Novel Review : Bowl of Happiness by Shopie Maya

Helloow guys!!! in this blog I want to review the novel Bowl of Happiness by Sophie Maya, is an evocative story about self-discovery, friendship, and the struggle against parental expectations. legoooo!!!

IDENTITY

Title: Bowl of Happiness

Writer: Sophie Maya

Thickness: 280 Pages

Publisher: Gramedia Pustaka Utama

Published: March, 2016

Editor: Midya N. Santi

Cover Maker: Orkha

Book Type: Teenlit (Teen Novel)

PLOT

   Bowl of Happiness follows the life of Helen, a teenager who is oppressed by her family's high expectations. Raised in a family of successful doctors, Helen feels compelled to follow in her parents' footsteps and achieve perfect grades at school. However, Helen has a different dream: she wants to be a singer. When she is transferred to SMA Sinar Bangsa after failing to meet academic expectations, Helen meets Lulu, the head of the Bowl of Happiness Club. Lulu and her friends invite Helen to join them and explore happiness through music and friendship.

   Over time, Helen begins to find happiness and the courage to pursue her dreams, despite conflicts with her mother who wants her to focus on academics. The novel depicts Helen's emotional journey in finding a balance between her parents' expectations and her own desires.

CHARACTERS

1. Helen: The protagonist who is talented in singing but is pressurised by her family's expectations to become a doctor.
2. Lulu: The cheerful and feisty president of the Bowl of Happiness Club, trying to help Helen find her happiness.
3. Angkasa: Helen's classmate who has a complicated relationship with Helen, adding to the dynamics of the story.
4. Karina and Anya: Other club members who support Helen in her journey of self-discovery.

These characters interact with each other in a realistic way, showing how friendship can help one overcome life's challenges.

MORAL MESSAGES

   The novel Bowl of Happiness by Sophie Maya conveys several important moral messages. Firstly, the novel emphasises that everyone has the right to pursue their dreams, even if it goes against the expectations of others. Secondly, it illustrates the importance of open communication between family members to understand each other and avoid misunderstandings. The last, Happiness is not always measured by academic achievements or parental expectations; finding what makes us happy is the key to a fulfilling life. As such, this novel provides inspiration for readers to keep striving for their dreams while maintaining relationships with loved ones.

PERSONAL OPINION

   Overall, Bowl of Happiness is a heartfelt novel with themes of family and self-discovery. I really appreciate how Sophie Maya managed to capture the dilemma of modern teenagers in dealing with family expectations. Helen's character is very relatable to many readers, especially to those who have felt pressured by parental expectations.

   Despite some shortcomings in terms of supporting character development and a storyline that sometimes feels clichéd, the moral message of this novel is very strong and relevant. I believe that many readers will find inspiration from Helen's journey to pursue her dreams while still maintaining relationships with her family.

This novel is suitable for anyone who is looking for motivation to follow their passion and understand the importance of communication within the family. Bowl of Happiness is not just a story about chasing dreams; it is a reminder that true happiness comes from recognising ourselves and daring to take steps towards what we want in life. I hope this review useful for you all!

Thankyou and see u in the next blog!! babayyy!!!