Review of "Rainbirds" Novel by Clarissa Goenawan
In 1994, Ren Ishida received word that his sister, Keiko, had been stabbed to death at Akakawa, a remote city where his sister lived. He also decided to temporarily move to the city while taking care of the funeral and help the police investigate Keiko's death.
But then, Ren involuntarily seemed to follow the last traces that Keiko left behind. He filled Keiko's job position in the Yotsuba tutoring course. He even accepted the strange conditions for staying in a prominent politician's house, in a room previously occupied by Keiko.
The little girl who kept appearing in dreams, an aggressive student of guidance, a gloomy atmosphere, full of mysteries and puzzles along Akakawa, made curious Ren want to know what really happened the night Keiko was killed.
Ren Ishida's plan which was only going to stay for a while at Akakawa changed. The death of his brother, Keiko Ishida made Ren decide to uncover the mystery of his murder. Who killed him? Why was Keiko killed? Who was the person who had the heart to stab Keiko and leave his body just like that in a closed eye and hands tied?
Accompanied by Honda (Keiko's co-worker during his lifetime), Ren tried to find pieces of mystery to find out what really happened behind Keiko's murder. During his stay at Akakawa, Ren finally replaced Keiko to teach at a tutoring institution. Ren also lives in a room in the house belonging to the Katou family that was once occupied by Keiko.
"Remember, Ren, sadness itself won't hurt anyone. The things you do when you are sad can hurt you and the people around you. "
(p. 127)
During his stay at Akakawa, Ren continued to be visited by a little girl in her dreams. The little girl Kucir Dua made Ren feel uneasy. He keeps wondering who the little girl is and what she has to do with her.
The city of Akakawa does have its own mystery. The people who live in it keep many secrets. The Katou family who provided free accommodation for Keiko (and later for Ren) turned out to have a dark story. The agreement ever made by Keiko with the Katou family to get a free residence turned out to save wounds. A girl who became a student of Ren was acting strange, even the girl's father also turned out to have a secret that was so painful. The hotel owner that had been occupied by Ren also had a bitter past. Ren's neighbors also have a mysterious attitude. Women who hide things from Ren and then give info that is so important to him. Even Honda, who always accompanied him at Akakawa, also had a story that he himself had been holding.
Surprisingly, the Rainbirds seem to bring us to an alley to then collect pieces after pieces of stories to put together. We will also be taken to feel the air and atmosphere of the mysterious city of Akakawa. Revealing the mystery of Ren's death keeps us curious until the end.
So many surprising facts from every mystery and secret from the characters presented in this novel. There is sadness, bitterness, and dark heart. But there is also warmth, affection and love that we can feel from the stories in this novel. Especially when Ren returned to remember his beautiful memories with Keiko when he was a child. So surprised when Ren when there was a secret that was only revealed when Keiko had died.
Rainbirds is the debut novel of Clarissa Goenawan who won in The Bath Novel Award 2015. After reading this novel, I can't wait to look forward to her next works. Rainbirds truly gives a reading experience that is so memorable and imprinted on the heart.
Title: Rainbirds
Author: Clarissa Goenawan
Translator: Lulu Fitri Rahman
Editor: Barokah Ruziati
Literator: Nadira Yasmine
Cover designer: Staven Andersen
Publisher: Gramedia Main Library