Pakantji Oekoer

Book Reviews, Librarian Ways, Knowledge Sharing, & A Little Bit Cultural Trip.

[pakantjioekoer]

The Importance to Make A List

I know that all book worms really love to buy books. But, when I went to their Goodreads accounts, I found that they did not enjoy what they had read; this was shown by ratings that they had given. Did they really enjoy and love what they had read? I think, no.

So, right now, when I want to be a financial freedom woman, I have to figure out how to spend my money on books. Then, I found that making a book list is important, because I can release my energy to buy books, and moreover, I can love the books that I have bought, too.

I know that books are a good investment, but when you choose bad books, you also ruin your investment. Then, when I want to buy a book, I prefer to know the book that I really want to read, or if I do not know what kind of book that I want to read, I prefer to go to Goodreads, and browse high rated books that are similar with my interest.

Voila! I never feel regret after I buy some books, because the enjoyment that I feel after reading those books is very satisfying, and also save my money a lot.

So, have you made a book list for future buying?

[pakantjioekoer]

Origin and My Answers

Finally, in this January, I can finish the oh-so-promising-book from Dan Brown; that is Origin. I will present my review through questions that pop up in my head.

What feature does a new Dan Brown’s book impress me so much?

Well, I must say that I was so impressed by how Dan Brown offers current technology trend in his book. Let’s say about the technology of cloud, the artificial intelligence, and also the art to provide the technology itself. And, more importantly, in this book, Dan Brown does not only offers “the old art” like a painting from Leonardo Da Vinci, but also, the pop art from Andy Warhol which I find that it is more related with adults and teenagers nowadays.

Then, what feature does Origin annoy me so much?

The thing that annoys me so much in this new Dan Brown’s book is about the theory behind its book. Because, I know the theory 8 years ago, and I feel that the theory that Dan Brown has offered is so last year: “Oh My God, is there any theory that is newer than this?” It popped up in my head while I read the theory that lied the story. Maybe, I was so wrong, because when I wanted to know about new theories, I should read new scientific finding, not a fiction one. LOL.

So, what message do I love from the book?

The message that I love from the book is about how people have to behave with current technology. So, people have to insert humanity purpose in every technology trends that available for us nowadays. And, this is so true and makes me feel a compassion that resembles in my heart. To be honest, I argue that Origin is not the best book that Dan Brown had ever written, but the message that he offered from his book is so related with us today.

Do you still want other Dan Brown’s books in the future?

Yes, I do. Maybe some people say that they are really bored with the same twist in every Dan Brown’s books, but I do not mind, because I love a lot of details and information that Dan Brown had offered. In my opinion, Dan Brown’s books are not only rejuvenating my mind with the story, but also comforting my mind with new information which is very rich and needed by society.

Which location that I wish will be discovered in future Dan Brown’s books?

Middle East, maybe? or Asia? I am not sure, but I think it will be outside of USA or Europe. Haha.

Well, this is me doing an interview with myself. It is a new and fun approach that I will use in this year, and I wish you enjoy the review!

[pakantjioekoer]

Book Haul January 2018

Hola!

I have set a reading challenge for myself in 2018! I set 30 books that I will read in this year, and I am so exciting to start the journey. Moreover there are a bunch of wish list that I have considered for this year.

With 30 books that I have to read, I consider that I have to read 2 - 3 books a month. Wogh! It will be so interested with this challenge, especially when I have to pose myself between reading and daily activities in my office.

So, books that I have bough in January 2018 are:

Dan Brown - Origin (Finally, I bought this one, and I will review the book here!)

Jostein Gaarder - The Puppeteer (I was shock when I went to the bookstore, I found this one. Because I had no expectation that my favorite author would release his book in Indonesia!)

Sinta Ridwan - Perempuan Berkepang Kenangan (I monitored her short story in her personal blog, and I was so interested with her twist in each short story that she was written, so I decided to buy this one)

I wish that I can deliver my book reviews to you in February 2018.

Happy reading!

[pakantjioekoer]

My Journey in 2017

Hola!

