.. How silly I am! *curcol dah*

Well, now I'm going to share about my last read, I'm still reading it actually. It's called "From Paris to Eternity", this book is the continuation of "Eiffel, Tolong!"

It's still about Regina Fay Wiranata, after completing the task from Andrew McGallaghan and being an accidental spy, she goes back to Indonesia, as a normal high school students.

Fay almost sure that her life is normal as usual. Then one day, she gets another surprise that will inevitably drag her back to the events in Paris, she becomes the winner of French writing contest with a prize for one week short course in Paris which is never followed by her. For her surprise,the letter comes from Institute de Paris which is a cover of her abduction last year, Fay knows she has no choice but to go to Paris to meet Andrew.

Her days are running heavier than she thought. Another very shaken news, her parents plane crash and they reportedly died. Fay ought to make the toughest decision of his life, going back to Jakarta with the uncertainty about the future, or going to Paris for a certainty the future.

Though I'm still reading it (Chapter 2), I feel such a sense of fun. I love every words in this book.. It makes you want to read and read it more. Full of puzzles and tense missions, but yet fun. The story between Fay and Kent also raised again. The plot is clear and this book easy to understand. Maybe this is the best teenlit I've ever read :D

Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth (2010)

Authored by Jeff Kinney
Original language: English
Genre: Realistic fiction/Comedy
217 pages

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Ugly Truth" is the fifth book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series. This book tells about the friendship Greg and Rowley and whether they will remain friends or not. This book also tells about the experience of Greg in middle school.

Greg finds himself in his final year in high school, where he began to pass through puberty. He tries to get popularity points at school with a textbook, audition for a local ice cream advertisement for an ice cream company, but he fails.

He also through some problems such as his mother will be going back to college for a few months, so the Heffley men must take care of themselves, and most stability falls apart.

It's preceded by "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Dog Days" (2009), and going to be followed by "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Cabin Fever" which will be released on November 15, 2011.

Eiffel, Tolong! (2009)

Authored by Clio Freya
Language: Indonesian/Bahasa
Genre: Teenlit/Teen fiction/Adventure
343 pages

Dang! Here I go again. Well this time I'm going to tell you about a novel or teenlit from Indonesia, it's called "Eiffel, Tolong!" or "Eiffel, Help!" It has interesting and yet cool plot. Love this book! :)

The story is about Fey Regina Wiranata- who has just climbed into third grade school. Her parents informed her that she's enrolled in French courses for two weeks in Paris. 

Once set foot in Paris, she's kidnapped by a man who asked her to pretend to be a Malaysian girl named Seena. Since then, Fay has double lives for two weeks. Become an accidental spy if I could say haha.. Problems begin to arise when Fay falls in love with Kent, the nephew of the kidnapper. Fay's life is also increasingly worse when it appears Reno, her course friend. Will Fay carry out her mission and return home safely?

Time Traveler's Wife (2003)

Authored by Audrey Niffenegger
Original language: English
Genre: Science fiction/Romance
546 pages

The story is about Henry De Tamble, who has an ability to explore the time. He can suddenly disappear and appear in unrecognized places. Ten years ago or that will come, while exploring time, he meets Clare Abshire, a girl who lives in Michigan, and then there's a love story. Problems arise because at the age of Henry's back and forth according to its location in time, Clare is on the increase with age normal. But this book is in a way that is so soft and smooth, so this book is not just ordinary love story. I think that the story focuses on Clare Abshire's live, the readers will be able to capture the beauty and strangeness of life. This book was adapted into a movie of the same title in 2009.

Audrey Niffenegger on The Time Traveler's Wife, Part 1

Audrey Niffenegger on The Time Traveler's Wife, Part 2

The Nearest Exit (2010)

Authored by Olen Steinhauer

http://www.olensteinhauer.com/

Original language: English

Genre: Thriller/Crime

416 pages

Weaver's back! Though I haven't read it, seems like this book is an emotionally powerful read. It's pretty hard to find this at bookstores in my country, or maybe it's just because it hasn't been released here yet. I ought to buy this book as soon as it's  released. The curiosity of what's gonna happen next (after "The Tourist") is still swimming in my head :O

"The Nearest Exit" is about Milo Weaver's continuation of life after the events in "The Tourist". He's back in action on the tourism world, after jailed for various charges. Previously he was just a tourist who obeys the rules such as "Do not ask questions. Do not form attachments. Do not look back", he was trained to kill and keep moving. But this time he has to undergo various tests of loyalty, one of which is to kill the 15 year old girl. But for the first time, Weaver doesn't obey the orders.

When a security breach threatens the very existence of Tourism, he has to choose between saving his job, his family, or maybe himself.

In Germany, the book is called "The Last Exit", and translated to German by Friedrich Mader.

I heard that this book is going to be followed by "American Express" or "An American Spy", I ain't really sure about the title.

Pride and Prejudice (1813)

Authored by Jane Austen
Original language: English
Genre: Romance/Novel of manners/Satire/Classic

The story is about Elizabeth Bennet, one of Mr and Mrs Bennet five daughters. Mr and Mrs Bennet have no sons, and that conduces his wife and daughters will be left without any inheritance, money or even a house if Mr Bennet dies, because the inheritance has to be given to his cousin, Mr. Collins. So it becomes important to Mrs. Bennet that at least one of her daughters will marry a man who can protect their wealth. Then one day, Mrs. Bennet is quite interested when there's a news about rich people who move into Netherfield, nearby their area. For the sake of her daughters, Mrs. Bennet immediately urged her husband to meet with the newly arrived neighbor, Mr. Bingley. Some of the Bingley family members will attend the ball. Mr.Bingley has a cousin, Fitzwilliam Darcy, but for Elizabeth, Mr. Darcy appearance is so annoying.

