Reviews

The Question of Red by Laksmi Pamuntjak

magsmybags's review

adventurous informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? No
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

2.0

I genuinely don't know if this is supposed to be a love story about communism or a communism story about love, but it fails spectacularly on both accounts. 

das_susrita99's review against another edition

adventurous challenging emotional mysterious medium-paced

3.5

hiitssimone's review against another edition

challenging informative slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No

2.25

rasunshiny's review against another edition

4.0

Amba jatuh sedalamnya manusia dapat merasa karena sinar memukau Sang Bhisma. Jarum jam berputar sangat lambat kala netra Bhisma bersitubruk dengannya. Amba merasa seperti dirinya melayang-layang di udara. Dunianya tak lagi sama. Merah. Kini hanya merah yang melingkupi dunia Amba.

Bhisma bak perayu ulung dengan 1001 ucapan manis. Jemarinya dengan amat lihai membawa Amba melambung ke tempat indah. Bhisma mungkin membuat Amba meragu, tapi perihal cintanya pada sang dewi dengan pasti membuat Bhisma meluluh.

Tapi Amba dan Bhisma lupa bahwa kisah mereka sudah lebih dulu terluliskan. Bagi Amba, Bhisma adalah sebaik-baiknya lelaki yang selalu dia cintai. Bagi Bhisma, Amba adalah Sang Dewi satu-satunya pemilik hati. Dan semesta nampaknya tidak senang akan hal itu.

Entah sudah berapa dekade Amba dan Bhisma lalui dengan rindu yang mengukung jiwa. Kekasih terlampau jauh. Perihal rindu mereka tau pasti keduanya saling membalas. Walau meragu akan segala ketidakpastian, cinta mereka nan abadi mungkin bahkan sampai dunia ini pun tak lagi punya umur.

Perihal cinta memang tak lepas dari merelakan. Tapi Amba bukannya merelakan, melainkan mengubur cukup dalam agar cintanya tak lagi hanya sebuah kepedihan.

angelic712's review against another edition

4.0

So much more than politics or romance. This story seems to be about humanity.

jiao_li's review against another edition

dark emotional sad slow-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? Character
• Strong character development? No
• Loveable characters? No
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

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Content Warnings

Moderate: Violence and Kidnapping

rchll's review

challenging emotional informative reflective sad medium-paced

• Plot- or character-driven? A mix
• Strong character development? Yes
• Loveable characters? Yes
• Diverse cast of characters? Yes
• Flaws of characters a main focus? Yes

4.0

yuliyono's review against another edition

3.0

#BacaPakeKuping via Storytel
#MateriSiaran Februari 2024

Butuh membaca ulang kapan-kapan. Pas nyimak audibook-nya kemarin dulu, banyak banget yang ke-skip dan nggak engage sama keseluruhan ceritanya. begitu baca review teman sana-sini, lah... ada unsur pewayangannya juga ya... #geblek

tessisreading2's review against another edition

Well-written but very slow-paced and literary, which I am not in the mood to process at the moment - very much an "it's not the book, it's me," situation.

barium_squirrel's review against another edition

5.0

This is a book that would probably improve with re-reading. I believe it is a retelling of the epic poem The Mahabharata (which I have never read, so I can't be sure). It is set in 1960's Indonesia, against a background of student revolution, religious violence, and concentration camps. The book explores the meaning of love, the differces between men and women, color, and class. It's a beautiful story, and I fully recommend it.