This story begins with a little girl, Mariam, who lived with her mom, Nana. The setting is between 1960 to 2000s with the war between Afghanistan and soviet. So crime and poverty is common here.
The first scene is, one day when Mariam was playing, mariam broke her mom’s porcelain that made her mom angry. Then, her mom called her ‘harami’. For mariam, this word will be like a curse during her life. She finally understood that this word means an unwanted child who were born without a marriage. Mariam and Nana lived in a small house (if not to say very small), away from the village. Mariam never went out to the village even though it was only 2 km away. So isolated, but certain people were sometimes visiting them including Jalil the father and mullah, mariam’s teacher. Jalil was famous enough for his richness, because he ran a big business in town like having a cinema etc. Every week Jalil visited Mariam and acted like a real father. Jalil was her favorite because he gave so much love. Jalil told her about new cartoon movie pinocchio, ice cream that Jalil share with the kids who watched movie. On her 15th birthday (not a little girl anymore), she told Jalil what she wanted for her birthday, it was watching pinocchio with her brothers and sis from 3 other Jalil’s wife. Well, Nana is not counted because she is not a his wife, she used to be his maid till she was having Jalil’s baby, Mariam. Knowing what Mariam want, his father suddenly acted differently and tried to prevent her from coming to the village. Even the mother forbid her by saying that she would do suicide if Mariam try to go. She said that she was the only one who loved Mariam, not even Jalil, and if mariam really go there nobody would care about Mariam.
Few days later Mariam went to the village without Nana knew it. She found out that the world was not that bad, they could be so warm. She could find Jalil’s house, then she waited outside. But Jalil did not come to see her and let her spent the night outside waiting for him. In the next morning, she had a chance to run through the gate, and saw that Jalil looked at her through the window. She could not believe that her favorite and beloved one neglected her. Really disappointed for preparing nice dress to meet him, but he even didn’t meet her. She knew that Nana was right, no body cared about her. So she went home with Jalil’s driver. Then discovered that her mother did a suicide. She was alone since then.
As a responsibility, she was asked to stay at Jalil’s house with other siblings and step mothers. It was her dream, but not anymore. Her stay was a shame for family so they decided to accept Jalil friend’s proposal, Rasheed, to marry Mariam. In helplessness, Mariam agreed with this and moved to Kabul with the husband that day. Before leaving, Mariam spoke to Jalil that she got hurt with how Jalil let her waited outside, and that she didn’t trust him anymore. For the sake of honor and social prestige, he did it all to Mariam.
Mariam was treated well by her husband at first, but it vanished when she couldn’t give him kids.
Here, the story changes to another character, Laila, who then became her rival. Laila is the neighbor’s daughter. Mariam witnessed Laila grew up, to her teenage. Laila is a clever girl with dreams of having high education. Everything was going into places for laila, till her childhood friend (boyfriend also), decided to leave Kabul with his family. Few weeks later, laila’s family also decided to leave the town for safety reason. Ah ya, the war was happening. Laila had so much dream to meet Tariq, her boyfriend, and a better life in Pakistan. When they packed their belongings, a bomb destroyed and killed the parents. Only laila who’s left. Rasheed and Mariam helped her and hosted her since then. Laila still had hopes to meet Tariq, but a stranger came and gave a bad news about Tariq’s death. For a reason, Rasheed asked laila to be his wife. It was so much pain for Mariam to have a rival, but Rasheed seemed to have an acceptable reason. Surprisingly, Laila agreed it. It was because she found out that she was expecting Tariq’s baby. It was for honor and wealth reason laila married rasheed. She was a queen at that family, but Mariam didn’t like it for sure. Rasheed thought that aziza, laila’s daughter, is not his. Living with a little kid, Mariam felt an unconditional love from the baby. Mariam and Laila became a good friends, like mom and daughter.
Once, laila and Mariam tried to escape from rasheed but it didn’t succeed. Not too long again, Laila was pregnant for the real rasheed’s son. For economic reason, aziza was sent to an orphanage. Mariam also tried to call Jalil, maybe for asking help. Things had changed, Jalil had died, communist took his money, the rest family were unknown.
