Moments Worth Noting in 2015!

Here’s our list of the top 100 moments 
in 2015. Not perfect at all, but some moments worth noting.

* * *

January 19

(1) Tiffany Tsao, an Indonesian-born writer, editor-at-large of Indonesia at Asymptote, and a research affiliate at the University of Sydney Indonesian Studies Department, starts 2015 with an interesting piece on Indonesian writing, and on how Asymptote Journal fits in a new, more nuanced world literature, Worlds-Within-Worlds: A Testimonial.

January 29





(2) After a few months of a public beta testing, idwriters.com makes its first public appearance, launching with a public event on January 29, 2015 at Goethe-Institut Jakarta. This Literary Day, enlivened by the appearance of Seno Gumira Ajidarma, Adimas Immanuel, Rain Chudori, Dunia Manji, and The Bandaneira. If you’re new to idwriters.com, you might be wondering how the whole thing works. Here’s what we actually do in the first place! 



February 14



(3) Bandung Museum hosts Asian-African Literature Week, under the theme “Getting to Know Asia and Africa Through Reading,”, with the hope to introduce literary works from both continents to its audience, and encourage reading to Indonesia’s younger generation.



March 12-15



(4) As a series of preparation for Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, a number of Indonesian authors have actively participated in seminars, readings, and exhibitions. Laksmi Pamuntjak, Nirwan Dewanto, Sapardi Djoko Damono, and Ahmad Tohari represent Indonesia in Leipzig Book Fair 2015.

March 13



(5) Publishing-Indonesia.com, the new hub for Indonesian literature being presented at Leipzig Book Fair.



March 15

(6) ASEAN Literary Festival 2015 (March 15-22, 2015), the second Association of Southeast Asian Nations Literary Festival, designed to bring together hundreds of poets, fiction writers, dramatists and literary critics from all over the Asia-Pacific region, is expected to attract a much larger crowd of both participants and spectators this year with the involvement of Middle Eastern countries, including Egypt and Algeria. Opened under the theme “Questions of Conscience” and runs until March 22. This festival also include 19 free discussions on themes such as the digital era and how the digital generation tells its stories. Other panels examined the different book industries across the Asean region or the alternatives indie publishers offer. 



March 16



(7) Laksmi Pamuntjak announces the imminent Dutch translation of “Amba” entitled “Amba of De Kleur van Rood”.

March 19



(8) A beautiful performance by Ananda Sukarlan and Nikodemus Lukas, a tribute to Sitor Situmorang, on an intepretation of Sitor Situmorang’s poems at ASEAN Literary Festival 2015.


March 21



(9) With Rumah Pembaca Indonesia and The Murmur House, we’re on stage at 2PM, talked about Database Making and Documentation of Literary Works at ASEAN Literary Festival 2015.

March 24



(10) Ayu Utami, Director of the Salihara Literary Biennale, tells us why publishing firms must evolve to remain relevant in the “industry of ideas”, at the International Publishers Congress, March 24-26, 2015 in Bangkok. Her thought Do Publishers Still Matter for Authors? published in advanced on IPA’s market insights blog on Feb 26, 2015.

March 25

(11) Police in Yogyakarta on Wednesday arrested poet and activist Saut Situmorang following a spat with fellow writer Fatin Hamama. Saut was arrested at his home in Mantrijeron, Yogyakarta. 


March 29



(12) Selatan Musim Hujan 2015 Release Party at Paviliun 28. Poetry, essay, and short stories reading, discussion, as well as music performance.



April 3



(13) Debut edition of Belle Lettres, a literary section of The Magdalene, presents the works of writer/poet Khairani Barokka, Ballad of a Water Dipper and Other Works.



April 10



(14) Kunci Cultural Studies Center launched Anonymous Writers Club compilation.

April 14



(15) Book Discussion “Man Tiger” at London Book Fair with Eka Kurniawan and Verso Books.

