Aleph (A Review)

Disclaimer: Not a thorough review—though I may have to raise a spoiler alert—it is mostly personal notes to self. 

Aleph. I was thinking that it might be some spiritual term or experience, like Zahir. And I was right, it is.

Again, not too differ from Zahir or Pilgrimage, this book is about author’s journey to find elightment. Or in his word “to be the king of his own kingdom again” as he got succumbed into daily routines and failed to feel inspired again. He finally let go and accepted all invitations across the world to meet his readers.

The aleph was found in the Siberian Trans, train that go across Russia for 9000-something miles. He experienced it with a girl he met who is apparently was a girl he once involved with in previous life.

Now, I have read almost all Coelho’s epic novels (with only exception of Brida and Valkyries) but I must have slipped a fact that the author had already knew that he’s bound to meet eight girls from his previous incarnation. Well, he states that in this book.

I would rephrase Aleph (generated from the first letter, as Alpha or Alif in Arabic, perhaps) as a place or spot where one could experience a spiritual awakening, given it’s the past experience or just merely an evocation of memory or inspiration. But, this could be partly incorrect or totally dissatisfying explanation.

Moving on. The peace he had made with his past and the girl, the forgiveness they had accomplished set him free from his current burden in life and he found his “kingdom of life” once again.

I must admit, that my adoration of Coelho was dissipating since—I’d say—The Witch of Portobello. His books up from that one was somewhat confusing and hard to absorb for me. I still found his words and spiritual beliefs were great in those books; but the stories he told didn’t inspired me the way Alchemist, The Devil and Miss Prym, and Fifth Mountain did.

Basically, him telling his own spiritual journey doesn’t move me. Especially in this latest book, the sexual contents disturbed me a bit. I mean, knowing that the author has a loving wife and all. It just got too personal and didn’t hit me in the place it should. I just want to skip the pages ahead to the end.

Well, it’s not a pleasant review, yes? I know. It hurts me also to come out and reveal this.

I think, I will wrap it up by letting you know, that Coelho is still a great mind. I still admire his words of wisdom. I still own several of his previous books, which some I’ve mentioned here, and they’re remain masterpieces in my collection.

What Books Affect You the Most

The other day, I read about this subject on my timeline, tweeted by a dear friend. It was already so late, I didn’t respond anything, but it got me thinking and inspired to write about it.

When someone asks what my favorite books or authors are, I usually state Agatha Christie’s and Paulo Coelho’s. They wrote many books, I’ve read most and adore them. I always remember the excitement I felt from the moment I went to the bookstore, held the book, made the purchase, and got home to read it.

Of course, many other books gave me the same excitement too. ‘Harry Potter’, of course. ‘To Kill a Mocking Bird’, definitely. Mitch Albom’s books. In fact, there’re too many to name, it would no longer suitable to be called “the most”.

And then, I remember these books I read when I was not even ten years old yet. It was the Malory Towers book series by Enid Blyton. They were amazing. The story is about a fictional girl’s boarding school for the age of 12-18 (give or take). The main character is Darrell Rivers. She and her girlfriends are the best of characters. I learned about friendship, hard work, honesty, sacrifice, creativity, all from that book series, for the first time in my childhood life. Although now I don’t remember the stories anymore, but I still remember the way I feel when I was reading them. Amazed, happy, excited, furious, touched. Such a leisure. 

If I’m not mistaken, the price of Malory Towers series was around IDR 3,600 (Indonesian rupiah). I scrimped and saved out of my IDR 300/day allowance to buy them. It was the first book that encouraged me to save money. And that’s what I did subsequently, save some of my allowance to buy books. After Malory Towers, there were ‘The Three Investigators’ by Alfred Hitchcock (also a huge fan), ‘Five Find-Outers Mistery series’ (also by Enid Blyton) and so forth.

Other memorable books have given me knowledge, enlightenment and prudence so many times in so many ways. But it was Malory Towers that nurtured my passion for reading and writing in the first place. So, I’m gonna say that Malory Towers book set is the books that influence me the most. Malory Towers affected my life.

What’s yours?

Kesejatian

Baru separo jalan baca buku baru-nya Paulo Coelho, the Zahir. Seperti biasa, sejak awal paragraf, sudah terlihat kata-kata yang mendalam dan mengandung (bukan cuma satu) makna.

