Laskar Pelangi

Title : Laskar Pelangi

Writer : Andrea Hirata

Year : 2005

Language : Indonesian

It is a pleasure for me to read this novel. People say that this book can give us such an inspiration about life and how to handle problems which get us down. And yes, I get the point. When I read the first page, I couldn’t get an imagination about how the story would run. I could only get some description about the ten main characters meeting at the first sight.

The ten children meet in SD Muhammadiyah (or you may say Muhammadiyah Primary School), a very small, poor, and almost-closed school in a village in Belitong. They are there to reach their dream gaining an education and pursuing knowledge. For me, it is a common thing to see such kind of view since Indonesian people are always troubled by ‘the high-priced education’. However, both the poor school and new students do not give up, they still want to keep the spirit of education alive.

The ten students then become best friends and called themselves as Laskar Pelangi. They undergo a usual yet beautiful friendship with happiness, sadness, adventure, and so many other things together. Somehow I think that they are quite funny, but the funniest things of them are what they do and what they say. Each of them is likely to present human being’s common character. However, it is still interesting to catch it in an honest and innocent way of Andrea Hirata.

Fate and destiny then separate them. One person can be a very successful figure, the other is just a labor in a company. One person can be very frustrated by his job, but then he can catch up again his life spirit to do a better thing to fill his ‘empty life’. Two person who are initially quarreled to each other, but then they get married. And, sadly, a person who cannot (and do not) leave his mother, slowly becomes insane and leaves his life in a prison of craziness.

By reading the story, I can conclude something that had ever been in my mind a long time ago…. ‘that we cannot predict what will happen in the future even if we’ve made a plan’. That’s all, simple but precise. Now I even start to think about any possibilities of my future life. What is I can’t get my dream? What if suddenly I do something that I don’t wanna do? What if I can only be plain person just like the way I am right now without any improvement??? Yah, that’s life.

Oh, before I forget…. The weakness of this book? The slow flow of the story and the sometime-incorrect sentence arrangement.

Rating : 3.5

The Dialogue of Plato

Title : Dialogue of Plato

Writer : anonymous (edited by J.D. Kaplan)

Year : -

Language : English

This book contains all of Plato’s thoughts and philosophies. I love him so much for his ideologies and wise thoughts. These are his thoughts which amaze me:

1. Aristotle’s confession

He said to the king that he did not corrupt the youth of Greek at that time. He confessed that he was the smartest person in the world. Why? That was because he realized that he was the stupidest person in the world. It was like a paradox indeed. However, I think that it was the wisest and the most genius thing he’d ever said. I love that sentence. The point is that ‘we can be the smartest person, if we know and realize our stupidity’.

2. Cave Allegory

It is something which is quite absurd to say and to understand. When we are in a cave watching shadows of things outside the cave, then actually we are in the world of shadow itself, not in the world of reality. The real things are outside the cave, where the light pour up the things and shape their shadows. Thus, we can conclude that this world is actually not the reality of life, but the reality is there….in our mind.

3. Symposium

The best thing about love had been stated by Plato here. The first stage of love must have been love for physical beauty. However, because Plato thought that every body is beautiful, then we should not only put our love on someone based on physical beauty. We also have to love someone based on his/her heart and soul. Since heart and soul are abstract things, then we should love something that is more abstract. It can be personality, philosophy, and mostly….knowledge.

This book has inspired me to learn more about life and to shape my own ideology. It is a very interesting book that everyone should read and learn, not only talk about.

Rating : 4

The Precarious Balance

Title : The Precarious Balance

Writer : Ludwig Dehio

Year : 1965

Language : German (translated into English)

Ludwig Dehio is well-known as a German historian. He tried to depict European history by writing this book. The history of the governmental system applied in the previous Europe and how it was then collapse.

It is good to know how the European kingdoms ran back to the past. By reading the book, I come to the knowledge about Italian kingdom, and how its insular successful Venice gave a very important influence to the other European kingdoms. I never thought that Venice was very successful at the 1700s or 1800s, and even more successful then the Italy itself. I can also see that Spain was very big with its navy, and she kept trying to build a huge Catholic kingdom. The Great Britain had also a hot hostility with Holland, since they competed in naval strength. When Britain reached America, Holland tried to conquer West Indies, and I assume that it was my country, Indonesia. Oh, by this book also I get the answer of my own question about Portugal and Spain whether they were one kingdom or not. They were apparently two different kingdoms, Spain took over Portugal for not more than 100 years, and then Portugal separated themselves again and got their independence.