April 15



(16) Launching of poem book “Melihat Api Bekerja” (Looking at the Fire in Action) at Edwin’s Gallery, Kemang, South Jakarta. The book is a compilation of 54 poems written by M. Aan Mansyur and more than 70 illustrations by painter Muhammad Taufiq a.k.a. Emte. They had compiled the book through internet communication, where Emte needs almost one year to make the whole illustrations for this book.

April 20-22



(17) While Jakarta was transfixed on the Asian-African Conference (AAC) held on April 19 to 24, something literary and cultural in nature was happening: the commemoration of Sitor Situmorang (1924-2014), one of Indonesia’s most renowned poets, who died on Dec. 21 last year. A Hundred Memories of Sitor Situmorang was a three-day celebration of an unusual and exceptional man held at the TIM Arts Center. Its subtitle, “Learning to be Indonesian”, suggests that like the AAC, the commemoration was in fact also about nationhood. 



April 24-26



(18) Bali Emerging Writers Festival 2015, takes place at Danes Art Veranda, Denpasar. An annual literary festival that brings together Indonesia’s most exciting and revolutionary new voices. The festival, which is in its fifth year, has the word “writers” in its name, but since 2011, BEWF has never tried to be a poets-and-novelists affair. This year’s line-up of 20 speakers also features talented Indonesian writers (such as Eka Kurniawan, Valiant Budi Yogi, Aan Mansyur, and Windy Ariestanty), songwriters, filmmakers, environmentalists and social activists, as well as stand-up comedians, who are invited to express themselves, share their stories and inspire each other. Since 2011, BEWF has attracted over 2,000 attendees and no doubt shows no signs of slowing. 



April 30



(19) The Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF) curatorial board has selected six emerging writers from Makassar, Kendari, NTT and West Kalimantan to participate at this year’s festival. 



May 1


(20) The 16 Emerging Indonesian writers to join this year’s Ubud Writers & Readers Festival have been announced! 


May 12



(21) Lontar Foundation introduces their new publication, Home, the English translation of Pulang by Leila S Chudori, with a beautiful cover painting by Entang Wiharso.



May 21



(22) For the Sydney Writers’ Festival 2015’s first session of the day, Judith Whelan, News Director of The Sydney Morning Herald, SMH journalists and SWF special guests Indonesian writer Ayu Utami and managing editor of the Jakarta Globe, Abdul Khalik, discuss their take on what’s making headlines today and the changing nature of journalism. 



May 23



(23) Annabel Crabb, one of Australia’s most popular political commentators, a Walkley-awarded writer, novelist Amy Bloom, former Queensland premier Anna Bligh and Indonesian activist Ayu Utami speak with Tracey Spicer in an evening of feminist dos, don’ts, been theres and done thats at Sydney Writers’ Festival 2015. 



May 27-31



(24) Leila S Chudori participates at The Tong Tong Fair (formerly known as Pasar Malam Besar) at Tong Tong Theatre, Malieveld, The Hague, Netherlands. It’s the largest festival in the world for Indo (European-Indonesian) culture, held annually in the Netherlands. 



May 28



(25) Ni Made Purnama Sari and Aan Mansyur, represent Bali Emerging Writers Festival at Emerging Writers Festival Australia 2015. 


May 29



(26) We introduce the second edition (and most probably the last one) of IDWriters literary magazine.

June 2-4



(27) Festival Sastra Santarang, Kupang, with Ayu Utami, AS Laksana, Hasif Amini, Dicky Senda, Romo Amanche, etc. 



June 3-6



(28) The Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF) 2015 is set to roll for a fifth time at Fort Rotterdam in Makassar, South Sulawesi. It’s the first and only international literary festival held in Eastern Indonesia. The festival is organized by Rumata’ Artspace as an annual program. Since its first edition in 2011, the festival has become the most-anticipated literary event for the locals. This year’s festival also saw the launch of “Perahu Pustaka,” a mobile library taking the form of a boat, which is set to sail from one island to another in the east. The library is part of a campaign to promote reading and writing to people living in outlying regions, who have limited access to literary works. 



