86


Corruption, as Pramoedya Ananta Toer stated in his novel Korupsi (1953) was one of the oldest men disease. It's been there for ages around human being as a disease without any cure.

Now Okky Madasari tells about corruption from today's point of view. The essence is still the same. The reason behind it and the way people do it, not changed much. Perhaps the difference only refers to the amount. The amount of corruption is getting bigger everyday.

The term 86 as the title of this novel is actually known among police officers. Now the meaning is enlarged into everything that can be settled with money or you can also call it 'bribery'.

The main character in this novel is Arimbi, a Ponorogo girl who works as a typist in South Jakarta district court. With her small salary, she can only afford a very limited life. Staying in a small rented house. Having a totally dull life. Until one day she gets the opportunity to get extra money and she finally realizes that almost all her colleagues, her boss, the lawyers and even the judges do the same way. They all ask for extra money in everything. Until one day Arimbi and her boss are arrested by KPK.

The setting now is moved to prison. Here we will get a shocking condition. Money can buy anything, from a better cell in prison, a better menu of food and even a career as a drug dealer.

Since the author having a background as a journalist, she can describe all condition in court and prison vividly. It seems so real. Mesmerizing. As a person with law background, I admit I enjoy the novel a lot but I also need to calm myself. I feel totally sad deep down my heart. Imagining the condition now. The corruption among law enforcers are totally humiliating. Not to mention that corruption is getting more horrible here, in our country.

This is the 2nd novel written by Okky, the first one is Entrok, also as good as this one.

9 comments:

Ana May 4, 2011 at 3:11 PM  

I would like to read this book since people talk about it like everywhere. But I don't really pay much attention to this book for I dont really sure this is kind of fiction or nonfiction.

Thanks for the review, maybe I'll consider this one as my nexth month book's to read :)

riana May 5, 2011 at 8:59 AM  

Ana, really? This book is a trending topic now? The reason I bought this book was because I loved the author's 1st book "Entrok". Luckily, this 2nd book is also awesome.

This is a fiction dear, but based on recent condition therefore it seems so real:))

Ana May 5, 2011 at 11:53 AM  

No, I said that just because I found everyone from Goodreads Indonesia liked it :)

is it too serious? I mean the story.

riana May 5, 2011 at 1:18 PM  

Ana, the story is easy to read. Enjoyable, you're gonna love it :)

Anonymous May 10, 2011 at 9:33 AM  

pinjem....hehehe..:D

-Rina-

riana May 10, 2011 at 3:20 PM  

Rina, waduhhh..telat request-nya, tau gitu kemaren aku bawain ya? Ntar aku bawain deh di kencan berikutnya :p

Anonymous May 12, 2011 at 8:10 AM  

iya, baru liat..hehehe...:D

-Rina-

Anonymous May 17, 2011 at 8:51 AM  

Hai mbak, terima kasih sudah mampir-mampir :)
Saya baru baca yang ini, malah entroknya blom baca, kedua bukunya covernya bagus dan cerita yang 86 ini juga bagus, pas banget dengan situasi Indonesia skrg.

riana May 17, 2011 at 5:59 PM  

@mia: sama2, thx jg sudah mampir di sini, Entrok & 86 sama bagusnya mbak, wajib dibaca semua :))