Buku Kenangan

Portrait of the Artist As a Young Man by James Joyce


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man told us a story about and through the lens of an Irish boy, named Stephen Dedalus. It's pretty much an autobiography of the adolescence life of Stephen Dedalus who would reappear in one of Joyce's phenomenal work, Ulysses. Stephen Dedalus' character, more or less, was based on Joyce himself as a lot of autobiographical details in Portrait matched with his life.

Some of the reviews I read protesting about the lack of time and place sequential description. As I read the book pages by pages, I come to this sense that time and place is an outer world and in this matter, they are less important than what's going on in Dedalus' mind. Joyce made a point through Dedalus.

- Yes, Stephen said, smiling in spite of himself at Cranly's way of remembering thoughts in connexion with places

In other words, Portrait focused on psychological reality. This is the strongest point of this book. How Dedalus' restless mind saw the world, wandered, stumbled upon nets of his family, politics, and religion, encountered what-so-called sin, felt impure and fear of hell and God, forced himself to display obedience to have his soul lifted up, but in the end he realized he was prisoner of culture and what the society expected him to be. This revelation came to him after he was being rewarded for his obedience. He imagined himself to be the most respectable figure but weary of obedience. Then he found what freed him the most, who he was, what he wanted to do, and for what he would stumble and fall.

As a young man, he saw through the world through the glasses of philosophers. Many of them were Catholic's thinker and this was 'normal' because as a young man, he had not yet experienced life on his own. However, this book signified Dedalus' departure from what had restrained him for most.

A well-written book, using magnificent and beautiful words, complex enough, profound, and daring in poetic way. I love love love this book and can't wait to read Ulysses. Hope that I'll find a copy in bookstores.

Regarding Joyce: is this a man whom Jung diagnosed as a 'diving' schizophrenics? He swam in the 'yellow' border of madness and achieved profoundness & beauty. 'Yellow' hell!
View all my reviews >>



...Ulysses
I've found a new way
Well, I've found a new way, baby

Oh, oh then suddenly you know
You're never going home...

Posted in: book, review on Monday, September 21, 2009 at at 2:04 PM 0 comments    

Centhini: Kekasih yang Tersembunyi by Elizabeth D. Inandiak


My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Pemaparan yang indah untuk Centhini. Tadinya saya pikir ini dari naskah asli tapi setelah saya baca keterangan dari penulis, ternyata lebih tepat disebut sebagai interpretasi penulis dari Serat Centhini. Serat Centhini yang asli rupanya terpotong-potong naskahnya karena masyarakat pada jaman dulu hafal dengan cerita yang dimaksud. Namun makin lama, generasi mudanya sudah tidak terlalu akrab lagi dengan hikayat-hikayat ini.

Interpretasi yang menarik dengan pertimbangan yang cukup matang dari penulis. Saya menangkap kesan penulis belajar banyak soal kebudayaan Jawa. Beberapa cerita peperangan mirip Babad Tanah Jawi dan ternyata memang diambil sebagian dari situ.

Terus terang saya tergerak oleh "empat puluh malam dan satu hujan". Amongraga dan Tembangraras saling menembang dan membuka rahasia tentang hidup, prahara, dan jalan Allah demi ilmu Kasampurnaan atau Kebahagiaan. Kata Amongraga pada Tembang Raras, "Cinta adalah Karya agung yang mengubah nafsu menjadi nafas. Itulah jalan kematian besar, kenikmatan di luar kenikmatan tubuh."

Di samping kesukaan hati saya pada Centhini, saya kurang setuju dengan "penggantian" sebagian cerita dari Serat Centhini. Dalam Serat Centhini yang asli, diceritakan Nyi Rara Kidul menyanyikan tembang rindu untuk Sultan Agung. Sedangkan dalam interpretasi penulis, posisi Nyi Rara Kidul diganti Sultan Agung. Jadi Sultan Agung lah yang diceritakan sakit rindu pada Ratu Pantai Selatan itu. Saya senang untuk mengetahui sudut pandang penulis. Interpretasi menjadikannya lebih kaya. Namun saya masih sedikit berharap kesesuaian dengan naskah asli lebih dijaga dan interpretasi digunakan untuk melengkapi "jembatan" yang hilang.

