Finally, a new book by Ayu Utami is out. As a fan of her previous works (Saman & Larung). I couldn’t be any more excited than this. I bought the book “Bilangan Fu” in Toga Mas and finished it in less than one day. Surely it was engaging but reading “Bilangan Fu ” is more like reading Dewi “Dee” Lestari than reading Ayu Utami. I guess, “Bilangan Fu” is a bit more “pop” than Saman or Larung and it concentrate more on youthful self-fulfilling ambitions and surely the characters are lack of maturity and wisdom. Not only that, Ayu Utami put less politics and more spiritualism in this book. Another hint is, the book criticize propaganda monotheism and give support to Eastern beliefs. No wonder it sounds like Akar by Dewi Lestari. One thing that bother me, the character parang jati doesn’t sound at all like a person teknik geologi ITB =P I have to admit, he doesn’t even sound or act like an ITB students at all!!
Well the point is, I like Saman & Larung much better than this new book. Saman is so much thinner but for me it contains a world many times bigger than the one contained in Bilangan Fu. Bilangan Fu felt too weak, in characterization, writing style and editorial. I have to admit, I was left a bit dissapointed because I didn’t find the words shining like what I found in Ayu Utami’s previous book. However, still worth reading..
Being clear and transparent, I allow the shine to come through and you might be able to see a reflection of yourself on me. As much as I love Indonesia, my true nation is this world, because honesty & kindness know no boundary.
