The Last Man - Mary Shelley

Published in 1826, The Last Man is a speculative fiction novel by Mary Shelley, the author of Frankenstein. Set in the late 21st century, between 2073 and 2100, the novel imagines a future world destroyed by a mysterious plague. The story is narrated by Lionel Verney, a survivor who witnesses the collapse of civilization and the disappearance of human society.

The book is divided into three volumes. In Volume I, Shelley introduces England in 2073, a country that has abandoned monarchy and established a republic after the death of its king. The story begins with Lionel Verney, a shepherd boy who lives with his sister, Perdita. Lionel seeks justice for their father, who was unjustly punished by the late king. Meanwhile, Lionel deliberately gets himself imprisoned so that he can meet Adrian, the son of the former king. Lionel hopes Adrian will help him obtain justice for his father, and Adrian agrees to support his cause. With Adrian's support, Lionel and Perdita are granted the privilege of living in a cottage near Windsor Castle. They receive an education and gradually become part of the Protectorate's social circle, meeting influential figures in the government and forming friendships with people who will later play important roles in their lives.

The narrative continues for quite a long time into Volume II, focusing mainly on the lives and relationships of Adrian's circle. We follow Adrian's love story with the Greek princess Evadne, as well as the ambitious Raymond, who seeks to marry Adrian's sister, Idris, not so much for love as for political power and higher social status. Meanwhile, Lionel and Perdita develop their own love story within the same social circle. We must patiently wait for the plague to finally become the central threat to humanity.

Honestly, The Last Man is quite a challenging book to read. There are so many unfamiliar words, and its writing style requires more patience and concentration. Since it was published in 1826, it belongs to the pre-Victorian period. Its literary atmosphere reminds me of some of my previous reads, such as The Monk and Jane Austen's novels.

One thing I find quite amusing is that although the novel is set in 2073, I can hardly imagine it as the future. The characters still write letters, travel by horses and ships, and even use hot-air balloons. It feels much more like the 19th century than the 21st century! 

Of course, Shelley was writing in 1826, so her imagination of the future was inevitably shaped by the world she lived in. Perhaps she believed that technological progress would be much slower. After all, people had relied on horses, ships, and letters for centuries. If these things had remained part of everyday life from the 12th to the 19th century, why wouldn't they still be used 200 years later?

After experiencing COVID-19, I find some situations in this novel surprisingly familiar. The plague initially seems distant, and the English government does not take the threat seriously enough. News then spreads that it has reached Europe, but there is no effective quarantine to contain it. People begin moving from one place to another, driven by fear and the need to survive.

As the land becomes devastated and the economy collapses, people search for fertile places where they can grow food and stay away from the disease. It reminds me that a pandemic is not only about the illness itself. It can also destroy people's  livelihoods, disrupt society, and change the way human beings behave when their survival is at stake. 

Lionel is mostly concerned about the safety of his family, while Adrian takes risks to help others. He provides shelter for refugees and even turns ornamental land into farmland to secure food for the people. On the other hand, Shelley shows us people who respond very differently. There is a nobleman who dies surrounded by the food he has hoarded, showing how useless wealth and possessions can become during a disaster. There is also a false prophet who exploits people's fear by promising salvation and using religion to gain power.

After all, The Last Man is not pure science fiction that focuses on how the virus originated, how people tried to contain it, or how they might cure the disease. Instead, Shelley wants us to consider human nature when society is threatened by a catastrophe. Now, I understand why Shelley spends so much time describing their relationships, political ambitions, and love stories.

In the end, I think Shelley wants readers to understand the importance of human connection and belonging. The novel reminds us how deeply we love the people around us and how devastating, painful, and sorrowful it is to lose them. Perhaps becoming the last person on Earth is not simply about surviving alone, but about losing everything that makes life meaningful.

PS: This book is not for everyone (average goodreads rated 3,39 stars), I am still feel pain when I read it, long narration made me fall asleep, but when I reflect today, it's such wonderful experience to read such a masterpiece from Shelley, the detail of of explanation can switch my brain into cinematic version. Also considering the pathetic life of Mary Shelley many time losing her baby because miscariage and  losing her husband, Percy Shelley.  This book deserve 4 stars.