The book also talks about the hostility between England and France, the hostility that never dies until now I guess. It also talks a lot about the France revolution, Napoleon, and his heritage. At last, the book provides me with the history of Germany, especially Adolf Hitler. All those histories then lead me to the First and Second World War.

The book is good enough to read. It gives me more knowledge about the interesting European history. It seems to tell me how the previous united Europe was then collapse because of their competition and fight to gain a bigger power and to rule the Europe alone. But the bad thing about the book is that the writer depicts Islam as a horrible religion with its horrible community.

Rating : 2.5

Persuasion

Title : Persuasion

Writer : Jane Austen

Year : 1818

Language : English

Jane Austen is very famous for her ‘Pride and Prejudice’. However, this novel seems more interesting for me. The story, the characters, the flow are all interesting to follow. The complexity makes me impressed also.

Since I read it a long long time ago, then I do not quite remember the names of the characters. I only remember Frederic, and Anne, if I’m not mistaken. Anne is a wealthy girl and meets Frederic who is a poor guy. Yah, it’s been interesting from the start. They love each other, but Anne’s father seems do not agree with the relationship. Since Anne’s mother has died, she is guided by her mother’s friend. She implicitly states that Frederic and Anne’s relationship will not be good for Anne. She argues that Anne’s father will not like it because Frederic is just a poor village guy.

The story then goes to years later. Anne’s family is now bankrupt. They have no more money and have to rent their house, and live outside their hometown. Another family rent the house and apparently, they have a connection with Frederic, who is now a captain of British navy. Huh…, hope that I’m correct about that. I’m myself not really sure J . However, all those happenings just can’t go back to the past. When Anne and Frederic meet again, they are like strangers who don’t know each other. They know that their each economic condition is so different now. And although they meet again, they seem not being touched to be together again. Besides, they have other persons in their life. Frederic has his own mate, and so does Anne.

The thing that I love from the story is the way they have to deal with their heart after years of separation and the broken heart of the past. It is so nice to imagine how they have to meet everyday with a waving heart inside and passion which never leaves them

I must say that the ending is quite disappointed. Even they are finally together, but the flow to the end seems to be forced. I don’t know why I’m saying this. But it’s true, for me, the ending is not a good happy ending.

Rating : 3

This Side of Paradise

Title : This Side of Paradise

Writer : F. Scott Fitzgerald

Year : 1920

Language : English

I can say that F. Scott Fitzgerald is a genius, at least in this novel. He could create such a unique character in Amory. The flow of the story is also amazing, with a quite confusing but nice ending. Both the story and the character of Amory can depict the ups and downs of life of a man, a man who tries to find out his life, his aim, his personality, his dreams, and especially, his love.

I read the book like months ago, and now I can’t really recall the whole story. However, as far as I remember, the opening of the story is talking about Amory when he was a kid. As an Italian descendent, he was very rich at that time. Unfortunately, his father did not give him enough attention so that the only one who cared about him was just his mother. Amory was also spoiled at his childhood.

Then he grows up. He spends his teenage life as a playboy. He thinks he can make all the girls love him easily. In some parts, he’s quite successful. He then finds that his father dies and only leaves his heritage. He eventually meets a priest who is willing to listen to his lamentation every time he needs to. He loves his mother much, but suddenly he can’t reach her. He can rarely meet her since they are apart.

He takes his college in Princeton. He says that he wants to be an aristocrat. I certainly don’t know what he means, since he loves literature, read lots of literary works, and taking literature in his college. He undergoes his college quite easily at the first time, he thinks that he can be successful in the future and becomes a big figure. Surprisingly, he takes his college for granted and slowly failed to the end.

And so is his love story. As I’ve written above, Amory is a playboy. Girls come and go. There are successes and failures. One day, he finds his true love. I think he’s never been in love like that before. He’s so serious that he can’t let his girl go. Sorry, I forget her name. However, the girl just can’t be with him. Her parents do not want them to be together. It’s because Amory has already been a poor guy. Yah, after his father’s death, the heritage is gone little by little to pay the bills. Until the end of the story, he can’t be together with his beloved girl.

I really love the story. It gives me an inspiration about life, in particular, a man’s life and how he lives his life. It’s one of my favorite books.

