Jumat, 29 Juni 2018

Review: The Plague

The Plague The Plague by Albert Camus
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This book contains philosophy and absurdity of how we might deal with death and isolation. One might turn numb by seeing too much death in the short span of life. One became emotionally unresponsive by the absurdity of life and when the closest died, one fails to react. Yet this story showed it lights that even in such condition, one can still find the call to help those in need.

“The evil in the world comes almost always from ignorance, and goodwill can cause as much damage as ill-will if it is not enlightened. People are more often good than bad, though in fact that is not the question. But they are more or less ignorant and this is what one calls vice or virtue, the most appalling vice being the ignorance that thinks it knows everything and which consequently authorizes itself to kill. The murderer's soul is blind, and there is no true goodness or fine love without the greatest possible degree of clear-sightedness.”


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Review: Alif the Unseen

Alif the Unseen Alif the Unseen by G. Willow Wilson
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Willow Wilson creatively explores the Arab Spring and computer programming. She then intertwined them with the unseen realm such as djinns and the legend of a long-lost city, Iram of the Pillars. The most appealing feature for me is how she brought upon the One Thousand and One Nights ( Alf Layla wa Layla) into the story. The Alf Layl which originally made for the human has another version exclusively only for djinn: One Thousand and One Days (Alf Yeom wa Yeom). Nothing good will come if Alf Yeom falls into a wrong person who can discover its secrets.

The main protagonist here is Alif, the grey hat hacker who lives in the unnamed middle eastern country. He helps anyone who requests his skill, whether it's Islamist, communist, anarchist and even pornographer who all tried to fight for the freedom of speech which confined by the current dictator.

When the fight put him in danger, he stumbled upon Alf Yeom. With the help of djinn, he deciphers the code and retaliates.

I must say I didn't know the author at first. I bought the book randomly in 2017. Then I googled her and amazed that she's also that author who wrote for the one and only Marvel Muslim superheroine: Ms. Marvel Kamala Khan. Will try to read them after this.

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Sabtu, 05 Mei 2018

Review: Inteligensi Embun Pagi

Inteligensi Embun Pagi Inteligensi Embun Pagi by Dee Lestari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars



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Review: Am I There Yet? The Loop-de-Loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood

Am I There Yet? The Loop-de-Loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood Am I There Yet? The Loop-de-Loop, Zigzagging Journey to Adulthood by Mari Andrew
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

My friend in Bali borrowed me this book of her for only a night and fell in love with the illustrations and lovely counsels. This book can be a wonderful gift for your girlfriend. But if you don't have any, go treat yourself by reading it and probably get a copy of this book.

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Review: Gelombang

Gelombang Gelombang by Dee Lestari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Supernova kali ini terasa dekat karena kisahnya berkisar tentang suku Batak yang meramaikan kehidupan kota saya lahir dan besar. Suara ibunya Alfa yang menggelegar beserta logat kerabatnya berhasil membikin saya senyum-senyum sendiri. Insomnia yang dialami oleh Gelombang dan mimpi-mimpinya juga membuat kisah ini semakin kaya untuk dinikmati.

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Review: Of Love and Other Demons

Of Love and Other Demons Of Love and Other Demons by Gabriel García Márquez
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

This is the tale of a little girl named Sierva Maria. This poor Rapunzel is suspected to be demonic and possessed. For the medical science at that era is insufficient to explain what she has, people demand cruel treatment and exorcism that in the end gone wrong. Here we see blind faith conspired with irrationality getting their way to make the worst of it.

'Sometimes we attribute certain things we do not understand to the demon, not thinking they may be things of God that we do not understand.'


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Sabtu, 21 April 2018

Review: Supernova Partikel - Dee Lestari

Partikel Partikel by Dee Lestari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kali ini Supernova bercerita tentang kisah Zarah. Sepanjang membaca, hal ini yang selalu muncul di kepala:
Zarah si pemilik mata istimewa.
Zarah si pengasuh orangutan.
Zarah VS the world
Zarah discovering the secrets of universe

Supernova rasanya selalu memiliki unsur pencarian, tapi kali ini Zarah muncul sebagai tokoh yang memiliki objek pencarian paling jelas. Meskipun pencariannya kehilangan prioritas di tengah cerita karena hasrat dunia, tapi saya menebak bahwa akan terjadi peristiwa yang membuat ia kembali ke jalurnya. Dan drama itu benar terjadi.

After all, we are humans,
"We're built for drama..."


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Jumat, 13 April 2018

Review: Supernova Petir - Dee Lestari

Supernova: PetirSupernova: Petir by Dee Lestari
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

Lucu! Seri Supernova kali ini sukses bikin ketawa atau minimal senyum2 sendiri. Tokoh utamanya juga jauh lebih membumi walaupun ada listriknya hahaha.

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Kamis, 05 April 2018

Review: Cinta yang Marah - Aan Mansyur

Cinta yang MarahCinta yang Marah by M. Aan Mansyur
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Kritiknya halus disisip ke dalam bahasa cinta si Aku dan Kau. Di antara puisi pun diselipkan kliping-kliping peristiwa reformasi yang menarik untuk dibaca. Pas pulaklah sebentar lagi mau 20 tahun Mei 98.

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Selasa, 03 April 2018

Review: Supernova: Akar - Dee Lestari

Supernova: AkarSupernova: Akar by Dee Lestari
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Lebih absurd dari KPBJ. Tapi itu yang ditunggu. Bodhi ini potensinya banyak juga abis keliling ASEAN. Kalau kurang orderan tattoo, bisa buka jasa travel ASEAN dan privat wushu. Yang pasti, Saya akan cari kamu Bodhi kalau tattoo udah halal. Salam.

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