June 5



(29) An exclusive interview with Aan Mansyur. Taken during the Makassar International Writers Festival (MIWF), at Fort Rotterdam Makassar. 



June 10



(30) Di Tubuh Tarra, dalam Rahim Pohon by Faisal Oddang won the KOMPAS award for Best Short Story of 2014. 



June 14



(31) Writer and poet Sapardi Djoko Damono has adapted one of his best-known poems, Hujan Bulan Juni (June Rain), into a novel. The 144-page Hujan Bulan Juni novel, was the first time he had adapted one of his own poems into a novel. 



(32) The first review of Beauty Is A Wound (New Directions, 2015), an English-language debut of a celebrated Indonesian author, Eka Kurniawan, by international media comes from Publishers Weekly. And successively followed by Kirkus Reviews, Literary Hub, The New York Times, The New Yorker, Asian Review of Books, The Guardian, Oprah, and ABC Australia. 




June 23



(33) Eka Kurniawan joins Pontas Literary & Film Agency. 


August 1



(34) This month Words Without Borders’ newest issue presents writing from Indonesia, Myth and History. 
Hasif Amini interrogates the origin of poetic invention, Taukik Ikram Jamil writes to and of a lover, and Clara Ng’s retired teacher agonizes over the daily fairy tale essential to his survival, while Mona Sylviana’s cad turns a confession into entertainment. M. Iksaka Banu finds a journalist embedded with Dutch colonial invaders witnessing a tragic episode from the bloody Balinese past. In two tales of revenge, Abidah El Khalieqy’s defiant prostitute shows up her client and tormentor, and Zen Hae’s sly crow turns avenger. Acep Zamzam Noor mourns disaster and indicts the government response. 



August 11-14


(35) The European Association for Southeast Asian Studies (EuroSEAS) is holding its 8th conference from 11 to 14 August 2015 at the University of Vienna and the Austrian Academy of Sciences in Vienna, Austria. Benedict Anderson and Ayu Utami become keynote speakers. 



August 12



(36) Pauhingu Sastra (Sumba Art & Literature Gathering) 2015

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August 21



(37) The Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ) is rolling 2015 Manuscripts of Poetry Book Competition starting from August to December 2015. The event is the first of its kind since Indonesian reformation took place in 1998. 



August 27



(38) To celebrate Indonesia as the Guest of Honor at Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, The Asian American Writers’ Workshop’s The Margins will issue a 6-part series on literature in translation from Indonesia. This is the first in a six-part series on literature in translation. 



August 28



(39) Senior journalist, an author from Sumatera Barat, Abrar Yusra died at 72 in Bogor, Indonesia. He received Sastra Mastera (Masyarakat Sastra Asia Tenggara) prize in Karya Kreatif category, in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 2003, for his novel “Tanah Ombak” (2002).



August 29



(40) Eka Kurniawan and Maggie Tiojakin represent Indonesia in Melbourne Writers Festival 2015, two-week celebration for writers, readers and thinkers.

August 31


(41) Twenty titles for prose and poetry categories have been nominated for the 15th Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa,—-previously known as Khatulistiwa Literary Award—-the Indonesia’s most valuable annual literary award for a single work of fiction. These longlists also feature four longlisted writers from the last year’s award: Afrizal Malna, Eka Kurniawan, Triyanto Triwikromo, and Remy Sylado.



September 2


(42) Eka Kurniawan’s Lelaki Harimau has won Book of The Year IKAPI Award 2015.

September 2-6



(43) Indonesia International Book Fair 2015
. Indonesia International Book Fair is a 5 day event being held at the Jakarta Convention Centre, with the main focus as a one stop literacy activity. Attending the opening remark, The Ambassador of South Korea to Indonesia Taiyoung Cho, Central Jakarta Mayor Mangara Pardede, Director General of ministry of education and culture Prof Dr Katjung Marijan MA, Chairwoman of the Association of Indonesian Publishers (IKAPI) Lucya Andam Dewi, and Chairwoman of IIBF Rosidayati Rozalina.

September 8



(44) Happy International Literacy Day.

