(REVIEW) Unaccustomed Earth

I always believe that finding a book is a complex destiny. 

That's why I prefer to drawn myself between the bunch of books in second-handed market than visit the 'mainstream' bookstore. I always take this as a spiritual activity. Searching some books between stalls with no classification, no fiction or non-fiction sign, no computer and its software to find books with keywords, no alphabetical arrangement, no clue. And yes, not all the sellers in second-handed market know what is exactly their products. So when I found a great book (-or some great books, if I'm lucky), it feels like finding a soul-mate. It's like finding someone that you really like between thousands if uncertainty. How amazing is that?

My favorite second-handed bookstore in Jakarta is Blok M Square's underground. It's in South Jakarta, an easy spot to find. I've been a regular visitor there for like 3 or 4 years. I make friends with some of the sellers there. Sometimes, when  friends from other city come to Jakarta for a visit, I take them to Blok M Square's underground, show them the books stalls like a proud mother. Hahahaha. Oh ya, they also had a mini coffee shop with a nice wooden furniture. Unfortunately the waiters always look like they're having a bad day (I'm wondering why, Mbak. Whyyyyyy?)

So, in many great books that I found there is this one.

ayyye the sexy back

Tittle        :  Unaccustomed Earth

Writer      :  Jhumpa Lahiri

Publisher  :  Random House India, 2009

Okay, some say that Jhumpa Lahiri is just another pop-novel writer, nothing special. Well, I find her special since "The Namesake". Her sentences are clear, she states her point strongly. Some say it's kind of boring  that she always writes things related to India, Indian migrant and family issues. But I always find a lot of surprises on her stories.

My obsession about Indian culture may be one of the reason why I love Lahiri's writings. The detail she puts in her stories about the culture blow my mind. This book begins with the stories about Ruma and her  Father who traveled around the world in his retirement days. One day her father came for a visit to Ruma's house. Something changed inside her father, Ruma just can't resist that feeling. He played with Ruma's son, something that he rarely did when back then he came with Ruma's mom when she's still alive. He did not complain about the food like usual, he made his own tea unlike usual and he started to planted seed happily with his grand-son.

Ruma started to speculate in her mind. Was the traveling so spiritual that her father had been enlightened? Or was it her mother's death that hit him so bad? Or was he trying to prove that he would not give her any trouble if he's staying in? Ruma's heart started to melt down. She encouraged herself and said to her father that he could stay in her house, with all the risks that her non-Indian husband would had objections.

But none of all those speculations was right. The fact was her father fell in love with a middle-aged Bengali woman he met during the traveling days.

All of the stories in this book are so simple. In the other side that's what makes them "real". There's no thrilling plot or something. It's just so soft and real. That's what I like the most from this book.

And this is my favorite story of all: "Hell Heaven"

It's about an Indian woman, staying in London with her husband who's a workaholic professor. One day, there's this young Bengali man came to her and called her "Boudi". Boudi is how the Bengali call their sister-in-low. This man was not practically her brother in law. But all the Bengali in foreign countries are family. And he was actually be the part of the family. He came to the house everyday and the woman cooked more then she usually did. She served him better then any guess who ever come to the house. The woman stated to fall in love, something that never happened between her and her husband. Her husband knew it. He knew the sparks coming out from her eyes every time that guy come for a dinner. He noticed that his wife was now smiling a lot. But he didn't get mad. He's kind of relieved that finally this woman found the happiness that he could never gave.

After lots of dinners and lunches, one day that guy came with a girl. A girl he's finally married with. A girl that finally he divorced after having twin babies.

The story ended with this scene: The woman's daughter named Usha came. Usha told her mother that her heart was terribly broken. Her mom told her a stories about that day when she spread the gasoline all over the house and ready to set the house and herself in fire. That day was the day that the guy he liked was getting married. Suddenly,  there was this neighbor shouting from her own window and tell her how beautiful the sunset was. She starred at the sunset. It was beautiful. After that she cleaned all the mess and cooked rice for her husband and Usha, as if nothing happened.

Okay, too many spoilers. But I just can't resist to tell you guys how emotional and great the book is. Yea, in some part it goes too dramatic like any other Bollywood things. But it's worth to read. 4 of 5 stars!

Tempat Teraneh untuk Patah Hati

"I'm at critical moment now.
I can't handle this.
I need someone to talk to.
Meet me at the Smutzcher Primate Center.
Please."

