tw / cw: major character death, death, prolonged grief, trauma.
This probably is, one of the most beautiful book I've ever read. Overall, it's just a beautiful written piece.
• To begin with, the blurb is exactly what happened from the start of the story until the end. BUT - this will only give you an insight of the overall idea of the story. What I can describe is, the storyline itself isn't what most important when reading this tale, what most prominent is on the 'characters development' between the two MCs, Ain (Red) and Iskandar (Ken). The 'acceptance' of Ain and Iskandar regarding death of their most loved ones, and how they rises up from 'the accident' and help one another to move forward, and how the carried and support each other dalam pencarian diri sendiri dan Allah, to be a better person, a better Muslim. It's a tale of two people aiding one another, from the darkness and pain that they held.
The core conflicts of the story is regarding 'Danny' and his 'presence' towards both the MCs, Ain and Iskandar. Ain yang buat pertama kalinya merasakan 'cinta pertama' yang mendalam daripada laki laki yang teramat ikhlas dan setia menunggunya, namun ditarik pergi daripadanya sebelum perhubungan itu benar benar terjadi. Dan Iskandar, seorang sahabat dan 'abang angkat' kepada Danny, dimana rahsia hatinya diketahui oleh sahabat tersebut, dan dia disuruh untuk membuat 'janji' berkenaan wanita tersebut, namun perasaan bersalah juga timbul di dalam hati mengenangkan perhubungan lama diantara sahabat tersayang dan wanita tersayang. It closely follows their their blooming friendship post accident, their their marriage which still heavily influenced by the 'transparent' presence of Danny around them.
With that, the theme is surrounding death and prolonged grief, which makes the story quite heavy. Yet on another side yand tersirat, and the bigger theme of the story is probably on 'love'; love of the loved ones, love of friends, love for yourself, and love for Allah. It's truly is a wrenching story, but it's full of love, and it's beautiful.
• The writing style is absolutely santai, but oddly enough and extremely surprising for myself, it suited well and absolutely heart grasping. The writing, the dialogues, the narration, simply just the way how it was written, it was as if I AM in the minds of these characters, as if I myself could deeply feel how the characters are feeling. And the feelings and thoughts of the characters are quite realistic and close to myself personally.
And one thing I realised on my first few chapters of reading, I happened to realize, as to why I was sooo attached to Ain and Danny was because of how: not only US (the readers), but two of those characters also barely know about one another, only learning about one another, only learning about one another. So we technically went through the story TOGETHER with these two and learning about one another from scratch, the same time as both of the them. This probably why we were able to sympathise a lot towards Danny, Ain, and Iskandar all at the same time when following the story.
With that, in correlation to the characterization of the characters themselves, I wouldn't talk much of them or else it would be spoilery (as what I've mentioned, the story is mainly on characters development), but well yes, their emotions and feelings, and how they're described were just realistic and 'human'. One of the things I totally love is how the 'realization', whether on feelings or on what's going on, as well as the change of individuals were written in its own detailed way, me as a reader was able to fully engaged and feel it on spiritual level deep in my heart.
• One the other side I'd like to highlight is on the delivery method of the islamic teachings, values, and morals, or dakwah yang terselit was woven into the story was quite wondrously written. It was natural, every each of one of ot correlates with the story itself, and they're meaning and moved myself as reader greatly as well. And despite how the story touches on heavier topic (death), and this is one of the story that will honestly heal you deeply spirituality.
• Totally on different thing, but the pop culture references, the background on jamming and indie bands, constant emails, it's still relevant and nice to read. At the same time, it did take me back on the good old days ya.
• I simply wanted throw this in here, despite how I read this a decade after the initial publication, but if you like stories like Hiznawa's Semua Tentang Kita, you'd probably love this as well. They're absolutely different, but both of the books talk heavily on prolonged grief and death, as well as moving forward and touches on a lot on Islamic teachings and changing self to become better muslim juak. Big difference is on this one, both MCs helped one another closely without external (?) help. Ya jak lah haha. Nevertheless, both books are special on its own way.
• Lastly, why is Ken / Iskandar so dreamy. Like actual actual dreamy. Such a great guy. Never ever a male character ever left such a huge impact onto me, but man, I couldn't stop thinking about him huh. 10/10, great character.
• A highly recommended read, absolutely a healing, moving, and love changing read despite being what others may see as a 'romance novel'. Anyone, boys and girls, please do give it a try.