Ruang Buku Megga Rated : ✬✬✬✬(4/5)

Title :  The Last Man

Author : Mary Shelley

Publisher : Wordsworth Classics
Year : 2004 (First Published in 1826)
Format / Pages : Softcover / 395 pages

Review/Ulasan Novel Haruki Murakami - Kafka On The Shore (Dunia Kafka)

Guys, buku ini mengajak aku Jalan-jalan virtual dari Tokyo sampai ke Pulau Shikoku loh sekitar Tokamatsu dan Prefektur Kagawa. Aku juga melewati jembatan besar Shikoku. Dunia Kafka atau judul bahasa Inggrisnya Kafka On The Shore sebenernya novel surealisme dengan dua plot yang berbeda, yang pada akhirnya saling terkait. Pertama-tama apa itu surealisme? aku sendiri juga belum begitu paham. Novel Surealisme memiliki unsur kejutan atau barang tak terduga yang ditempatkan berdekatan satu sama lain tanpa alasan yang jelas (wikipedia). Cerita Kafka yang kabur dari rumah mencari jati dirinya dan cerita Nakata si pencari kucing hilang yang bisa berbicara dengan kucing sepintas tidak ada hubunganya. Mereka sama-sama tinggal di Tokyo. Mereka sama-sama mencari sesuatu yang sebenarnya tidak mereka pahami, tetapi naluri mereka mengatakan harus mencarinya walau harus sampai ke ujung Jepang.

Buku ini merupakan Perkenalanku yang ke-dua dengan Murakami, aku baca versi e-booknya dan alhasil petama kali aku menyelesaikan e-book 'tebal' 600 halaman lebih. Sudah tidak aneh lagi sih, Murakami selalu vulgar dan berkesan explicit, itu merupakan ciri khasnya, selalu ajah ada yang begitu-begitunya. Dan tidak tanggung-tanggung, yang dialami Kafka adalah Oedipus Complex, merupakan situasi seorang anak yang memiliki ketertarikan seksual dengan ibunya, dan menjadikan ayahnya sebagai rival. Disebut Oedipus Complex mengacu pada cerita tragedi Yunani yang sangat klasik, yaitu Oedipus Rex. Entah mucul dari mana, seolah sudah ada yang membisikan kepadanya bahwa kehidupanya diramalkan untuk membunuh ayahnya dan tidur dengan ibu dan saudara perempuanya, persis tragedi Yunani tersebut. Maka dari itu selepas minggat dari Tokyo, Kafka dengan instingnya langsung pergi ke Tokamatsu mencari Ibu dan saudara perempuanya.

Kemudian apa yang ada dalam diri Nakata? hanya seorang Kakek tua yang bodoh, tidak bisa membaca namun berhasil meninggalkan Tokyo sampai ke Tokamatsu untuk mencari apa yang hendak dicarinya.

Ada satu hal lagi yang menjadi ciri khas Murakami, yaitu selalu menyelipkan lagu-lagu atau symphony musik klasik dalam novelnya. entah si tokoh sedang di jalan mengendara mobil atau lagu selingan di cafe. Menarik sih, kalau lagunya yang aku tau seakan lagu tersebut menjadi soundtrack nya novel ini. Atau kalau lagunya aku tidak tau kadang suka aku cari tau juga. Tidak jarang juga Murakami selalu mengungkapkan pendapatnya mengenai lagu-lagu dan musisinya sekaligus, serta apa yang terjadi dibalik penciptaan lagu tersebut. Tentunya, baca buku ini lumayan menambah referensi pembaca.

Rating Ruang Buku Megga ✪✪✪✪ (4/5)

Judul : Dunia Kafka (Kafka On The Shore)

Penulis : Haruki Murakami

Penerjemah: Th. Dewi Wulansari

Penerbit : PT Pustaka Alvabet

Tahun Terbit : Maret 2016

 

Resensi dan ulasan buku The Girl on The Train - Paula Hawkins

Judul : The Girl On The Train
Penulis : Paula Hawkins
Penerjemah : Ingrid Nimpoeno 
Penerbit : Noura Books
Tanggal Terbit : Mei 2016 
Jumlah Halaman : 432
ISBN : 978-602-0989-97-6

The Girl On The Train merupakan debut pertama Paula Hawkins, pertama kali terbit tahun 2015. Novel jenis psikologi thriller ini  kebanyakan disandingkan dengan Gone Girl-nya Gillian Flynn karena kesamaan genre dan sama-sama tentang misteri gadis yang hilang. Namun kali ini kita tidak akan membahas perbandingan keduanya, kita akan fokus terhadap  TGOTT.

Novel ini dibagi kedalam tiga sudat pandang, Rachel, Megan dan Anna dengan alur maju-mandur.  Rachel, mmm seorang gadis yang ditinggal suaminya untuk menikah dengan Anna, tidak bisa punya anak, pecandu alkohol dan sangat menyukai kereta komuter London. Pada bagian awal buku ini meceritakan perjalanan sehari-hari Rachel dari London dan Ke