Rating : 3

Jane Eyre

Title : Jane Eyre

Writer : Charlotte Bronte

Year : 1847 (Shakespeare Head Edition 1931)

Language : English

It’s just another Cinderella story, I dare say. Actually, and seriously, I’ve been sick of those Cinderella-ended-with-happily-ever-after stories. Do they not have any other kind of stories?? Why, for me, they seem not creative enough to create a huge literature?

Jane Eyre is an orphan who is dumped by her aunt. She undergoes a harsh and boring life in an orphan house. Later on when she is grown up, she applies a job as a governess in Thornfield Hall. She works there then. She meets her mysterious master named Mr. Rochester. Slowly but sure (aaarrgghh…I hate those words), they fall in love in secret. Jealousy comes as Mr. Rochester shows his close relationship with Miss Ingram, his alleged future wife. Jealousy overcome, they are about to marry, and the other problem face them. Mr. Rochester has actually had a wife, an insane wife, a lunatic.

He can’t stand of this lunatic wife, he feels empty and frustrated in the forced-marriage. That’s why he wants to marry Jane Eyre, the girl he loves. However, Jane rejects him. The church cancels the marriage, Jane decides to escape from the Thornfield Hall and leave Mr. Rochester. In her wandering, she meets St John and his sisters. After disguising as another Jane, she finally finds that they are her distant family. She gets heritage from her uncle, and divides it into four so that her distant cousins (St John and sisters) can get some money.

St John intends to marry Jane and asks her to go to India with him. Jane’s heart is waving. She hesitates to marry him. She still thinks of Mr. Rochester. Then, she runs back to Thornfield Hall to find Mr. Rochester. But she finds that the house has been burned, Mr. Rochester is gone. She tries to find him, and then caught him in a small house in a forest. They then are together again. The end, happily ever after. That’s it.

Actually, the story is quite nice to follow. And yah… I can accept that an old literature has usually a common story with a common end. But eventually I find myself get bored of this kind of story.

Rating : 3

Norwegian Wood

Title : Norwegian Wood

Writer : Haruki Murakami

Year : 1987 ( released in firstly Indonesia in 2005)

Language : Japanese (translated into Indonesian)

I actually started to be interested in this novel because one of famous figures of Indonesia read it. Ridiculous, yes I know. However, at least I got a precious reading. This is for the first time I read Japanese literature, after reading those Japanese comic books. It’s quite interesting to know how a Japanese writer elaborates his story.

Toru Watanabe is a young college boy who takes his college with lot of problems in front of him. However, he’s a calm person who can take anything for granted. He undergoes his college life in relax and, I dare say, brutally. Oh, I may not say “brutally”, but I don’t have any other words to describe it. He can have college at one time, and at the other time, he can go outside the campus and live a free sex life along with drinking.

Deep inside him, Watanabe loves his best friend’s girl so much. Her name is Naoko. Even Naoko seems never to love him, he insists that he loves her and is willing to do everything for her. Unfortunately, although his best friend has died, Naoko still never wants to be with him. The characteristic that I catch from Naoko is that she is afraid of having sex, and it’s driving her crazy. Uniquely, Watanabe and Naoko ever have sex for twice, or for several times, I can’t really remember.

The next time Watanabe meets a girl named Midori. Surprisingly, she loves Watanabe much and deeply. Moreover, she’s very aggressive towards him. Watanabe takes her as his friend, even he knows that she loves him. It’s a very complicated relationship between these three persons. After years, Naoko can’t still accept her fear towards sex and isolates herself in a therapy place, away from Watanabe. And he keeps living with Midori, feels the togetherness between them. I tell you, the novel is very complicated in elaborating love relationship, sex, mind-illness, and how to handle life.

I felt so weird when I read the book. I could only catch one thing, sex can measure the depth of love. Why…. until now, I don’t know whether I’m right or wrong. But, that’s the only thing I had in mind when I read the book.

The language is perfect. Dramatic, simple, easy to understand, and still beautiful. It makes me wanna read the other Japanese novels, especially, the work of Haruki Murakami.

Rating : 3.5

Cinta Brontosaurus

Title : Cinta Brontosaurus

Writer : Raditya Dika

Year : 2006

Language : Indonesian

It’s another silly book by Raditya Dika. Previously, I’ve written about his first book which I assumed to be not original. It’s was hard to describe how the story goes because I thought that such kind of life cannot be just delivered in very very silly, funny and unbelievable jokes. Well, after reading this second book of Raditya Dika, now I can depict how he delivers his so-called true story. Hyperbole. Yes, right. That’s the closest and the most accurate word to describe the way Raditya Dika tells his true story in his book. Okay, let’s assume his story is true, and truly happened, but the jokes which deliver the story are big big exaggeration.