In one morning, laila was surprised by the presence of Tariq. He was alive. Mariam and Laila finally knew that the stranger man who gave news about Tariq was Rasheed’s man. Knowing that Laila met Tariq, Rasheed was madly angry. They were fighting, and both women helped each other. Rasheed was killed. It was for self defense. Mariam asked Laila to leave Kabul with Tariq and the kids and let her stay in Kabul, but Laila asked Mariam to go with them too. Mariam thought that her dreams could be realized by the beloved kids, so she decided to stay In Kabul and faced the law. It was a sweet end for Mariam even though she should die in a jail.
Laila and her new family lived outside afghanistan for few years before deciding to go back to Kabul to realize her family’s dream. And for sure, to give contribution for her surrounding people. On the way to Kabul, they stopped by in Mariam’s village, might be to be more involved in Mariam’s life. Laila visited Mariam’s little house, and all things Mariam had told her. Then Laila met Mullah’s family, Mariam’s teacher. they gave Laila a box from Jalil for Mariam. Laila found a letter from Jalil for Mariam, pinocchio cartoon, and… I can’t remember 
Jalil wrote that he regretted for letting Mariam stayed outside his house and for stopping her young dreams. Laila couldn’t figure out what Jalil meant with pinocchio.
Back in Kabul, laila then taught in a school. She became what she dream of in a different way.
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Well, that’s the story. Cant describe the real and detail story for sure. This story is able to touch the readers emotion. I think every writer can see their novel in a whole picture at first, so they can relate the story from one chapter, jump to the next chapters. For example, when Mariam wrote her name before Mullah on her wedding day, the writer also explained that, Mariam would write her name before Mullah once more 20 years later. This makes the readers think what does it mean, when or in what occasion she did it again. With a patient reading, it is found that mariam did it again when she approved that she killed her husband. The writer can see things in detail and continuously.
The changing story, from Mariam to Laila, makes it boring and seems no direction. Too long with Laila’s story I think. I didn’t get what it was all about at first. But then I know that this way is beautiful too even though the readers should be voluntarily patient.
As this story took place in afghanistan, the war is inevitable. So, poverty and crime is common, even is described so rough here. But that’s war. In this story, women become an object. Nana even said that a man can only point his finger on woman and run away from the mistake they made and blame the woman. It is interesting to talk about woman in islam as I disagree with how women treated here. Culture can blur the practice of islamic life. Maybe it becomes common that culture is religion and vice versa. So it doesn’t describe the real value. Next time should write about woman in islam.
Anyway, like what I wrote before, anyone can have dreams of what they want to be or do in the future, but it can turn into a totally different thing because of external changes. I share common opinion about this, not too long before I read this book. I’ve internalized this thought in the last few weeks, i mean, really feel the meaning of it. Ya, we can plan and dream anything, but should be ready too to fall. We plan of something for tomorrow, but it can turn into another thing. We never know our destiny. Back to the book, it implicitly said that keep the dreams alive and the destiny will bring you there whatever the situation. It is not happened naturally, but the spirit should be there. Like what Hasina (correct name I think…), Laila’s childhood friend, said that in their 20’s, Hasina and Giti would have 4 children, and they would be proud to see Laila’s pic on a headline for her social activity. But like what’s often be seen in reality, things could change unpredictably. Hasina moved to Germany, Giti died in her 12, and Laila didn’t go to any school. But Laila made Hasina’s words real without she plan it, that her pic was in a newspaper for her social activity, not a headline indeed. Funny little kids’ imagination
Be good…. Well, that’s what I got from reading this book, it sharpen my previous feeling regarding life, I think
crying crying… so touching. the second best seller from Khaled Hosseini after a kite runner. i thought it would be less interesting than the first book. but again, hosseini was able to involve readers’ feeling and emotion.
War, love, betrayal, lie, disappointment, spirit, dream…
The first thing i see from this story is that you can dream about what you gonna do or be in the future, or even you already have a clear picture and plan of it, but it can turn into something you’ve never imagined before. Nobody knows where the destiny will bring. It’s beyond our control. Be good and keep our dreams alive will make us survive.
huaammm… sleepy. Write more tomorrow, inshaallah. A review, not just a comment
pfff… i think i lost my nokia today, hopefully i only left it in the office and the office; boy will keep it for me. My old mobile, it’s been almost 4 years with me, but strong enough as i ‘ve dropped it many times.
