The plot of this Novel is very flowing and alluring. She also built the characterization of a powerful and human being. She tries to tell that the Kiai family who became caregivers of the big pesantren were also ordinary people who felt disappointed, sad, and angry. The main story in this Novel is also very familiar with everyday life; there are many Gus and Ning who do not desire to be the successors of their parents in the pesantren and try to “run away” with lecture/education or other activities.
In addition, instead of filling the contents of the story with preaching or sermons, in “Gus”, Dian Nafi uses the very flowing narratives to provide wisdom or lessons for the reader. Unfortunately, this Novel is rarely to talk about and not familiar to the public, especially from the santri. However, compared to the other pesantren novels recently published, the story carried by “Gus” and Dian Nafi is fascinating.
Translated by Dian Ratna.