This second book mostly talks about his love life, from the time he was in elementary school, up to his life in University of Adelaide. Quite shocking that he eventually ends up his relationship with his girl who still appears in his first book. There, also, he questions the meaning of love, just like most of people do. Even it still seems so funny and stupid, but it’s likely to be more gloomy and sad. Let’s say, now he’s more dramatic. Of course, when we talk about love, then the dramatic side of us can suddenly burst out.

He starts to fall in love in the elementary school, when he questions about ‘what is the love of monkey?’ (cinta monyet). Well, we can call it as ‘unserious childish love’. Then, he must face the fact that ‘physical appearance does matter’ in the junior high school. In the high school, he has to break with his girl because she wants him to be another person whom she dreams of, and does not let him to be himself. And the last, he must break up with his last girl because he takes his college in Australia, and his girl is in Jakarta – Indonesia. Yah…, then, the question comes out. What is love? Are all considerations important? Why don’t we just fall in love and get the happiness without any obstacles?? The name of love that comes out then becomes Cinta Brontosaurus. I assure you, I myself don’t know, what the hell is that??

Well, he’s just like Aditya Mulya, he’s always funny. Perhaps, his sense of humor makes his stories a bullshit because the exaggeration style. However, I enjoyed it. It’s entertaining.

Rating : 2.5

Kambing Jantan

Title  :  Kambing Jantan

Writer : Raditya Dika

Year : 2005

Language : Indonesian

Just fresh from the oven. Just finished it. It’s quite silly to have this book just done whereas the book itself had just been released three years ago. Even the writer had already had the three sequels of it.

Ok, let’s start with the story of the book. Story?? No, the book doesn’t have any story. Indeed. I’m not kidding you! The book is actually an online diary a.k.a a blog! Yes, it’s taken from someone’s popular blog. The blog even had awarded The Best Indonesian Blog 2003. No, do not think the blog is about politics, social thing, economy, or even literature. No. I tell you, the blog itself is about the silly life of the writer. I say it once again, SILLY!!!

It talks much about his life (his, yes. Since “jantan” means “male” in Indonesian, so I do believe that he is a he), from the time he was in high school, until when he reached his college in Adelaide, Australia. Because the content of the book is very very funny (‘til I laughed to death), I felt very much happy and pleased. I think the book is very creative, and the jokes…. Aahhh…believe me, if you’re an Indonesian, you’ll understand.

However, I don’t know why, I cannot believe that the writer is that funny, naturally funny. I mean…why…. This is what I believe so far, every person has his/her unique life. I myself have some kind of stupid jokes and actions everyday in campus, I also have very very weird friends that they can make me laugh every time. But…, hhmmm…, even the silliest and stupidest friend of mine, will express his experience not in that fully funny way. Ok, I didn’t mean to question the writer’s credibility, but that kind of jokes and stupidity just can’t happen in the real life!!! Oh, wrong! I didn’t mean to say that… I mean, even we have some kind of peculiar thing in our life, that won’t be expressed in a very very very silly and stupid way ‘til we (well, I do) think that IT JUST COULDN’T HAPPEN!!!

Well, perhaps I must apologize to the writer since he is an Indonesian. But this is the true idea coming in my mind when I read the book. It’s funny, creative, lively, and pleasing….but real??? Yeah, I doubt it.

Rating : 3

Travelers’ Tale

Title : Travelers’ Tale

Writer : Aditya Mulya, Alaya Setya, Iman Hidajat, Ninit Yunita

Year : 2007

Language : Indonesian (with inserted Spanish in necessary)

This is the first Aditya Mulya’s book in which he cooperated with his wife and friends. I don’t know why it should take four persons to create four characters in the novel. Well, I assumed that they need their own personal experience to describe every place depicted in the book.

Well, I can’t say that the story is spectacular or something, because I think the story is somewhat common in literature. Four friends grown up together, and then each of them has a feeling toward the other, and then the complex love story endangers their own friendship. That’s it. Nothing special, indeed. The thing that still enlightens my mind is just the ending. Even it is blurred, but it is smart to have such kind of ending.

However, the other side of the book is just interesting to follow. It takes place in various places in the world, and the writers make it complete by providing such beneficial information about traveling around the world. They also provide the readers the pictures of those beautiful places. It’s very interesting, it makes me wanna read it ‘til the end.

Rating : 2.5