I am not a very fast reader, indeed. But, I do make sure that I read high quality books. It sounds like an excuse, but actually, I am not into “trending books.”

This is my journey in 2017 based on My Goodreads Account.

It is such an enjoyable experience to join Goodreads, because it tracks your reading activity. Then, based on my reading activity in 2017, I can set more items in 2018 which is more challenging.

By the way, I still read one of Rudyard Kipling books entitled Just So Stories. I wish that I can read this book till end, so it will be my last book that I read in 2017.

I wish you enjoy your reading activity!

[pakantjioekoer]

A Little Princess: The Discourse of Princess by Francis Hodgson Burnett

A Little Princess is a book that written by Francis Hodgson Burnett. I have a kind interest to this book, because I fall in love to classics literature which I discovered when I had read Daddy Long Legs. Yeah, when you look at this book’s rates in Goodreads, you will discover that this book has a high score. Then, it means nice for me.

One thing that why I love this book is because Francis Hodgson Burnett offers the discourse of princess. The discourse of princess that the author offers is not only about a luxury, but also about a kind heart. This kind heart is shown by Sara Crewe who experiences up and down life changing which makes her to be a real princess.

I know that this book has a lovely ending, and everybody loves a lovely ending. But, most importantly, the book is not only about hero saves our lives, but how Sara Crewe lives her life to the fullest; that is to have a meaning in life.

Below is a quote that I love so much from A Little Princess:

Adversity tries people, and mine has tried you and proved how nice you are.

[pakantjioekoer]

The Discourse of Sultan Mehmet II

John Freely - an author of Sultan Mehmet II Sang Penakluk - had succesfuly described the discourse of Sultan Mehmet II. He is not only telling about the biography of Sultan Mehmet II, but also showing switching paradigm in understanding the Sultan.

From European perspective, John Freely described the Sultan as a real terror, not only for Europe but also for their religion. Conversely, from Turkey perspective, the Sultan is described as the real leader, so citizens labelled the Sultan as Al-Fatih (a conqueror).

But, is it right that the switching paradigm is something that John Freely want to show to readers? I am not sure at all. In my opinion, there is something more important than just describing hostility between these powers, that is to show what makes Europe and Turkey become nowadays, and its complexity to become one in European Union. And, it is reflected implicitly in John Freely’s writing.

[pakantjioekoer]

What I Get from Magic Library

Hola!

I know that some people say that reading fictions is wasting their times. This opinion can be true, if you read books that not written well, or poorly translated. I also hate those kind of books.

But, sometimes, fictions really benefit me to open or deepen my knowledge. For example, when I read Magic Library which is written by Jostein Gaarder & Kaus Hagerup, I can grab something that is very useful and practical, and here are those:

 The term of Incunabula

I never know previously that incunabula is the term for old fashioned book that written on leather by ancient people. Some places in the world, such as Indonesia, used daun lontar for writing the text (before paper technology introduced by Chinese). So, seeing this similarity, can I say that incunabula is ancient manuscript? Let me know this, please.

 The term of Dewey Decimal Classification System

I know, i know. It is also very old fashioned, because, this term had been introduced by Melvil Dewey in 1867, and I can see this implementation on my campus library, so it is nothing new. But, the classification system is very inspired me to organize my library and books. So, I wish I can organize my books into these classifications:

000 – General Works, Computer Science, & Information

100 – Philosophy & Psychology

200 – Religion

300 – Social Science

400 – Language

500 – Pure Science

600 – Technology

700 – Arts & Recreation

800 – Literature

900 – History & Geography

More importantly, I have an idea to implement this classification system above using Ms. Excel. I can imagine how cool my library will be if I use this classification system. Haha. I wish I have some energy to do this project in my own library.

I believe that fictions is not only about plot, but it is also about the strength of information that explored by the authors. Most importantly, it also can reflect the spirit of the authors.

[pakantjioekoer]

My Wish List #2

After reading Jean Webster’s books: Dear Daddy Long Legs & Dear Enemy, I am suddenly in love with classic literature, especially children literature. I really love to read stories that set in a plantation farm, old house, secret garden and big woods. Those settings pamper my imagination and relax my anxiety.

