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sherlys's review against another edition
5.0
People from Bloomington was written in 1970s in Indonesian entitled “Orang-orang Bloomington” by Budi Darma. He is a senior yet important writer up until today. His writing style is uniquely his, I only read three of his books so far and I still want to read more of his books.
People from Bloomington is a short stories compilation, they are 7 of them. The titles of the short stories are the names of the characters. They are all set in Bloomington, Indiana and the stories were written when the author studied and lived there in the 70s. The stories were written in first POV, with the character “I” that maybe many of you will find it quite strange. As an Indonesian, I think character “I” is what I say typical neighbor in Indonesia, but since the stories are set in the US it’s interesting to put this character there. The writer did not identify the character “I” clearly but I think this person personalities are odd and I feel that “I” is an outsider, character “I” is wild. I is sometimes I feel is our dark ego.
In this book you will meet “the old man with no name” who is an army veteran who lived in your neighbour’s attic, “Joshua Karabish” your ex-roommate with a strange disease who liked writing poetry, “The Family M” is a family who lived in the same apartment with you who you hated the most coz you though their children prank your car, “Orez” is about your beloved son who drives you and your partner crazy, “Yorrick” is your charming roommate who stole your love, “Mrs Elberhart” is about your old neighbor who lives on her own, who you secretly look after but she is a difficult person to be approached, and last but not least “Charles Lebourne” who you believed is your long lost father. Every story will make you face an uncomfortable feeling and that what makes this book so special.
People from Bloomington is a short stories compilation, they are 7 of them. The titles of the short stories are the names of the characters. They are all set in Bloomington, Indiana and the stories were written when the author studied and lived there in the 70s. The stories were written in first POV, with the character “I” that maybe many of you will find it quite strange. As an Indonesian, I think character “I” is what I say typical neighbor in Indonesia, but since the stories are set in the US it’s interesting to put this character there. The writer did not identify the character “I” clearly but I think this person personalities are odd and I feel that “I” is an outsider, character “I” is wild. I is sometimes I feel is our dark ego.
In this book you will meet “the old man with no name” who is an army veteran who lived in your neighbour’s attic, “Joshua Karabish” your ex-roommate with a strange disease who liked writing poetry, “The Family M” is a family who lived in the same apartment with you who you hated the most coz you though their children prank your car, “Orez” is about your beloved son who drives you and your partner crazy, “Yorrick” is your charming roommate who stole your love, “Mrs Elberhart” is about your old neighbor who lives on her own, who you secretly look after but she is a difficult person to be approached, and last but not least “Charles Lebourne” who you believed is your long lost father. Every story will make you face an uncomfortable feeling and that what makes this book so special.
novaturientexplorer's review against another edition
4.0
Kafkaesque, sadistic with no actual violence and nauseatingly claustrophobic to read in the most interesting way possible. Reading The foreword by Intan Paramidhitha (another fav author) and the translators note has added deeply into my reading of this book.
yuusasih's review
5.0
"Coba baca Budi Darma, kamu pasti suka," adalah pesan yang beberapa kali saya dengar dari teman-teman penulis yang dulu sempat membaca karya saya. Sejak saat itu, saya semacam terobsesi untuk mencari karya Budi Darma, terutama Olenka yang sudah termasuk langka. Saya belum bisa mendapatkan Olenka sampai detik ini, tapi karya-karya Budi Darma beberapa diterbitkan ulang oleh Noura. Akhirnya tahun ini saya berhasil membaca salah satunya.
Prediksi teman-teman saya tidak salah. Cerpen-cerpen Budi Darma dalam kumpulan cerpen ini.... luar biasa. Dari semua sastrawan Indonesia yang saya baca, baru Budi Darma yang menurut saya mampu menangkap dengan presisi pergolakan kejiwaan manusia. Tokoh-tokoh dalam cerpen Budi Darma ini mengeksplorasi istilah "common evil", yaitu sikap-sikap tidak terpuji--bukan jahat--yang dapat dilakukan oleh manusia biasa di sekitar kita. Walau tema tiap cerpen mirip, tapi cara eksplorasi dan keputusan terakhir terhadap sikap tidak terpuji ini berbeda-beda, dan ini yang membuat membaca keseluruhan buku ini menyenangkan.
