yalunlee

Goenawan Mohamad is Indonesia's leading essayist and cultural thinker. Reading him is entering the very geist of literature. He is strongly influenced by Derrida's deconstructionist thinking that leads him to read stuff from Marion. Well people can say anything but in my opinion the root of his thinking is religious. And since Derrida his is ideological god, no wonder he often entertains the idea of "the unknowing God" as found in neo-platonism or eastern orthodox christian theology. Listen to some of his line "...Faith, therefore, isn't a conclusion, but rather a commitment. Faith isn't the ending of intellectual process, but an immersion of self in the ongoing-lifelong process of life with all it's dynamics...faith does not only admit the reality of uncertainty, but also accept the fact that the contour of life isn't paved on a straight line, in it, there is doubt, and maybe even, a fall" [p.80-81:] He poses questions and satisfy you with "answers" with question marks he himself puts on. Oh anyway this book is a brilliant collection of his scattered essays in 33 fruitful years of literary endeavour. Enjoy, appreciate and celebrate. l'chaim, to life!

2022-12-09 11:36