Get a new mobile? let’s see. iPhone? maybe no. It has good features, but i think it’s only good when used in a place where internet connection is excellent and cheap. I know some people who has it, can’t even check email or chat. Moreover for news websites. Map? what do you wanna see, the connection makes it unseen. So what’s left is only for calling and texting. No difference with other cheap mobiles.
Well, that’s only to please me as i won’t buy iPhone in the near future i’ll wait till it’s cheaper, but the most important is, when the connection is very good so its features can function as it should be 
when oh when?
Great song – like its title For those who have visited or lived in Australia, might understand how this song described Australia. Btw, it’s not that i admire Australia crazily, but i love this song so much. Just the way i like celtic music and things about Ireland, that’s how i feel about Australia and this song. Ireland? not to mention IRA (sorry…not my topic ^_^). I just remember Ireland with its mist, castle, uilleann pipes, silent night, dark blue…
Back to Great southern land… check it out here for the lyrics and youtube for the video
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Happy Australia Day…
Baru aja bikin nugget ayam campur sayuran. Selain lagi banyak sayuran, yang pasti sih mengimbangi ayam di nuggetnya jadi ga terlalu merasa bersalah makan nugget
Bahan:
Ayam giling 200 gr, Terigu 50 gr, Telur 1biji. Garam 1 sdt. Merica bubuk 1 sdt, Bawang putih 4 siung, Bawang merah 6 siung, Wortel 2 buah, iris kecil-kecil, bikin dadu, Jagung 2 buah, disisir. Olesan: telur 1 biji dan tepung panir/roti
Caranya…
Bawang merah, bawang putih, garam dihaluskan. Kalo ga ada cobek (biasa.. Anak kos ^_^), iris kecil-kecil. Campur bumbu halus tadi dengan ayam, terigu, telur, wortel dan jagung. Semua campur jadi satu dan tidak terlalu lembek. Siapkan loyang yang sudah diolesi minyak. Kukus selama 15 sampai 20 menit. Dinginkan. Kalo sudah dingin, iris dengan ukuran sesuai keinginan, atau kalo diiris tetap lengket, bentuk sesuai dengan kesukaan. Bisa bulat, segi empat, atau panjang. Olesi dengan telur, gulingkan di tepung panir/roti. Terus goreng deh… Lebihnya bisa disimpan di freezer, jadi pas pengen bisa langsung digoreng. Tapi mesti didiemin dulu di suhu ruangan lho ya, soale kalo dari freezer langsung digoreng, bisa cepat goson luarnya padahal dalemnya belom mateng. Selamat menikmati… Aromany khas banget, enak kalo dihidangkan hangat, yummy…
Can’t say all my grateful to have friends who still remember me till today. I got heaps messages and wishes for my birthday Those who we ignore sometimes, may wishes us the best without we know it. So blessed to have them.
I’ll always remember with how i felt when I was leaving Sydney. My friends held at least 3 farewell parties for me. On the day before my departure, i could arrange almost all the meetings with friends. Like i was an important person, got appointments every hour Even my friend, a former Dean of faculty of science, spent two hours in cafe with me. It was like a father and daughter talking. I think we really know what goodbye is, so we appreciate the meeting. Amazingly, I met almost all friends on my last day at uni even without any deal to meet before. This is what i call a blessed moment.
Just like today So many good wishes for me. I do appreciate it, so much…
Almost forget that it’s already close to January 26, it’s Australia Day. Yesterday my friends text me telling that they were in Darling Harbour enjoying evening summer there. Hmmm… that makes me jealous. I guess they will do the same next tuesday to watch Aus-Day celebration. And as usual, they will keep me updated with what they are doing for a making-me-jealous purpose. Well, i can accept it anyway, because even though i can still smell the air of Sydney, I won’t put effort to go down under again. I want to go up north
Oddly enough that i really like (close to love ) Advance Australia Fair so much. The melody, the lyrics, the singer, and mainly the celebration of Aud-Day. They are all remembered as one frame in mind, ’sparkling Aus-Day’.
