Author: Okky Madasari
Publisher: PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama
Published Date: May 2016
360 pages
"Betapa kasihannya anak-anak zaman sekarang ini. Di usia yang masih sangat muda, mereka sudah dibuat haus perhatian. Semua ingin disukai, semua ingin punya banyak pengikut, semua ingin terlihat dan dikenal. Apalagi yang lebih menyedihkan selain menggantungkan kebahagiaan kita di tangan orang?"
Okky Madasari is one of the best Indonesian authors. Since her first novel Entrok in 2010 that tells about the brutality of New Order era continued with 86 about corruption in Indonesia then Maryam about an Ahmadi girl and the transgender discrimination in Pasung Jiwa, I think I fall in love with her writing. She always delivers different stories with different themes and unpredictable plots and usually leaves me with a hole in my heart and my mind. That serious? Yes, her works always haunted me for days but since I am addicted to it, I still read it over and over again.
In her fifth book, Okky tells about the massive phenomenon, the social media (socmed). How this socmed has a great influences in people lives. Why do people now seem to disclose everything --even the most personal things to public? Why do people need to impress everyone about how good their lives are? Why do existence and self recognition become their goals now? What's wrong with people???
Let's meet the lead character in Okky's latest novel, Kerumunan Terakhir, he is Jayanegara, a total looser. He does not finish his university study nor have any job. He plans to take revenge for what his father did to his mother. He just stares at the laptop the whole day, impresses people with his new identity as Matajaya, lies about how great his life is and at last becomes a totally new person who have lots of followers.
Yes, in this socmed era, it's very easy to create a new you, even the fake one. People just like to get into one crowd to another. Being a solitaire is a big no no now. In this rapid changes, people need to adapt as fast as possible however in real life lots of people are still not ready yet to absorb and adjust with the new things. Therefore we see many negative impacts are here now. We can't stop the technology or block the internet, etc, we just need to be wise in using it. There's always some limits in everything we do. And just be YOU. Remember what Kurt Cobain said, "I'd rather be hated for who I am than loved for who I am not."
Again, Okky is trying to be honest with the latest phenomenon and she made it. As she said, "Writing is about courage and freedom. Without both of those we say and stand up for nothing." Couldn't agree more.
Check more on Okky Madasari's website here.
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