Moonlight

This book contains 2 tittles in one book, continuing ‘Rainbow Troops’ (Laskar Pelangi) tetralogy which unfinished yet. Especially about love story of Ikal and Aling, and journey of life of Maryamah Karpov, who in the last tetralogy entitled Maryamah Karpov was not much revealed.
In Moonlight (Padang Bulan), Andrea continued love story of Ikal and A Ling which did not get the agreement of his father. This dispute made Ikal went from his house. However their love was also influenced by the jealous feeling because of the presence of the new leading figure. This information was obtained by the local detective, M. Noor that relied on a dove, Jose Rizal as messanger. The man was described more handsome and taller than Ikal. Moreover, he was also the sport champion. Half died Ikal tried to overcome him by joining all the sport matches in celebration on August 17, such as ping-pong, football, volleyball even chess.
The results could be guessed, Ikal totally failed. In the end Ikal decided to buy the implement making body taller. The intention is, at least he could be taller than his rival. But he precisely almost died by hanging, and people thought he wanted to commit suicide.
In Moonlight (Padang Bulan) also told about Enong’s --- Maryamah nickname. childhood --- that was very bitter. Her love to English lesson must be claimed because her father, the backbone of family, got the accident, was stockpiled the traditional tin mine. As the eldest child, Enong had take over responsibility by leaving her school and looking for a job. Unfortunately, there was no job for her except becoming the traditional tin miner. Then Maryamah became the first female miner who often was oppressed because of her weakness and ignorance.
In the second book, ‘Love in Glass’ (Cinta dalam Gelas) told more about Maryamah’s life. Especially when she was forced to marry Matarom, the chess champion. However the husband threw her out. For the sake of maintained her dignity and honor, Maryamah was determined to depeat Matarom on the chessboard. Her wish was almost impossible because Matarom who the defending champion was trained by a national master. In the other hand, Maryamah did not know at all about chess. But she did not surrender, as well as she never stopped studying English which made her very much interested in.

Finally, Maryamah began to be studying the chess by the aid of Ikal who continued connecting with his university friend, Ninochka Stronovsky, who had became one of international grandmasters. His trip was very complicated. Day by day the supporter of Maryamah more increased. Including Lintang, the childhood friend of Ikal, was genius. There is none supposed, that first woman of the tin miner hid her talent and competent as a chess player. The style of her in chess was compared with Anatoly Karpov. That was the reason, her name was known as Maryamah Karpov. But could Maryamah maintained her dignity succesfully and took revenge on people oppressed her through depeating all on the chessboard?
Andrea Hirata really brought us in the tension, although we do not understanding chess at all. He also often made the readers smile, but rarely did not feel bitter because of bitter reality of life.

Author: Andrea Hirata
Genuine title in Indonesia : Padang Bulan

Contains
1. Moonlight (Padang Bulan)

2. Love in a Glass (Cinta dalam Gelas

Publisher: PT Bentang Pustaka, 2010