Here is the lyrics of Adv Aus fair, it describes the great Australia, how they welcome people around the world, the multicultures they have and freedom
Australians all let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We’ve golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in nature’s gifts,
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history’s page let every stage,
Advance Australia Fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair!
Beneath our radiant Southern Cross,
We’ll toil with heart and hands;
To make this Commonwealth of ours,
Renowned through all the lands;
For those who’ve come across the seas,
We’ve boundless plains to share;
With courage let us all combine to
Advance Australia Fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
Advance Australia Fair!
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We are one.. but we are many…
Earthquake’s everywhere. On the same day, it happens in Haiti, Philipines, and even Indonesia.
Deep condolence for the victims in Haiti. ..
In Haiti, the quake was 7 richter scale which is smaller than that in Padang, 7.9. However, the impact is so wide and even resulted in little tsunamies in surrounding places, including Dominica. I haven’t exposed (myself) with recent news about Haiti and the causes of the earthquake ^_^ I guess now there are analysis and theories explaining the nature changes on earth as a possible reason for the earthquake. Even, as i read on New York Times, some haitians believe that God’s angry to them for the sin and bad life they do. I think i understand why they have such belief, it is because God, religion and traditional value are worshipped. In my opinion, that reason is true as well.
Well, as i haven’t updated myself with the news, i just think ring of fire or earth plat’s sliding is contributing to earthquake in Haiti. Or it just happenned the way in L’Aquila. For sure, it is estimated that thousands people have died in Haiti. The depth of episentrum influences the wide of affected area, the deeper the episentrum the wider area is affected. Soil’s type or texture can also contribute to how buildings can stand strongly or collapse so easily. As we see in Port Au Prince, there’s not much trees with buildings almost in all areas, and i guess the soil is dry. So i think much or less this makes more people died for they are trapped in the detritus.
It’s OK for Haiti to mourn these days, but soon they have to get up to build not only the buildings but also the spirit to live better.
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withevery difficulty there is ease…
A while ago, most facebookers received a few invitations to support certain people or social movement. Let’s say, we have a million supports for bibit-chandra and coin for prita. Finally, facebook is not merely a social networking but it turns to a virtual social movement. Only in approximately ten days, supporters for bibit-chandra reached more than one million. For facebookers, besides to express their untrust with justice and court system, becoming the supporter is a form of solidarity and a prestige for certain reason. But mostly it is because they feel there is no other way to have their opinion heard. The result was predictable, that the government listened to what this social action wanted.
Metro TV updated the number of supporter almost every hour. It seems this station wanted people to join the action instead of reporting the number. Bibit- chandra became a hot topic everywhere that people would keep an eye on TV to get the recent updates. Political observers and scholars were able to have their say heard on media. What people could do was supporting actions on virtual world like facebook.
Amazingly, this social networking becomes an alternative to speak out besides real mass movement such as demonstration. A million power on facebook is equal to a million people doing demonstration on the street.
I admit, i’m not one of those one million supporters. Surely it is not because i don’t care with what;s happening to this country. I only felt that this great abundance of call for support moved too fast. I thought, ah com’on Indonesia still has lots of problems and we shouldn’t put much energy on this one case. Save the energy for other big problems which will come in the near future. And now it’s proven. We are facing new other findings that need to be investigated deeply.
These days, new ‘a million actions’ are waiting on our group request column on facebook to be confirmed. From the for-fun reason to the serious one. And i see that some people join those groups just because they are invited and there’s no major effort to be a supporter. Only by clicking the confirmation statement, we become its supporter within a second. And what after that? Sometimes, nothing more than that. The actions are not as popular as the previous one. They now have less power on people movement. ‘A million actions’ has gone too easy to meet (and be left), and forgotten even before it reachs a thousand supporters.
So i think we better cool down. After the ‘too much’ energy on bibit-chandra case, people should carefully select which case needs to be rapidly looked at.
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Sunday night, after ignoring some group invitations on facebook..
Beautiful pic i took depicting farms and village with mount slamet as a bcakground. So beautiful with the morning sunshine…
Tegal keminclong Moncer kotane i love this quote