So here is my wish list #2:

The Secret Garden - Frances Hodgson Burnett

The Little House Collection - Laura Ingalls Wilder

When I read this kind of books, I suddenly can smell a fresh air outside the door.

[pakantjioekoer]

Representing A Real Muslim: Ayat-ayat Cinta 2 Review!

Habbiburahman El Shirazy had a great effort to write this kind of this book. I argue he had to do huge observation, research, and analysis in writing his book entitled Ayat-ayat Cinta 2. As you can see from the title, this book is a sequel of Ayat-ayat Cinta 1 which I think that the second book is more mature and related with what muslim communities face nowadays.

I know that nowadays muslim communities are stigmatized as terrorists, because so many media exposures tell that bomb accidents are produced by some people who names themselves as muslim communities. But, when I read the story of Fahri in Ayat-ayat Cinta 2, I know that what media says about muslim communities is not true. Because, muslim communities must help people who need a help, whether he/she has the same religion with muslim communities or not.  And, this behaviour is represented by Fahri to his Jew and Christian friends.

Maybe some people tell that the character of Fahri is too perfect. But, I do believe that Kang Abik (a nick name of Habbiburahman El Shirazy) tried to do dakwah (telling the good of Islam) to everyone, so he represented the figure of Fahri as a muslim who does and behaves as good as what a muslim has to do, as Al-Qur’an and As Sunnah.

Most importantly, Kang Abik also crafted a figure of Fahri as not only as a good muslim, but also as a credible academician and a successful businessman. Mentioning this kind of character of Fahri, I suddenly remember the history of Islamic golden age, when muslim communities had prestige place as leading academicians in the world, and also remember of the figure of Muhammad, Peace Be Upon Him, who previously had a role as a successful businessman.

My main concern of the book is that Kang Abik had been successful to formulate what he observed and researched to be a book that is very maeaningful for muslim communities and global people to understand about the real muslim.

In brief, I argue that some people who did terror action and named themselves as muslim communities are not a muslim, because their behaviour is very far from behaviours of real muslims.

[pakantjioekoer]

My Wish List #1

Hola!

When I buy some new books, I always avoid buying without wish list. Why do I do this kind of behavior? Because books that create a halo effect for me will become pending read list. Moreover, the possibility is I may not touch, or read one chapter from those books. O, such a waste!

So, I always make an effort to write some wish list when I want to buy new books, and I will share you books that I really want to buy soon, if my financial allocation is possible. Aha!

Below are my wish list:

Origin - Dan Brown

Just Patty - Jean Webster

When Patty Went to College - Jean Webster

Rentang Kisah - Gita Savitri Devi

Beside my wish list above, I also have an interest to explore books about Sultan Mamluk. But, I have to do a research which kind of book that represents the history of the sultan at its best. Do you have some recommendation? Please share the titles to me.

Making a wish list will save your time and money. So, it is better for you to have a wish list when you go to bookstores.

Have a nice making a wish list!

[pakantjioekoer]

Jean Webster’s Book Review: Women Live in Her Own Dreams

Jean Webster had written about the story of woman who grew up, until the woman could actualize herself in her beloved field. In another sequel, Jean Webster still focus on the theme of women’s suffrage, but she played with this theme in another way; that is through Sallie McBride’s perspective, not through Judy Abott’s perspective again.

And who is Sallie? Sallie is Judy Abott’s friend, a main figure in Daddy Long Legs (1912). But, the story of Sallie is perfectly written in Dear Enemy (1915); it is a sequel of Daddy Long Legs.  

I bought Dear Enemy book from one of Indonesian online shops, but when I received the book, I was afraid that the translation of this book was poor, because I was doubt with the cover of this book. It was like an unreliable teen literature ( I was so sorry). But, when I read the book, I could forget what had disturbed me previously, and I could enjoy the book afterwards. Because, the translation was good enough I though.

