254 reviews for:

Gadis Kretek

Ratih Kumala

3.97 AVERAGE

linda_helmi's review

4.0

#96 - 2024
Genre: Indonesian Literature
mysterious fast-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: Yes
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus: No

As someone who watched the series before reading the book, allow me to point out the difference made between the two, which I thought was pretty significant. Firstly, unlike in the series, Arum didn't play that much role in the book. I don't understand why the series made Lebas and Arum as the main characters, because I thought it made more sense that the three brothers were the main characters. Secondly, book Dasiyah is more youthful and innocence than series Dasiyah, maybe because they picked Dian Sastro, even though her assertiveness and intelligence were successfully transferred to the screen. Lastly, the book didn't mention about women not being allowed into the sauce room. In contrary, Dasiyah was more respectable in the book and the company was fully in her and her father's control. And her father gave her full credits for the success of Kretek Gadis and Kretek Merdeka.


As an overall review, I highly recommend this book if you're keen to learn Indonesian history in the moments before and early independence era through our most beloved and most hated culture: smoking. The research done for this book must be beyond measure. Both the book and the series are impressive to me. This book was able to portray cigarettes as Indonesia's economy, political tools, and cultural heritage.
adventurous informative inspiring medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven: A mix
Strong character development: No
Loveable characters: Complicated
Diverse cast of characters: No
Flaws of characters a main focus: Complicated
aynsrtn's profile picture

aynsrtn's review

4.0

Plot, pengembangan karakter, latar belakang sejarah yang kuat, dan penulisan yang rapi, semua hampir nyaris sempurna. Kecuali satu, akhir cerita.

Seperti udah gitu aja. Penderitaan dan "pencurian" resep yang dilakukan hanya diselesaikan dengan uang. Ya, ini lebih ke cerita masa lalunya yang diceritakan dengan detail. Tapi, untuk kisah masa kini terlalu terburu-buru.
insbookish's profile picture

insbookish's review

4.0

BAGUS DAN RINGAN!!!

Alur ceritanya maju mundur, tetapi dikemas dalam tulisan yang sangat rapi dan menarik.
Ada twist di akhir cerita yang tentunya menyayat hati dan membuat saya sebagai pembaca ikutan geram dan kesal.

Namun, sayangnya, saya agak sedikit terkejut (kecewa hehe) karena menurut saya si karakter utamanya Gadis Kretek atau Jeng Yah ini tidak sepenuhnya menjadi fokus cerita. Novel ini (menurut saya lagi) highlight-nya ada di perjuangan ayah Jeng Yah, Idroes Moeria saat merintis usaha kretek demi meminang Roemaisa—saat beliau dihadapkan dengan mantan temannya yang menjadi saingannya, saat beliau memikirkan konsep kretek dagangannya, Kretek Merdeka!. Bahkan awalnya saya mengira Roemaisa ini yang bakal jadi Gadis Kretek, eh ternyata bukan!

Secara keseluruhan, saya tetap menikmati Gadis Kretek karena ceritanya ringan untuk dibaca.

halzyons's review

3.0

Baca buku ini bener-bener banyak kecewanya karena aku menaruh ekspektasi tinggi.

Aku baca di Ruang Buku Kominfo. Banyak typo, salah tanda baca, pemilihan kata yang lumayan jelek dan halaman yang kocar kacir. Sungguh diluar nalar.

Banyak yang bahas, katanya salah satu buku historical fiction Indonesia yang wajib dibaca, nyatanya bagiku ya ngga juga dan mungkin ngga bakal aku rekomendasikan juga. Background hisfic nya secuilll dan alurnya kecepetan.

Klimaksnya kurang dapat dan alurnya juga rada cangguh sekaligus aneh.

Book is always better than the movie, right?

Well....nope! Not this time!

I admit that I knew the movie first and then I found out that the book is sold in English. While the Netflix series is emotional, the book is ....it's okay, but it's....
The book lacks focus on all characters. The storytelling about the main character [Jeng Yah] is weak.
This book still got three stars from me because it's somewhat enjoyable.
stardustinocean's profile picture

stardustinocean's review

5.0

Rate: 1000000/10

Sebagus itu, page turner sekali, benar-benar hanyut dalam cerita. Padahal saya termasuk orang yg picky dalam memilih cerita "historical fiction" tapi penulisan novel ini membuat saya nyaman membacanya. Memang dari awal cerita ini sudah menduga sama Romo yang seperti apa. Ternyata benar sebal bukan kepalang sama ulahnya. Karakter Dasiyah juga sebenarnya kuat hanya bucin doang yang kelewat batas.
coffliteurator's profile picture

coffliteurator's review

3.0

Hmmm bintang 3, karena agak bingung sama sudut pandang yang beda beda. Kukira sudut pandang pertama khusus di masa kini, dan sudut pandang ketiga di masa lampau, pas flashback. Tapi di masa kini pun, nyampur pake sudut pandang ketiga juga.

finaalf's review

4.0

Menarik. Gaya penulisannya yg bikin pembaca penasaran tentang kisah pak Raja dibikin ngalir aja buat lanjut baca sampe selesai. Baca ini ngga sampe 24 jam, karena emang sengalir itu ceritanya!!!