Dan diantara pesan-pesan terselubung dalam buku itu, ada satu pembahasan yang membuatku berpikir tentang apa yang sering aku rasakan sendiri. I never really know what about or why I had thought what I’ve always think.. Tapi dari sisi Coelho, dia menyimbolkannya sebagai pertanyaan tentang kesejatian dan kebenaran. Bahwa bila saatnya tiba pada sesuatu yang sejati, itu adalah saat kita ‘kosong’..bahkan bisa dibilang gila atau dalam trance. Bukan dengan berkutat dalam pikiran kita tentang menemukan solusi..mencari kebenaran..memperbaiki keadaan. Sesuatu yang hakiki kita temukan saat kita bahkan tak punya lagi perasaan kehilangan, perasaan bertanya, ingin tahu… Saat semua terjungkirbalikkan dari kebenaran dan kenyamanan yang kita pikir kita punyai sebelumnya, tanpa merasakan kesakitan maupun kehilangan, namun malah mendapat kedamaian dan ‘keheningan’ yang kita cari.

Dalam kasusku..dan mungkin juga dialami oleh insan-insan pencinta lainnya (terutama wanita, agaknya)..adalah pertanyaan dan pencarian untuk cinta sejati. Entah mereka sedang mulai pacaran, sudah pacaran bertahun-tahun, bahkan yang sedang mempersiapkan pernikahan..tampaknya pertanyaan ini tak terelakkan. Seperti aku yang selalu bertanya-tanya; apakah yang aku jalani ini berlandaskan sesuatu yang benar dan baik, dan akankah ini membimbingku ke arah yang baik seperti impianku? Belum lagi segala tetek bengek idealisme, nilai dan etika, serta tata cara bercinta menurut sisi psikologis, psikiatris, sosial, agama, bahkan hukum dan ekonomi… Semua aturan dan batasan, beserta analisis sebab-akibat yang dibangun oleh masyarakat kita itu, kadang membuat kita terpaku pada proses dan tujuan, dan menilai semua yang ‘berbeda’ sebagai penyimpangan dan kesalahan yang dapat berakibat ketidakbahagiaan. Untuk kasus ekstrem, hal ini memang benar. Bagaimanapun, kita berhubungan dengan manusia lain..dan itu ada etikanya..

Tapi, seringkali, kita juga terperangkap dan tergoda untuk mempertanyakan penyimpangan-penyimpangan kecil yang kita alami, yang sebenarnya mungkin tidak berarti dan tidak berefek apapun. Tapi membuat kita terbelenggu dan tidak bebas mencintai. Dalam mana kita tidak akan menemukan cinta sejati..

Pesan ini terbaca olehku dalam kehidupan ekstrem yang dikisahkan oleh Coelho ini. I’m not fully agree with that..different culture and all.. But I got the message.

Maybe, instead of wondering and questioning..we should embrace all aspects in our love, whatever we feel about them. And when you can finally realize the good things it brings into your relationship, and how well you deal with your dislikes without compromising your true feeling about your significant other..and eventually you grow greater in love and loving..maybe that’s it. The end of your search. And the beginning of eternal unquestioned happiness.

Baik dan Jahat

It’s an old saying, general fact; Baik dan Jahat, hitam dan putih. Walopun aku selalu bilang kalo manusia itu berwarna-warni, ga cuma hitam dan putih..ga cm baik atau jahat.. Manusia itu punya hati dan kepribadian yang multi-dimensi (terbukti kan, bnyk yang berkepribadian ganda)..we cannot easily judge someone is good or bad. There’re always other sides in every personality. I always think that this thought is a good way to help us forgive others. Ya kan.. Tiap orang yang melakukan kesalahan, pasti punya satu atau banyak alasan yang melatarbelakangi tindakannya. (Tapi aku belum bisa memaafkan pelaku Bom Bali II)

Dua kutub ini yang jadi inti permasalahan dalam bukunya Paulo Coelho “The Devil and Miss Prym”. Awal baca, krasa fiksi skali, karena the devil termanifestasikan banget. Tapi lama2, plot dan latar belakang para tokoh mulai jelas. Terbukti kalo manusia emang warna-warni, dan pergulatan antara baik dan jahat dalam diri manusia terjadi setiap saat, dan menemani setiap kita tidur.

Touching book..lots of wisdom, and beautiful quotes.