Room by Emma Donoghue

I know it's been a while since I wrote my last review, I've been too focused in life so I rarely got chance to read a book nor write a review. But this one really hooked me up, and I felt a little obsessed, actually until right now.

So, I was scrolling through Rotten Tomatoes' certified fresh movie list, notified some interesting movies and hooked onto movie called "Room". I had no idea what interested me first. Maybe the premise who consisted a relationship and special bond between a mother and a son (which really resemble my situation right now). Or the fact that they mentioned they had special young actor in it. So I browsed and browsed and found that it was based on the book. And the book has so many recgnition so I started to read it.

Synopsis

To five-year-old Jack, Room is the entire world. It is where he was born and grew up; it's where he lives with his Ma as they learn and read and eat and sleep and play. At night, his Ma shuts him safely in the wardrobe, where he is meant to be asleep when Old Nick visits.

Room is home to Jack, but to Ma, it is the prison where Old Nick has held her captive for seven years. Through determination, ingenuity, and fierce motherly love, Ma has created a life for Jack. But she knows it's not enough...not for her or for him. She devises a bold escape plan, one that relies on her young son's bravery and a lot of luck. What she does not realize is just how unprepared she is for the plan to actually work.

Told entirely in the language of the energetic, pragmatic five-year-old Jack, Room is a celebration of resilience and the limitless bond between parent and child, a brilliantly executed novel about what it means to journey from one world to another. (Goodreads)

Oh man. I really never felt this way when I read the other book. Fear, hatred, love, confused, all the feeling came into one big bubble I thought I was gonna explode. The book is told by Jack's perspective, which honestly bored me a bit in the beginning, but after half book, I really found the book gripping me so much, I ended with read it twice. Emma Donoghue put many subtle hints from beginning, while Ma tried to protect Jack from the truth, and we can only see her through Jack's eye, but I began to understand some things when I read the book for second time. How Ma always take pill every day (birth control!) and how she always turn on and off lamp for a second in the night (SOS signal?).

Again, what makes this book special is we learned more about Jack and Ma after their escape. Not like some crime book which focused to the kidnapping time and end right when rescue is done, or how the trial could be a lengthy and pain process, the book focused on how Ma and Jack adapt into real world after seven years of captive. It's hard for both of them, while Ma realize that everyone in her life is literally moving on, and harder for Jack, because everything he has known before is lie, and there are so many real things in life while he only knew about Ma, Room and himself. I was grateful because they don't put much attention to the capture, it's already horrible without it.

The story was told beautifully. I couldn't put the book before I finished it. It is one of my all-time favorites, and I've watched the movie too. The movie is too beautiful yet painful and full of horror (Brie Larson and Jacob Tremblay is exactly what I pictured of Jack and Ma!), and it is worth to watch. There are differences (it must be) so it'll be better if you do both of movie and book.

If I was asked to give stars, it definitely will be 5 of 5.

The Girl who Played with Fire by Stieg Larsson

Setelah ngos-ngosan menyelesaikan buku pertama selama 2 minggu, dan hampir menjerit nggak puas karena endingnya gantung abis, akhirnya suami berbaik hati untuk membelikan dua buku terakhir dari Millennium series ini. Buku kedua sendiri sukses dilalap selama sehari, sepanjang perjalanan dari Jakarta-Sukabumi.
Hasilnya? Buku kedua ini beyooooond the expectation. Bagus banget! Jauuuh lebih bagus dari buku pertamanya! Hehe, lebay yah? Abisnya saya benar-benar nggak bisa lepas dari buku ini sampai halaman terakhirnya selesai dibaca (dan masih juga pake jeritan nggak puas karena endingnya masih ngegantung Sodara-sodara! Oh, really??).
Buku dibuka dari kurang lebih setahun sejak peristiwa di akhir buku satu. Mikael kembali bekerja di Millennium, tetap menjadi seorang womanizer, sedangkan Lisbeth Salander sendiri dalam status hilang ditelan bumi.
Milennium menerima artikel yang menarik dari seorang penullis freelancer bernama Dag Svensson. Svensson mengangkat tentang penculikan gadis-gadis di bawah umur dan penggunaan mereka sebagai pekerja seks komersial, dibantu oleh kekasihnya, Mia Johansson yang sedang menyusun tesis dengan tema yang berkaitan. Svensson juga menawarkan hak penerbitan kepada penerbit Millennium, yang disambut baik oleh Mikael dkk. Masalah mulai terjadi disaat pada saat artikel dan buku tersebut nyaris selesai, Svensson dan Johansson ditemukan tewas di rumah mereka. Tebak siapa yang menjadi tersangka? Di senjata pembunuh, ditemukan sidik jari dari Lisbeth Salander!
Bingung dengan penemuan ini, Mikael mencoba membuktikan bahwa Salander tidak bersalah. Hal ini sulit dilakukan, karena selain tidak diketahui keberadaanya, masa lalu Salander yang cukup kelam dan arsip mengenai ketidakwarasannya menguatkan kecurigaan polisi bahwa dia benar-benar pelakunya. Mengetahui bahwa Salander tidak mungkin membunuh orang yang sedang memperjuangkan kebebasan wanita, seperti yang selama ini dia yakini, Mikael melakukan segala cara untuk mengontak Salander dan mencari tahu siapa sebenarnya yang ada di balik pembunuhan kedua penulis ini.
Belum selesai Mikael mencari, pembunuhan ketiga terjadi. Korbannya adalah wali Salander. Salander pun ditetapkan sebagai tersangka utama, dimana fotonya disebarluaskan di seluruh pelosok Swedia. Mikael pun mulai bimbang, apakah Salander benar-benar tidak bersalah? Dimanakah Salander? Siapakah yang bertanggung jawab dengan semua pembunuhan itu dan mengapa mereka menginginkan Salander terlihat bersalah?

Buku kedua ini dimulai dengan kehidupan Salander setelah kasus di buku pertama selesai (tidak akan saya ceritakan lengkap, karena takutnya jadi spoiler untuk yang belum baca buku pertama). Salander dan Blomkvist menjalani kehidupannya masing-masing, walaupun Blomkvist masih belum mengerti kenapa tiba-tiba Salander menarik diri dan memutuskan semua komunikasi dengannya.
Di buku ini juga kita mulai menguak kehidupan Lisbeth Salander di masa lampau, mengapa steorotip tidak waras dibebankan kepadanya. Kemana orang tuanya. Apa yang terjadi dengan kembarannya. Yups, Lisbeth ternyata ada dua! Satu persatu misteri kehidupan Lisbeth terungkap, dimulai dari peristiwa yang dia sebut "Awal Segala Laknat" yang merupakan awal mula dari kehidupannya yang sekarang, dan ternyata berkaitan dengan seluruh peristiwa yang terjadi pada dirinya selama ini.
Misteri yang dibangun sangat baik, plot lambat namun tidak membosankan. Larsson dengan apiknya mengangkat salah satu topik yang hangat di Swedia yaitu perdagangan gadis di bawah umur, dan industri seks komersial. Yang uniknya, meskipun Lisbeth dan Mikael tetap menjadi tokoh utama, mereka tidak bekerja bersama-sama lagi dalam jarak dekat seperti buku utama. Mereka bahkan tidak saling bertatapan muka hingga halaman terakhir buku ini dibuka. Serius. Saya sampai gemas sendiri menunggu pertemuan mereka. Walau begitu, Larsson tetap sukses membangun chemistry antara dua tokoh utama ini walau mereka berdua hanya berhubungan lewat dunia maya.
Can I give this book 5 stars from 5? Satisfied a lot with this one, dan mudah-mudahan buku ketiganya bisa memenuhi ekspetasi saya setelah membaca buku kedua ini. :)

The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo by Stieg Larsson

Setelah hiatus dari buku yang cukup lama, buku pertama yang membekas di hati saya adalah buku pertama dari Millennium series karangan Stieg Larsson. Penasarannya sebenarnya sudah bercokol cukup lama, apalagi buku ini dinobatkan sebagai best crime novel oleh beberapa pihak. Millennium series ini sendiri terdiri dari tiga buah buku, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl who Played with Fire, dan The Girl who Kicked the Hornest' Nest. Tapi usut punya usut, Larsson awalnya merencanakan agar seri ini terdiri dari 10 buah buku, namun karena kematian penulis yang mendadak, hanya tiga buku yang dapat diselesaikan.

Buku ini dimulai dari seorang jurnalis bernama Mikael Blomkvist yang mendapatkan tuntutan hukum dari seorang pengusaha ternama Swedia karena dianggap telah menulis artikel yang berisi kebohongan dan telah mencemarkan nama baik si pengusaha. Akibatnya Mikael divonis penjara, dan memutuskan untuk mengundurkan diri dari pekerjaannya sebagai editor di majalah Millennium.

Selama masa istirahatnya, Mikael mendapatkan tawaran pekerjaan dari seorang pengusaha bernama Henry Vanger, pemilik dari Vanger Corporation, perusahaan terkemuka di Swedia. Henry Vanger bermaksud mengusut kasus hilangnya keponakan tersayangnya, Harriet, yang telah hilang selama lebih dari 40 tahun yang lalu. Awalnya Mikael menolak, namun karena cerita tentang keluarga Vanger sendiri ternyata menarik untuk dikuak, maka akhirnya Mikael memutuskan untuk tinggal dan membantu Henry untuk memecahkan kasus hilangnya Harriet.

Sementara dibuat terpukau oleh kisah Mikael dan Harriet, kita diperkenalkan dengan satu karakter bernama Lisbeth Salander. Lisbeth adalah seorang penyidik di satu perusahaan keamanan swasta, dengan track record kehidupan yang buruk. Dianggap berbahaya oleh masyarakat, Lisbeth yang awalnya diperkenalkan sebagai anak yaitm, harus hidup dibawah perwalian. Masalah mulai muncul ketika wali Lisbeth yang dapat dipercaya, Palmgren menderita stroke. Lisbeth dipindahkan ke wali yang baru, yang ternyata memiliki sifat abusif.

Lisbeth dan Mikael dipertemukan ketika Mikael mencari asisten riset untuk membantunya dalam kasus hilangnya/pembunuhan Harriet Vanger. Lisbeth yang biasanya bersifat protektif, di luar kebiasaan, menaruh kepercayaan pada Mikael. Mereka pun bersama-sama menyelidiki hilangnya Harriet, dan akhirnya menemukan rahasia-rahasia tergelap dari keluarga Vanger itu sendiri.

Saya adalah seorang fast reader. Biasanya satu buku diselesaikan SELALU dalam satu kali baca, nggak peduli betapa tebalnya buku itu. Saya bukan tipe orang yang biasa menandai novel dengan bookmark, menundanya selama semalam, mulai membaca lagi besok. Saya adalah pembaca yang ngotot, dimana ketika saya sudah membuka halaman pertama dari sebuah buku, saya akan terus-terusan membaca buku itu hingga selesai (dengan istirahat makan, mandi, dan shalat tentunya). Makanya apabila akan memulai membaca buku dengan halaman yang luar biasa banyaknya, biasanya saya memilih weekend, agar waktu saya tidak terpotong. Rekornya sih untuk buku The Pillars of the Earth, waktu mulai membaca adalah jam 9 malam, non-stop hingga selesai jam 12 siang keesokan harinya. :p

Tapi setelah umur bertambah, kewajiban bertambah, ternyata kebiasaan itu nggak bisa dipegang terus-terusan juga ya. Buku ini, dengan banggganya saya katakan, adalah rekor membaca terlama saya. 2 minggu lebih! Itu juga saya diam-diam membaca di sela-sela istirahat kantor, di mobil ketika kunjungan ke lapangan, 15 menit break ketika bosan di depan komputer. Selama 2 minggu, buku ini setia menemani saya kemanapun saya pergi.

Tapi hasilnya memang memuaskan. Plot yang lambat dan detail tidak membuat saya merasa bosan. Narasi yang cukup panjang tentang masing-masing tokoh, malah membuat penasaran terhadap masa depan tokoh tersebut. Karakter favorit? Lisbeth Salander tentunya. Wanita yang sering diremehkan sepanjang hidupnya ini ternyata salah satu hacker ternama di kalangan internasional, dengan otak yang cerdas dan ingatan fotografis. Almost perfect for a heroine, isn't it? Selain itu, masa lalu yang buram, masa depan yang nggak kalah amburadulnya saat Lisbeth terpaksa harus mengalami pelecehan seksual dari wali barunya membuat kita sebagai pembaca penasaran, what's next for her?

Tema yang diangkat oleh Larsson juga merupakan tema yang umum yaitu pelecehan terhadap kaum wanita. Larsson juga mengutip beberapa fakta tentang kekerasan terhadap wanita yang sering terjadi di Swedia. I read somewhere, kalo Larsson ini benar-benar niat melakukan riset dalam penulisan bukunya, sampai dia bergaul dengan kalangan neo-Nazi di Swedia!

Saya sudah selesai membaca buku keduanya sekarang, review menyusul segera. Dan nggak sabar untuk menunggu weekend besok untuk lanjut ke final installmentnya. Kapan giliran kamu? :) 

Omerta by Mario Puzo

Synopsis (from Goodreads)

Omerta introduces a new Mafia family worthy of the Corleones and the Clericuzios: the family of Don Raymonde Aprile. Their story begins in Sicily in 1967, when the dying Don Vincenzo Zeno—"the last of the true Mafia chiefs"—entrusts the young Raymonde Aprile with the task of raising his soon-to-be-orphaned two-year-old son, Astorre. Following this brief prologue, the novel moves forward nearly 30 years to the world of contemporary New York. Don Raymonde is now retired and has realized one of the great dreams of the career criminal: He has become legitimate. In the grand tradition of the American robber barons, he has extricated himself from all illegal activities, helped his children establish themselves in safe, prestigious professions, and become "a gentleman banker and pillar of society." Three years after his retirement, he is shot to death on the steps of St. Patrick's Cathedral by a pair of professional hit men.



Omerta is a kind of mafia story, well told by Mario Puzo, as his another novel, The Godfather. Both novels have interesting plot, and strong characteristic, although I like Michael Corleone way better than this Don Astorre. The story is started when Don Zeno, a great mafioso, is dying, and worrying about his only son's future. He decided to ask one of his three musketeers to look after his son, and raise him as good mafioso. 
Don Aprille, one who was chosen, took Astorre to America, introduced him as long cousin. Astorre is great singer, he loves riding horses, and Aprille gave him a macaroni factory to be taken care of. Astorre live wealthy, together with Aprille children, until he grows up, and Aprille start to take him to Sicilia, and tell him that he should start to learn to be a Mafioso.


And, when someone try to kill Aprille, and succeed, Astorre use his resources to find the killer, no matter what it takes. He has to face federal corruption, wild police, and he doesn't know who's really fair and honest, and who's trying to kill him. And, when he's finally find who must be responsible to Aprille's murder, he must struggle with revenge, mercy, and protection to Aprille's children.


Mafia's characteristic is extraordinarily contradiction. In one side, mafia is sadistic murder, no mercy, powerful businessman, and tough negotiator. But in another side, mafias often have good heart, limitless kindness to everyone, young, old, poor, and rich. I have to say,this is really a good book, although in my opinion. Puzo never had successfully pictured a mafia's behavior development as he wrote about Michael Corleone. But by reading this book, you'll be stunned by Sicillian Law, how mafias keep their promise to each other, and how they could do a sweet revenge when someone of them get hurt. Another good job, Mr. Puzo!

Misteri Rahasia Enam Wanita by S. Mara GD

As I ever mentioned before, Indonesian writers rarely meet my expectation. Well, never judge too high, but some of them are writing boring story with expected plot, some of them are using high language, and others make high-class literature that I don't even understand. Haha, look what I've said. It seems like I underestimate my own country, right? No, no, there are plenty talented Indonesian writers who still have place in my heart. One  of them is S Mara GD. I don't know if you know them, I mean, well I doubt if teenagers nowadays even have heard her name. But, mostly my generation, or older, must have known her as Indonesia's queen of crime. Agatha Christie from Indonesia. I knew her coincidentally from my mom's book collection.

I've just read her book, "Misteri Rahasia Enam Wanita". Not a recent one, but interesting.


Summary
Six women with their six secrets... which is connected like branches, twisted complicatedly and tightly, so it can be released free without scarifying one.

Marla is first woman, her secret begin this story. Then Fiona, Noni, Helen, Vidya, and Katherine, each other twist their own thread. They intentionally fall to irresponsible man, who found death after that.
Murder, revenge, rape, and violence color their life. Can Kosasih and Gozali analyze their secret one by one and found the suspect?


Another case of Kosasih and Gozali! I find this duo is so fascinating and breathtaking. Now, they meet complicated case with many pretty women inside! And, they all are suspected with murder case! Well, can Kosasih and Gozali reveal who's behind these murders?


Setting behind this case is a dating scams. It match makes one person to another, and every victims here are member of this club.  S Mara GD often inserts unique background in every stories, and here she tells about a dating club, where every people connected here have role in the murder. The owner, member, staff. Even when finally the murderer is revealed, you won't believe who she/he is.

Most interesting one is Dessy's stories. Some maybe assume Dessy as side story, but actually she is my favorite part. Dessy is Kosasih's daughter who falls in love with Gozali, Kosasih's partner. Gozali always refuse her, although he actually also in love with Dessy. His dark past restrict him. In this episode, we could see that Dessy is suffer from amnesia, and not able to remember her love story with Gozali. Mrs Kosasih, her mother, insist that she must get closer with Sam, a doctor who flatters to Dessy for a long time. So, will Dessy get her memory back, and remember her love to Gozali?


yeah, woman.. even when we read crime novel, we still love romance scene. :)

The Godfather by Mario Puzo

Summary
The Godfather is the story of organized crime in the 1940's which revolves around the Corleone family. Don Vito Corleone is the head of a New York Mafia "family". Problems arise when a gangster supported by another Mafia family, Solozzo, announces his intentions to start selling drugs all over New York. Don Vito hates the idea of drugs as he is quite happy with his hotel and gambling business. Don is shot by Solozzo's men. Solozzo then kidnaps one of Don's advisors, Tom Hagen and tries to make him force Don's eldest son, Sonny to agree to sell drugs, but the plan goes wrong when Sollozzo finds out that Don Corleone is still alive.

Holy moly! What could i say? I am so in love with Don Corleone!!!
It's awkward for me to read crime novel beside Agatha Christie's, i am not so into it. Even, if it tells about mafia life. Never imagine before, i will fall into its character.

Puzo simply tells about Don Corleone's life, with his complete family. First things I notice, that Puzo share the plots simply. Really simple. You wouldn't face complicated plot,with twisted characters and problems, or think hard to understand the stories, you'll be drowned by yourself. I am so interested with every rule in this mafia thing, how they keep friendship and brotherhood, and pay it with blood, if someone betray them. And Don himself, is generous man. He helps everyone, rich or poor, well-known or ordinary. He doesn't ask payment, only their friendship, and help if he needs it.

Well, in the middle of the book, you'll realize that center of main plot is Michael, Don's last son, his destiny and choice in life. From beginning, Michael reject to follow Family's business, refuse to be Don's employee. But, however Michael takes the plot, I am still in love with Don Corleone. This old man has a style. I know, it's so subjective, but beside Don, you'll find many interesting characters, with their own amazing life, and Puzo narrate them completely. But, once again, simply. Maybe, you, who used to read chick lit, or simple flick, will feel lazy, or boring to face this story, I guarantee you won't. It's beautiful story,told with Sicilian style, and has its special taste. It's how mafioso works! I can't wait to look for the movies! :)

PS. There are many memorable quotes in this precious book, and here is one that i love.
Don Corleone: "I'm a superstitious man, and if some unlucky accident should befall Michael - if he is to be shot in the head by a police officer, or be found hung dead in a jail cell... or if he should be struck by a bolt of lightning - then I'm going to blame some of the people in this room; and then I do not forgive. But with said, I pledge - on the souls of my grandchildren - that I will not be the one to break the peace that we have made today. "

PPS. I won't be tired to remind you, that you still have time to join my giveaway!