View all my reviews >>

Posted in: book, contemplation on Tuesday, September 15, 2009 at at 2:50 PM 0 comments    

Negeri 5 Menara by Ahmad Fuadi


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Man jadda wajada dan ikhlas, mantra kehidupan yang akan membalik seluruh kekecewaan, putus asa, benci, dan angkara murka. Dalam penggalan-penggalan yang singkat pada masing-masing bab, kita disuguhkan suatu kisah perjuangan, persahabatan, tantangan dalam proses-proses yang tidak hanya terasa manis dan hangat tetapi juga memberikan kekuatan pada kita untuk bermimpi, ikhlas, dan bersungguh-sungguh dalam mewujudkannya. Tidak ada mimpi yang mustahil, kecuali jika kita putus mimpi itu dengan pesimisme. Hidup tanpa mimpi, bukanlah hidup. Hidup tanpa perjuangan, bukanlah hidup. Hidup dengan mimpi dan perjuangan adalah hidup yang sesungguhnya. Dengan ikhlas, kita akan mengikuti jalan kita dengan tenang dan penuh penerimaan. Tidak ada yang tahu rencana Tuhan untuk kita. Apa yang kita anggap sebagai suatu bencana atau kesia-siaan ternyata adalah jalan bagi kita dalam mencapai mimpi kita, keinginan terdalam kita. Surga tidak jauh-jauh di atas atau di luar angkasa. Cecap madu Surga akan diberikan pada mereka yang tidak takut bermimpi dan berjuang.

Gaya penulisan yang jujur, dengan hati, membuat saya sebagai pembaca, ikut masuk dalam dunia mereka dan ikut meresapi ajaran-ajaran yang mereka terima. Selain itu suasana, tempat, kegiatan, dan sebagainya dideskripsikan secara mendetail. Namun pembaca tidak dibombardir dengan fakta-fakta saja, tapi fakta tersebut dikawinkan dengan perspektif pengalamannya, atau dengan kata lain, dari ingatan hati. Kesemua hal-hal ini membuat saya sampai pada kesimpulan yang mungkin juga anjuran, bahwa buku ini layak dibaca oleh semua orang yang mau dan siap untuk disentuh oleh karya Tuhan: hidup.


View all my reviews >>

Posted in: book, contemplation, review on Sunday, September 13, 2009 at at 5:29 PM 0 comments    

The Valkyries by Paulo Coelho


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
The Valkyries was more of the author's journal than a fiction story. I really appreciate his courage to reveal himself in this book. I could feel Paulo's urge to 'hunt' and his vulnerability. I like Chris' character who stood by him and found her soul growing and her courage in simplicity.

The story was not about seeing and conversing with angel only but also about breaking a pact with the past. You have to let God do His work on you rather than blowing it up with your feeling of not deserving God's grace. An angel is sent by God for us. Every person has a different path in life as a learning process to understand his/her role in this world, and only the messengers of God can tell you the right step.

Some of the events more or less happened to me (essentially) and in someway, I feel a connection while reading this book. Perhaps my angel led me to buy this book as a way for him to connect with me. I believe so and I thank God for always watching over me and having my soul grow.

View all my reviews >>

Posted in: book, review on Saturday, September 05, 2009 at at 12:11 PM 0 comments    

Plato and a Platypus Walk into a Bar . . .: Understanding Philosophy Through Jokes by Thomas Cathcart


My rating: 3 of 5 stars
A crash course to philosophy, with sprinkle of jokes. I used to think that philosophy is only for people who like sitting in the toilet and wondering around their bitterness. However, now I learn that laughing is hip in philosophy menu, recommended by Chef Cathcart & Klein. Sweet!