Tawa saya langsung meledak membaca pesan singkat itu. Sebuah respon yang kurang manusiawi. Tidak seharusnya saya menertawai pesan dari teman yang sedang dalam kesusahan itu. Dia sedang bermasalah dengan kehidupan asmaranya, sesuatu yang tidak bisa saya jelaskan dengan detil di sini. Kalau anda pikir ini adalah soal asmara remeh-temeh, soal putus dengan pacar atau sebagainya, anda salah. Dia adalah seorang laki-laki yang sudah menikah. Dengan kalimat tadi, saya rasa anda bisa merasakan komplikasinya.

Terkutuklah saya yang mentertawai kesulitan orang, terlebih kesulitan itu menyangkut kelangsungan hidup dua keluarga besar dan satu keluarga kecil. Namun, tidakkah Smutzcher Primate Center adalah sebuah tempat yang aneh untuk bercerita soal patah hati? Maksud saya, kenapa dia harus memilih tempat yang penuh dengan monyet-monyet bergelantungan untuk urusan seperti ini? Sudah terbakarkah semua kafe atau tempat nongkrong lain di Jakarta?

Seberapa anehpun itu, saya berangkat menemuinya. Saya memang bukan sahabat terbaiknya, bukan pula orang paling bijak yang dikenalnya. Tapi dia tidak punya pilihan lain. Katanya, dia bisa gila kalau memendam semuanya sendiri. Sahabat-sahabatnya, adalah laki-laki dengan 1 atau 2 anak yang sudah memiliki tanggung jawab dan kerepotan hidup masing-masing. Tidak ada waktu untuk curhat, bahkan waktu untuk diri sendiripun langka. Dia juga tidak mungkin curhat pada keluarganya sendiri, demi menjaga perasaan mereka.

Saya berangkat, dengan dua keberatan di benak yang tidak berhasil menahan saya. Pertama, saya bukanlah adalah perempuan yang bukan siapa-siapanya. Saya tidak layak mencampuri urusan keluarganya. Di mata masyarakat, sungguh tidak baik kalau saya terlihat mengobrol berdua dengan suami orang. Kedua, saya tidak punya saran yang baik soal cinta. Nasihat seperti apa yang dia harapkan dari seseorang yang tidak bisa sembuh dari luka masa lalu seperti saya?

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Dia memakai masker yang menutupi hidung dan mulutnya, juga sebuah topi yang dirapatkan dan menutup alisnya. Tidak akan ada yang mengenalinya. Tidak akan ada masalah yang muncul jika kamu duduk sejajar seperti layaknya teman. Saya sudah cukup terbiasa dengan polemik ini. Kata orang, tidak mungkin perempuan dan laki-laki itu saling bersahabat, pasti ada sesuatu yang lebih. Itu tidak terbukti pada saya. Saya punya banyak sahabat laki-laki. Satu di antara mereka sudah hampir delapan tahun jadi sahabat saya. Lalu percakapan itu kami mulai, seperti selayaknya sahabat.

"Gue nggak tahu kalo pernikahan bisa sesulit ini, Lung," kata sambil mencolak-colek layar ponselnya yang penuh dengan foto bayi mungil mereka yang baru berusia beberapa bulan. Bayi itu merubah segala cara pikirnya. Sebenarnya masalah yang dia hadapi cukup sepele. Hanya saja semuanya jadi sulit karena dia grogi dalam mengambil keputusan. Setiap keputusannya akan mempengaruhi bayi mungil dan lucu itu. Setiap tindakannya akan menentukan masa depan gadis kecilnya itu. Itu yang membuat segalanya lebih menegangkan.

"Santai aja. Ini wajar di awal-awal pernikahan. Kalian berdua itu orang yang puluhan tahun menjalani hidup masing-masing. Jadi butuh waktu untuk saling menyesuaikan ketika bersama," kataku sok bijak.

"I'm tired. Too bitter to taste."

"Hold on."

Lalu kami terdiam.

"It's a good sign, Bleh. Ketika pernikahan itu masih ada rasanya. Kalian masih bisa merasa pahit, merasakan manis. Itu tandanya hubungan kalian masih hidup, masih ada harapan untuk menjadi lebih baik. Lain halnya kalau lu udah mati rasa, udah nggak ngerasa apa-apa lagi. Semuanya datar. Rutin. Membosankan. Itu tanda sebuah hubungan yang sudah mati. That's what you should afraid of. Not this one and not now."

Entah dari mana saya dapat kata-kata itu. Entah apa yang membuat saya mengatakannya. Setelah makan es krim kami pulang.

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