Elizabeth never thought his life should always collides with Mr. Darcy. Although Mr. Darcy is the target of many women because of his wealth, Elizabeth is not interested in him at all. His pride and arrogance make ​​her sick. Elizabeth suspect the possibility of Mr. Darcy has a big role in a thwarted love affair between her sister and Mr. Bingley. She thinks that Mr. Darcy isn't more than most of the the noblemen who despise people under their social status. But then a letter came. For the first time, Elizabeth sees the different side of Mr. Darcy that she never would have thought so far. And before she managed to accept the situation, Elizabeth knew, the man who she has always avoided is the one who secretly been in love with.

The book was adapted into TV series in 1980 & 1995, and also movie in 2005.
This is the snippet of 1995's mini series, Love this version of Mr. Darcy so much!! XD

The Spy Who Came in from the Cold (1963)

Authored by John le Carré

Original language: English

Genre: Spy novel

240 pages (Paperback)

256 pages (Hardback)

Finally I got the time for doing this, this was a draft for about a week =.=
"The Spy Who Came in from the Cold" is one of the George Smiley series written by John Le Carré. It's about Alec Leamas, a spy for the United Kingdom who already resigned from the Circus (British Secret Intelligence Service) and the command of Station at The West Berlin office of the British Secret Intelligence Service. He is recalled to the  Circus in London after Karl Riemeck (the last double agent), is shot dead while defecting to West Berlin. Lemas is actually being used by George Smiley, as part of a complicated plan to discredit a great spy of West Germany and Britain, also to help an agent get the power in the West German Secret Service. The novel was selected as one of the All-Time 100 Novels by TIME Magazine. In 2006, Publishers Weekly named it the “best spy novel of all-time”. Preceded by "A Murder of Quality" (1962) and followed by "The Looking-Glass War" (1965). This book was adapted into a movie of the same title in 1965.

The Bourne Ultimatum (1990)

Authored by Robert Ludlum
Original language: English
Genre: Spy/Thriller
672 pages

"The Bourne Ultimatum" is the third novel of Jason Bourne series. The story is about David Webb, a retired assassin for CIA already has a normal live, but his close friends suddenly tell him that he is in danger. To protect his family, David brings them to his brother in law's place, and goes to Virginia. His friends and Webb find out that Carlos a.k.a the Jackal (a legendary assassin) is chasing him. CIA informs the Jackal is in Paris. In Paris, He ought to become Jason Bourne, the identity he has left for years. After gets some information from the Jackal's close people, Webb/Bourne discovers that Carlos operates a charity organization in Paris. He goes there, but then figures out that the Jackal wasn't there. So he sends a message to Carlos/the Jackal that led them to Moscow. In Moscow, Bourne is finally led to him, but the Jackal has a plan to destroy a military training named Novgorod. The series were adapted into movies of the same titles, but they all have absolutely different plots from the books.

Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions (2003)

Authored by Ben Mezrich
http://www.benmezrich.com/
Original language: English
272 pages

"Bringing Down the House: The Inside Story of Six MIT Students Who Took Vegas for Millions" is about an MIT graduate called Kevin Lewis and another MIT students who was in a Blackjack team and made millions by using their mathematics and card skills. Micky Rosa organized one other team to play it. Conflicts between each other ended this MIT Blackjack Team. Although Mezrich represented it as non-fiction, many of the events didn't really happen in real life. Followed by "Busting Vegas" (2005). The book was adapted into the movie "21". Though I haven't read it, but it seems like this book is terrific :)

Journey to the Center of the Earth (1864)

Authored by Jules Verne

Original title: Voyage au centre de la Terre

Original language: French

Genre: Science fiction/Adventure

The story is about a German professor called Otto Lidenbrock (in the original) or Professor Von Hardwigg (in the English translation) and his nephew Axel (Harry) who believe there are volcanic tubes that can make them going toward the center of the Earth based on a coded note written by Arne Saknussemm in runic script that they found on an original runic manuscript of Icelandic. After they have a journey through Copenhagen and Lübeck, they go to Reykjavik, where they meet Hans Bjelke as their guide to Snæfellsjökull and start the journey. "Journey to The Center of the Earth" is the third book of The Extraordinary Voyages series. Preceded by "The Adventures of Captain Hatteras" (Voyages et aventures du capitaine Hatteras) and followed by "From the Earth to the Moon" (De la Terre à la Lune). This book was adapted into many films. It takes about 2 months for reading this book, maybe it's because I was so busy at school.

I just found the trailer of an old movie in 1978 that based on this book, this version's really faithful to the novel.

Diary of a Wimpy Kid (2007)

Authored by Jeff Kinney

http://www.wimpykid.com/
Original language: English

Genre: Realistic fiction

224 pages

"Diary of a Wimpy Kid: Greg Heffley's Journal" or "Diary of a Wimpy Kid: A Novel in Cartoons" is the first book in the Diary of a Wimpy Kid series, also known as graphic novel. The story is about Greg Heffley who has an academic year's worth of drama as he enters middle school, and how his life is with his family and friends. Full of funny things :D This book was adapted into a movie of the same title.

Jeff Kinney Talks About Diary of a Wimpy Kid

The movie trailer: