Book Reading Project

Book Reading Project

Last week, I had this book hunting with Noe. After reading books from Andrea Hirata, I started to look for some other great books. Noe and I got addicted. As usual, the search was conducted in one of the biggest book store in Bandung. But since we planned to buy not just one book and financial was a bit of a problem, we decided to buy those books elsewhere in the place where we can get big discount.

So on 25th of December, we went to the famous book spot in Bandung where we can get big discount. The books we bought, 40 Days in Europe, The Kite Runner, Laut dan Kupu-Kupu the last one is Dong mu. Each of us bought two books and the we would exchange them once we finished reading them.

But before that I read Princess. The book was a gift from my students, Yusuf, for my birthday.

When I read Princess, I was so amazed not by the act of the men but by the amount of wealth they have. Wow! Their wealth is so unspeakable. My mind wonders straightly to school. If I were entrusted with that amount of money, I was thinking about tons of books, traveling and school.

There I also could find out the condition of our workers. Although not all our workers were “blessed” with cruel master but being blue collar worker there, especially for female is not so easy. I mean I have seen and heard the workers who came back not in complete piece. Some of them even have to lose their lives.

I have no comment concerning the tradition, men, and the life of their females. Well … just read the book then you’ll know.

Then I read Dong mu. I like the book. Finally I could find superheroes from Indonesia. I love by the way, Mang Jamal, the writer took me for a traveling through his book. And we were introduced with the nuclear issue. Jamal reminded me of Isabel Allende. She also loves to take her reader to travel through her stories. I got many knowledge from this book. Great! It’s going to be a project for my students.

40 Days in Europe, the story about Angklung performer group from Bandung, made me even more believe that dreams do come true if you seek for them seriously and earnestly. I mean they dared to set their feet in Europe only with believe that they could pull through till the end. Some of the hard moments they had were contributed by our own people, their brothers. From the cancel of the main sponsor a week before the departure till the irresponsible people who took their food. Inspiring just like books from Andrea Hirata.

Note: while people in Indonesia are busy with the stealing of our heritage, they had already amazed the people in Europe with their skill in playing Angklung. They didn’t just talk but they did act!

About The Kite Runner, well, this book made me shed the tears in public car. I couldn’t help it. I mean I am not talking about the pain of war, but the pain of family betrayal. The main character lived in full lies through out his life until some one revealed them to him which shocked him terribly. I was a bit confused though. I have read about Taliban from the English journalist. And when I read again about Taliban from this book, the fact is somewhat different. I couldn’t decide which one is right because I wasn’t there to witness.

Khalid Hoseini also wrote had other great book. The title is A Thousand Splendid Suns. The setting is still in Afganistan. I am curious to find out this latest book. Will he be like Isabel Allende in writing his story? Will I be able to find the pattern of his story? I couldn’t wait to read the book.

The last one Laut dan Kupu – kupu is a collection of South Korean short stories. It’s a literature. I could understand some of them and the others I have no idea. I mean my knowledge about literature is not that brilliant. I can’t guess the meaning behind all those symbols. I can only read “The what you see is what you get” type of novel.

So, if you plan to buy some books, maybe those titles can be put in your consideration. Have fun reading! ~^^/