Category: Books

Ada hal yang tidak diberitahukan orang kepadamu tentang menjadi orang tua: kau akan merasakan kegembiraan luar biasa, rasa cinta yang tidak dapat dibandingkan dengan apapun juga, tapi pada saat yang sama, dirimu menjadi rentan.

Seluruh eksistensimu bukan lagi milikmu sendiri. Ukuran kebahagiaanmu tiba-tiba berubah. Kau akan bahagia saat anakmu gembira, merana saat dia terluka, dan apa pun yang dia rasakan, kau akan merasakannya dua belas kali lipat. Kau mencoba melakukan segalanya dengan benar tapi kau bakal sering gagal.”

(Lebih Senyap dari Bisikan, halaman 58)

Ketidaksengajaan membawa saya pada sebuah cuitan @andinadwifatma di Twitter yang membahas tentang novel barunya. Setelah saya klik dan membaca utas tersebut, saya tak ragu untuk memesan bukunya melalui salah satu platform belanja daring.

Begitulah awal mula perjumpaan saya dengan novel ‘Lebih Senyap dari Bisikan’ yang baru terbit dan dicetak kali pertama bulan Juni lalu. Tanpa saya sadari, ternyata novel yang saya beli adalah edisi bertanda tangan penulisnya. Rupanya saya masuk barisan sejumlah pembaca pertama novel ini. Hehe..

Continue reading “[Buku] Lebih Senyap dari Bisikan” →

A picture of Istanbul’s transformation through the life of a boza seller

I really need a while to reflect after reading this novel. The love story, family conflict, and overall transformation of a city. In addition to personal life of the characters, Orhan Pamuk has successfully brought various issues through ‘A Strangeness in My Mind’: history, politics, as well as social and development issues (urbanization to be more specific).

This is the first time I read Pamuk’s work (and I am eager to read more of his). The reason I was interested in the book was because the story revolves in Istanbul, one of my favorite cities (that I’ve visited so far). I have to admit that I used to see Istanbul as an outsider who came to the city for a few days and visited those popular touristy destinations. However, this book tells the other side — ups and downs — of the city. Pamuk lets the readers get to know Istanbul through the life of boza seller (boza is a kind of Turkish traditional drink) named Mevlut.

Continue reading “A Strangeness in My Mind” →

First of all, I am actually not a person who often reads self-help books. However, I must say that I really like this book by Marie Kondo. The word ‘life-changing’ on its title is not an exaggeration I guess. Our mindset, our confidence, our motivation to work, and so on, somehow starts from our house condition. I’ve read another book titled ‘Happiness Project’ and it considers decluttering as the first step to happiness as well. And yes.. I agree.

I know.. the reviews here are quite polarized, from those who really like it to those who have no idea or just simply can not relate to what the author has written on the book. I totally understand. 😀 But here I want to summarize what I think about the book.

Continue reading “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” →