INTRODUCTION / IDENTITY

• Title: Janji
• Author: Tere Liye
• Genre: Psychological Fiction, New Adult Fiction
• Publisher: Sabak Grip
• Number of Pages: 250
• Author Background:
  Darwis, better known by his pen name Tere Liye, was born on May 21, 1979, in Lahat, South Sumatra. Tere Liye is an Indonesian writer and accountant. Making his writing debut in 2005 with the novel Hafalan Sholat Delisa, he has published more than 50 books throughout his writing career.

In 2021, Tere Liye published a novel that tells the story of someone’s life journey in fulfilling their promise, and this novel is titled “Janji.”

SUMARRY

This story begins with three naughty students named Kohar, Baso, and Hasan who attend a pesantren. One day, they were called by Buya, the head of the pesantren, to listen to the story of a former student named Bahar. Bahar was described as a very unruly person, even having committed a very bad act such as burning down the dormitory, which resulted in the death of a student. As a result of his actions, Bahar was forced to leave the pesantren.

Buya then assigned the three students the task of finding Bahar. This task arose after Buya experienced a series of strange dreams. In his dream, Buya met Bahar in the middle of a barren desert, and then was invited to board a beautiful carriage. Feeling very regretful for having expelled Bahar, Buya asked the three students to find his old friend.

The journey to find Bahar then began. The three students explored various cities, meeting people who had known Bahar. They heard very interesting stories about Bahar. Bahar was described as a figure full of contradictions: he had once been a drunkard, had gone to prison for helping others, had become an honest merchant, and had married only to be abandoned by his wife.

After a long and exhausting journey, they finally arrived at the last village where Bahar lived. In that village, they learned that Bahar had passed away. However, the villagers recounted that before his death, Bahar had experienced the same dream as Buya: being in a desert and riding a beautiful carriage.

Although they did not manage to meet Bahar directly, the three students were very impressed by Bahar’s life story. They learned many things about kindness, regret, and the meaning of life. With these valuable experiences, they decided to return to the pesantren.

CRITICAL EVALUATION

This story is more than just an adventure tale; it is a narrative rich in life lessons that can be drawn from it, such as regret, redemption, and the search for identity. A Buya, who is a complex character, represents religious authority while also being an ordinary human filled with doubt and regret. The figure of Bahar, who is the central character physically absent, instead becomes the magnet of the story. He is a symbol of all the possibilities within a human being, both good and bad. Meanwhile, the three friends represent the youth who are searching for the direction of life, growing and changing through the experiences they gain.

CONCLUSION

Overall, this story is an extraordinary work rich in meaning and worthy of reflection. The main strength of this narrative is its ability to evoke the reader’s emotional capacity and invite them to contemplate the meaning of loss.

This novel is very suitable for all groups, especially for those who are studying at Islamic boarding schools. It can inspire a spirit of learning and literacy among students, particularly those at Islamic boarding schools.

ARGUMENTATIVE ELEMENT

There are many lessons to be learned from Bahar’s story, one of the most extraordinary experiences he went through. He once sacrificed himself to be imprisoned, as an example.