Prediksi teman-teman saya tidak salah. Cerpen-cerpen Budi Darma dalam kumpulan cerpen ini.... luar biasa. Dari semua sastrawan Indonesia yang saya baca, baru Budi Darma yang menurut saya mampu menangkap dengan presisi pergolakan kejiwaan manusia. Tokoh-tokoh dalam cerpen Budi Darma ini mengeksplorasi istilah "common evil", yaitu sikap-sikap tidak terpuji--bukan jahat--yang dapat dilakukan oleh manusia biasa di sekitar kita. Walau tema tiap cerpen mirip, tapi cara eksplorasi dan keputusan terakhir terhadap sikap tidak terpuji ini berbeda-beda, dan ini yang membuat membaca keseluruhan buku ini menyenangkan.
ulyazmh's review against another edition
3.0
Buku ini menarik pada awalnya, namun lama kelamaan terasa membosankan karna banyak kesamaan antara satu cerita dg yang lainnya. Buku ini bercerita tentang tokoh ‘saya’ yang kesal sama teman/tetangganya yang ‘sakit’. Jujur aku bacanya bingung.. ini cerita mau dibawa kemana… Bingung juga sama kelakuan si ‘saya’ yang di luar nalar… sungguh abstrak.
Walaupun membacanya butuh kesabaran, tapi ada sih beberapa cerita yang aku masih bisa nyambung yaitu ‘Joshua Karabish’ dan ‘Charles Lebourne’.
Walaupun membacanya butuh kesabaran, tapi ada sih beberapa cerita yang aku masih bisa nyambung yaitu ‘Joshua Karabish’ dan ‘Charles Lebourne’.
oviyabalan's review against another edition
3.0
3.5 Stars.
This book had the potential to become my top favourite reads of the year. But the open endings weren't doing me any favour.
Overall, a well written short story collection covering many complex and some questionable topics.
This book had the potential to become my top favourite reads of the year. But the open endings weren't doing me any favour.
Overall, a well written short story collection covering many complex and some questionable topics.
adindasr26's review against another edition
3.0
I'm not very fond of stories that have no continuation that's why I rate it 3 stars.
The stories will haunt you...in an uncomfortable way, and while reading I could see how different cultures could affect someone's life.
The narrator in this story is very "kepo" is how Indonesian called curiosity on other people's lives, and the way bloomingtonian lives a very uncaring, solitary, "mind your own business" life is very sad. Very different from Indonesia, where we have a strong community sense and people always want to help their neighbours.
Anyways, what I'm saying is, the narrator could have such entitlement to themself and the way the bloomingtonian lives really makes it hard to make a connection.
The stories will haunt you...in an uncomfortable way, and while reading I could see how different cultures could affect someone's life.
The narrator in this story is very "kepo" is how Indonesian called curiosity on other people's lives, and the way bloomingtonian lives a very uncaring, solitary, "mind your own business" life is very sad. Very different from Indonesia, where we have a strong community sense and people always want to help their neighbours.
Anyways, what I'm saying is, the narrator could have such entitlement to themself and the way the bloomingtonian lives really makes it hard to make a connection.
magnolia_crescent's review against another edition
reflective
medium-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? It's complicated
- Loveable characters? No
5.0
fluture's review against another edition
emotional
inspiring
reflective
fast-paced
- Plot- or character-driven? Character
- Strong character development? No
- Loveable characters? It's complicated
- Diverse cast of characters? N/A
- Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes
4.0
Reading this book remind me about just how much flaws we have as humans. On the other side, this book could teach us compassion, patient, and sincerity for there are things which are not for us and we should just accept.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Suicide attempt, Gun violence, Chronic illness, and Violence
Moderate: Cancer, Medical content, Car accident, Blood, Abandonment, Body horror, and Child abuse
Minor: Cursing, Grief, Miscarriage, Pregnancy, Self harm, Sexual harassment, Stalking, Hate crime, and Vomit