View all my reviews >>

Posted in: book, review on Sunday, August 30, 2009 at at 3:05 PM 0 comments    

The Year of Living Biblically: One Man's Humble Quest to Follow the Bible As Literally As Possible by A.J. Jacobs


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
When I spotted this book, I thought that it's just another biblical book, maybe an enlightenment coming from thunder, burning trees, striking light, etc. However, my former psychology lecturer who's atheist gave this book 5 stars, so I thought this must be not just another biblical book and decided to spend my last penny to buy this book.

A.J. Jacobs was raised in secular family, estranged from religious life. To quote from his saying, "I was agnostic before I even knew what the word meant." For a long time, he thought that religion would fade away because the potential for abuse too high. However the influence of religion is still strong and he pondered that if he's the one who's missing it and not them. This part intrigued me the most: a secular agnostic experimenting to follow the bible as literally as possible. I wondered how it would turn out.

First of all, I have to give credit to him for doing somewhat bold, scary, and funny, things that I perhaps won't dare to do as an agnostics. He did things that seemed oxymoronic in his quest in one year (what a long time). He grew beard, only wore cloth made from unmixed fibers, didn't curse, ate only "biblical" diet, played 10 string harps, stoned adulterer, invited Jehovah Witness, went to religious community, even to the fundamentalist one, etc.

If he wasn't self-observant and insightful, this book probably would go awry. He didn't. He found a spiritual awakening and insight even from seemed-to-be-ridiculous rules. This book is absorbing, I couldn't stop reading it and wondering what A.J. Jacobs would tell me on the next chapter. He's funny and had a flair with words without being complicated. Reading his book was like listening to him talking to you. He was able to get me to sit in front of him for days and still make me excited.

View all my reviews >>

Posted in: book, review on Friday, August 14, 2009 at at 2:07 PM 0 comments    

Zaman Peralihan by Soe Hok Gie


My rating: 5 of 5 stars
Zaman Peralihan memuat artikel-artikel yang ditulis oleh Soe Hok Gie. Soe adalah seorang pemikir yang mempunyai sikap tegas terhadap kebenaran. Soe menganalisis keadaan dari berbagai segi, tidak hanya ideologi semata, tetapi juga melihat dari persoalan ekonomi, sosial politis, dan sebagainya. Salah satu artikelnya yang paling saya sukai adalah tentang bagaimana situasi atau keadaan yang pernah dialami oleh suatu generasi sulit dilepaskan dan mempengaruhi cara berpikir generasi tersebut terhadap situasi-situasi yang dihadapinya.

Soe membantu menggulingkan komunisme yang pada waktu itu baru saja melakukan pemberontakan besar. Namun Soe tidak semata-mata membenci komunisme secara membabi buta tetapi ia berusaha untuk menganalisisnya secara rasional, bahwa tidak semua anggota partai komunis adalah mobilisator tetapi ada pula rakyat kecil seperti petani yang dipaksa masuk atau masuk hanya karena janji diberi tanah. Soe juga mengkritik cara-cara penguasa memperlakukan tapol (yang dituduh komunis) yang mengabaikan aspek kemanusiaan.

Buku ini, menurut saya, sangat relevan untuk dibaca sampai sekarang karena persoalan-persoalan esensial yang dibahas masih terjadi sampai sekarang. Sejarah berulang. Dulu anti komunis, sekarang anti terorisme. Membaca buku ini menginspirasi saya untuk lebih peka dan kritis serta berhati-hati untuk tidak terjebak slogan anti-antian dan malah melakukan apa yang dituduhkan kepada si objek anti (misalnya mengusung anti terorisme, tapi mendukung kekerasan dan melegalkan hukuman tanpa proses peradilan). Lebih baik mendalami, sungguh berpikir, dan merefleksikan supaya "kami tidak takut" tidak cuma jadi jampi-jampi.

View all my reviews >>

Posted in: book, review on Wednesday, August 12, 2009 at at 1:33 AM 0 comments