As the title of the book suggests, this romance novel is set in Michigan. Dzaki Ginanto, the main character in this novel is a student who won a scholarship who is currently pursuing his master's education at Michigan State University then continued with a doctoral degree. Dzaki is a very idealist, religious person and always sticks to his beliefs. But he is also easy to get along with. He is friends with anyone without limiting religious differences. This made him liked by many girls.Â
His good personality has at least gotten him stuck in a love quadrangle. However, of course Dzaki had to choose 1 of these four women. A sweet but also complicated love story presented with a clear plot but still makes readers curious and wondering, who will be Dzaki's choice?
Dion Ginanto, the author of this novel, describes the struggles of Indonesian students who live in a country with a culture and social life that are very different and even contradictory. Dzaki faces many challenges. He was faced with various discrimination that made him have to deal with criminal acts, felt lonely in prison and even culminated in being kidnapped and held by Detroit thugs. Here we can see that his character was built into a brave and heroic figure.
The part that I like the most about this novel is when Dzaki returns to his village to meet his parents. At that time, it was found that his parents were not at home. He also went to the rubber plantation where his mother and father usually worked. His father was so surprised when he saw his proud son suddenly came. When Dzaki was about to hug his father, the father was reluctant because he felt that his clothes were dirty and his body was sweaty and smelly after cutting the gum tree, but Dzaki did not care about it. It was really emotional and made me shed tears, remembering my parents who were also rubber cutters like Dzaki's parents.
Overall, this novel is interesting and very related to student life. However, as a suggestion from a reader and also student, perhaps in this novel, Dzaki's struggle to get a scholarship to study at this famous campus in America can be inserted. So that readers, especially foreign scholarship seekers, can get information and follow in the footsteps of this main character.
I highly recommend this book to be read by students who are currently studying and away from their parents. Even more so, if you are a student who is studying abroad. This novel presents a story of romance, tolerance, and sacrifice with sufficient portions for each part and makes the reader impressed with the whole story and even becomes happy for the ending.
