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BookWORM; Khiva Iskak: ‘Literature works a must read’
Derived from a big family of actors, Khiva Iskak, couldn’t defy his birthright to the stage
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erived from a big family of actors, Khiva Iskak, couldn’t defy his birthright to the stage.
It took him a while, but he eventually joined theater groups such as Bengkel Teater founded by poet and actor WS Rendra and Teater Populer led by Slamet Rahardjo.
Khiva, who often appears in TV commercials, once said that his first unforgettable acting experience was his involvement in Nyi Ontosoroh, a play based on a character in Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind) authored by Pramoedya Ananta Toer.
“I couldn’t believe I was in a play about a legendary fictional character,” the 31-year-old said.
Khiva had started to read the author’s short story compilation Percikan Revolusi Subuh (The Spark of Dawn Revolution) when he was a junior in high school.
“I learned many things about being a human being just by reading. I believe my generation needs to read more literature, in this case, high literature,” he said.
While Pramoedya remains his favorite author, Khiva praised Ahmad Tohari, Goenawan Mohamad, Sapardi Djoko Damono, Dewi Lestari and Eka Kurniawan for their remarkable works.
Khiva said he currently reading Eka Kurniawan’s Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas (Love and Revenge) and Ahmad Tohari’s Di Kaki Bukit Cibalak (On the Foothill of Cibalak) which was recently reprinted by the publisher.
“I love books. Going to a book store for me is similar to going to a theme park for a kid. It’s hard to drag myself out of a book store. If I don’t have a lot of money and still have so money books left unread, I’d rather not go anywhere near a book store”.
His reading habit was nurtured by his mother who encouraged him to read works by RL Stine and Enid Blyton.
“I have hundreds of books at home. I still have them all,” he said.
The actor, honored for his acting in What They Don’t Talk About When They Talk About Love, is thinking about writing a novel of his own. It will be about unrequited love. “Reading so many books makes you want to write one, too”.
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Ronggeng Dukuh Paruk
by Ahmad Tohari (1982)
The trilogy is the love story of Srintil, a dancer, who comes from a desolated village, and Rasus, a soldier. Set in the 1960s, the story depicts the social and political condition of the era.
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Bumi Manusia
by Pramoedya Ananta Toer (1980)
The first book of the author’s epic quartet, written during his time as a political prisoner in Buru Island. The novel tells the story of Minke, a young student who tries to climb up the social ladder under the Dutch colonization-controlled society.
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Conversations with God
by Neale Donald Walsh (1997)
It is not a work of fiction, but I like how the author urges his readers to experience themselves, to understand their place in this world rather than merely seeking to know themselves.
— JP/Tertiani ZB Simanjuntak