The story of this book allows me to experience Sallie McBride’s perspective. The main figure has different character from Judy Abott; the way Sallie behaves is more concrete than what Judy Abott had done.

Using previous writing style, Jean Webster placed Sallie as a superintendent of John Grier orphanage who writes letters to various receivers, including Judy Abott. Through her role as a superintendent, Sallie McBride reorganizes this orphanage into more friendly for orphans, and her action is not always supported by her colleagues, but she cannot give up for what she believes; that is to organize the orphanage into more humanly place.

Despite she revolves the orphanage into better institution, she also feels her own self change, from a socialite woman into a real superintendent of orphanage. The life change is because she can find a value which is more meaningful than her previous life. And, most importantly, Sallie McBride can discover the importance of women to live and to believe in her own dreams.

The values that I can take from the book are:

Women can have a profession which benefits society.

Women can choose her alternative life, beside of what common society rules.

Women still need a partner to live in her own dreams which vibrate with his dream. ;)

I cannot tell other figures in this book, because I am afraid that I can spoil the story of Judy Abbott in Daddy Long Legs novel. Haha.  

Have a nice reading!

[pakantjioekoer]

Circus Maximus from Belitong by Andrea Hirata

When I read a book, I do not only read its stories, but also the information that mentioned in the book. I have this behavior because I believe that information will guide me to another information that is deeper and insightful.

And this happens in me when I read the book written by Andrea Hirata, one of leading author in Indonesia, who previously published his books in various languages. I know that so many reviewers always concern about plots, settings, main figures, or unlinear facts that lied on the books. But, I do not only care about those things, because fiction books are always fictive, so why those kinds of reviewers must concern about facts in fiction books? They need to read an encyclopedia book, not a fiction.

So, I prefer to direct myself to understand reflective things that reflected by authors in her/his books. And while uncovering the book entitled Sirkus Pohon, written by Hirata, I see various information that blended in such a harmonious way. Below are the information that I find and try to uncover.

Andrea Hirata uses words as a game, as a joyful living thing in the book, and as a root of his native place. So, when I see his words as an uneffective work of an author, I am sure that I was wrong indeed. Because his so-many-acjective-words that written on his book is a way for him to actualize his native culture, such as pantun, syair, and sajak (I do not know whether it is true or not, but I have an insting that it is true, haha). Moreover, one of main figures perform this ability to use words as a game in the story.

Then, I see a beautiful gathering in his book because of globalization process (hmm, am I a sociologist?). It is strongly shown by the performance of circus that popularize in the heart of Belitong people.  How can such a popular performance that previously appeared in the heart of Western country become something that is very joyful for Belitong people? I do believe that something called as a hybridization had happened in the story.

My arguments above become my consideration to analyze why Andrea Hirata has won many international awards. It is because he has a pure ability to perform his native potential to be something more that can be accepted and felt by various people, even though by readers that placed outside of Indonesia. So, readers that placed outside of Indonesia can feel how Indonesia is and also can feel a relation between her/him and Andrea Hirata’s books.  

In my point of view with always has a bias, he has not to be an author who writes about something lied outside of his imagination, beliefs, culture, etc. He just has to be his self, as a Belitong-er. I suddenly remember about Jostein Gaarder who frequently mentions his country in his various books.

[pakantjioekoer]

Newspeak - New Way to Use the Language by George Orwell

In 1945, George Orwell had succesfully written about the power theory on his book, Animal Farm. Continuing his previous successful work, George Orwell wrote a similar spirit in his 1949 published book which entitled 1984 (Nineteen Eighty Four). This 1984 mainly shows a dystopian world that frightened people in the story, so through this book, I can really feel the darkness of the story. George Orwell is always succesful in frightening readers, indeed!  

The main idea of this book is about a ruling government which controls individuals’ behavior, emotion, and mind. So, every body who has different act, emotion, and thinking will be concentrated in Kementerian Cinta Kasih (Ministry of Love).

The power of ruling government is also shown by Newspeak’s existence. Newspeak is the way of ruling government controls and constructs the use of language, so people cannot speak or write something which has different messages from what actually ruling government directs. Can you imagine yourself living a life like that?

Through this book, I wonder if every body loses her/his freedom in realities, life can be so meaningless, because people cannot explore and expand their human potentiality! What kind of life it will be? Maybe, life will be like a body without a soul, I argue.

Moreover, in this book, readers also can feel world history that had happened which was reflected by the author, such as about totalitarian government and ‘the world is flat’ history, and George Orwell maintained those histories into a precise linkage. If you are curious about the story and the histories behind the story, do not forget visit your near bookstore in this weekend to by 1984.

Please visit my Goodreads account and Youtube channel to know my rating of this book or to see my audio review.

[pakantjioekoer]

The Importance of Being Educated by Jean Webster

I found a piece of work behind the book in the bookstore that I periodically visit. That piece of work engaged my unconsciousness and moved my hand to grab the book. Would you want to know that kind of work? Here is the piece of work that I told you:

I suppose I might call you Dear Mr. Girl-Hater. Only that's rather insulting to me.  Or Dear Mr. Rich-Man, but that's insulting to you, as though money were the only important thing about you. Besides, being rich is such a very external quality. Maybe you won't stay rich all your life; lots of very clever men get smashed up in Wall Street.  But at least you will stay tall all your life! So I've decided to call you Dear Daddy-Long-Legs. I hope you won't mind. It's just a private pet name we won't tell Mrs. Lippett.

When I read that piece of the work, I knew that I can enjoy this book so much, because it may contain deep description about being a girl or a woman and also becoming a human being who does not only see the material things in life. However, my assumption is imperfectly accurate; but at least, it represents what have been told on the book.

Daddy Long Legs, the book that I have described above, was written by Jean Webster. This book had been adopted into various movies, and had been something so popular in long times. 

However, those movies tend to exposure the romance schemes in this book, and tend to ignore the strong messages that represented by Jerusha “Juddy” Abbot. Those messages are mostly about gender equality, education, social classes, and diversity which have been derived from the observations of Jean Webster in the time when she lived.

In details, the book strongly advocates the urge of woman’s education as well as access to education itself, and this message is still suitable with what our people face nowadays, that is limited access for being educated, whether it is because of lack of funding or lack of information. How can the message on the book that had been published for so long are still related with the condition that we face nowadays? 105 years had passed away.

Beside of the importance of woman’s education that advocated on the book, this book also shows the universal message for everyone; that is the goal of being educated. The goal is not only to have a future profession in life, but also to have a meaning in whatever profession that we choose in life. 

Well, now I know what is in Jean Webster’s mind when writing a character which is going to be an author like her profession; that is the professions are not only for material gaining, but also for being a better human. It can be shown by another Jean Webster’s activities as social activist, and also the character that she wrote, who strongly shows the message above.

I've discovered the true secret of happiness, Daddy, and that is to live in the now. Not to be forever regretting the past, or anticipating the future; but to get the most that you can out of this very instant. It's like farming.  You can have extensive farming and intensive farming; well, I am going to have intensive living after this. I'm going to enjoy every second, and I'm going to KNOW I'm enjoying it while I'm enjoying it.  Most people don't live; they just race. They are trying to reach some goal far away on the horizon, and in the heat of the going they get so breathless and panting that they lose all sight of the beautiful, tranquil country they are passing through; and then the first thing they know, they are old and worn out, and it doesn't make any difference whether they've reached the goal or not. I've decided to sit down by the way and pile up a lot of little happinesses

 Have your profession helped you to reach your highest potency to become a better human being? I am also wondering about my profession.

[pakantjioekoer]

Animalism, An Analogy of Human’s Greed by George Orwell

Animal Farm is one of dystopian books that written by George Orwell. This book tells about betrayal in animalism which is an analogy for humanism.  After my experiment with this book, I am pretty sure that I really want to read other George Orwell’s books, and also put Noam Chomsky’s books in my wish list (Ehm, by the way, Noam Chomsky had been influenced by George Orwell’s works).

The story tells about Napoleon and Snowball who are successors of their elder, Mayor, who has a dream about animal equality, animal sovereignity, and animal independence. This dream has a purpose to improve animal’s welfare through controlling and managing their resources for themselves, not for human’s greed. So, for achieving that dream, they do systematic action for reducing human control in their farm.

Unfortunately, this long mission is not on the right track afterwards, especially, when one of successors follows his greed and has a plan to control all over the farm for his limited community only, not for all animals. And the story which show human’s greed is explained precisely here.

Yes. Animal Farm is a successful analogy for telling human greed over power and control. The story has a deep meaning on telling how many people that have to do hard work exploitatively  for fulfilling limited and exclusive community who control them. It is all about exploitation towards someone’s loyalty and vulnerability.

After I read this book, I remember the story of human exploitation in coffee plantation that I had written on this link. It is so awful when many people have been exploited for fulfilling other human’s greed, and moreover, they have no power or control for confronting this unjust system, so they have no chance to change their destiny if they are still in this condition.

Do you think that this unjust system still exists?

Let me now!

[pakantjioekoer]

The Biography of The Prophet  Muhammad by Martin Lings

To celebrating the month of Ramadhan which waited by the Muslim community in every year, The Web of Universe (TWO) wants to share the greatness of The Prophet of Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) through a book that tells about his biography.

Martin Lings, who converted his name into Abu Bakr Siraj Al-Din, had written a biography of The Prophet Muhammad based on earliest sources, which commonly produced in between 8th and 9th century. The book entitled “Muhammad: His Life Based on Earliest Source,” and translated into Bahasa: “Muhammad: Kisah Hidup Nabi Berdasarkan Sumber Klasik.” This book achieved an award winning in 1983 for The Best Biography of The Prophet  Muhammad in English from National Seerat Conference, in Islamabad, and have been translated into various languages. (Oh of course! So, TWO can get the Bahasa version!)

The book started from the story of Ibrahim and ended by the story of The Prophet of Muhammad’s death. In between of the starting and the ending, the book written by a Ph.D graduated from School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS) also tells about the signs of Muhammad’s prophecy that seen and known by many people in that era, and his life after receiving his prophecy. More importantly from this book is when The Prophet Muhammad forecasted the situations of future generations after his death which can be the messages of him for entire universe and people.

Moreover, the book also shows The Prophet’s mind and behavior that must be followed by Muslim communities, especially his ways of life in society which were very far from major medias’ label to Muslim communities nowadays (as radicals, terrorized, etc). The Prophet’s ways of life are rooted on his beliefs of Allah, peace, justice, and kindness.  How can with that great figure of prophecy, people can be rude, unjust, or spreading terror or hate speech?

Arguably, people who do kindness, follow Islamic path, spread justice and peace are the true followers of The Prophet Muhammad, and others who do not do that, even though claim themselves as the followers of The Prophet, their Islam is very doubtful.  

Here are references that cited in this book.

Through this book, TWO wants to tell Marhaban Ya Ramadhan. Let peace be in the world and here after. 

[pakantjioekoer]

Taken from “The Great Bait Al-Hikmah: Kontribusi Islam dalam Peradaban Barat”, an Indonesian version of “House of Wisdom: How The Arabs transforms Western Civilization”, written by Jonathan Lyons

This book describe about the era of Abbasiyah and Umayyah Caliphate, especially describe about the muslim scholars who invented and discovered various disciplines, long time before the rennaissance era in the Western happened.

Inspired by Greek & Hindu tradition and religious belief, the muslim scholars developed and revised the old perspectives into more practical and understandable, such as the invention of zero number, hospital, and Astrolabe application which these inventions influenced the work of Western scholars in the medieval era.

Throughout this book, it can be concluded that science has no single history. While people acknowledge that the beginning of science invention is in the rennaissance era, the history shows that the science movement starts earlier.

The book also shows how one culture absorbs the science from another culture, and the absorption becomes new cultures for its civilization.

So, pointing those arguments above, why do we not try to learn something from other cultures?