(45) Nominees and Awardees for Anugerah HPI 2015 by The Poetry Day Foundation.

September 11


(46) Author, novelist Suparto Brata died at 83 in Surabaya, Indonesia. Until 2005, Suparto’s fiction work saw him deliver 122 titles in Indonesian and Javanese, in the form of short stories and novels. Some of his phenomenal work included Saksi Mata (Eyewitness), Gadis Tangsi (Barracks Girl), Kerjaan Raminem (Raminem’s Work), Omnibus, Garuda Putih (White Eagle), Republik Jungkir Balik (Upside-down Republic) and Tak Ada Nasi Lain. His long years of intense writing earned him a record in the Five Thousand Personalities of the World, Sixth Edition, 1998, published by the American Biographical Institute, Inc. He also received a Rancage Literary Award for his two Javanese novels, Trem (Tramcar, short stories, 2001) and Donyane Wong Culika (Deceptive World, romance, 2005). 



September 19



(47) H.B. Jassin Center for Literary Documentation held the III/2015 Indonesia-Malaysia Literary Conference (TSIM) at Amphiteater Nu Art Sculpture Park, Bandung. A Poetry Anthology entitled ‘2015 Friendship of Two Nations’, was also launched.

September 20



(48) Eka Kurniawan making an appearance at the Brooklyn Book Festival 2015 on Breaking the Silence: Hidden Stories session. In his novel, Eka Kurniawan (Beauty Is a Wound and Man Tiger), along with Aatish Taseer and Taiye Selasi, tell vivid personal stories while also giving voice to suppressed narratives of national tumult. 



September 26-27


(49) Pasar Hamburg 2015, the biggest Indonesian Festival in Germany, dedicated to the traditional literary and narrative tradition of Indonesia, under the theme: Literature. And as part of the Frankfurt Book Fair Guest of Honour, Indonesia presents in advance various authors in Hamburg, including Oka Rusmini, Cok Sawitri, Putu Oka Sukanta, Laksmi Pamuntjak, and Afrizal Malna.



September 28 – October 3


(50) Dalang Publishing proudly presents A Taste of Indonesian Literature Today – Authors and Translators Tour. Award winning Indonesian authors and translators — Lian Gout, Anindita S. Thayf, Erni Aladjai, and Stefanny Irawan — present their work and discuss topics of global interest such as human rights, global religious tolerance, environmental concerns, and women’s equality at various venues in the San Francisco Bay Area.



October 1-3



(51) International literature festival, Read My World in Amsterdam, featuring Indonesian writers, Dyah Merta, Laksmi Pamuntjak and Seno Gumira Ajidarma. This festival challenges Dutch and international authors to explore the borders between literature and (research) journalism. Each year, the platform inspects a different region and asks local curators to introduce writers and poets who can tell us stories beyond the superficiality of day-to-day news.

October 3



(52) After the successful of “Di Tubuh Tarra, dalam Rahim Pohon” won the KOMPAS award for Best Short Story of 2014, “the extended version” of this short story, a novel Puya ke Puya — finally launched. This novel was originaly one of the winners of Sayembara Dewan Kesenian Jakarta 2014.



(53) If there’s a book publishing project which stole our attention lately, is probably a new imprint initiated by Lontar Foundation, titled BTW Books. Happily, we had an opportunity to received one of an advance copy of BTW Books series, Borrowed Body & Other Poems from Joko Pinurbo himself, when we met at the opening ceremony of The 2015 Salihara International Literary Biennale, in Jakarta.



October 3-25



(54) The 2015 Salihara International Literary Biennale opens October 3, with an amazing line-up of performers promising to make it one of the best events of the year. The theme of this year’s festival is “Text and Taste”, means knowledge and narration cannot be separated from a sensory and taste experience, that intellectual and culinary wealth are interconnected in literature. This festival also include six workshops and discussions, which is free of charge to attend, include this one — “Souvenirs from Frankfurt”, a translation workshop and discussion on the topic of introducing Indonesia’s literary works to the world, on October 21. Our very own, Valent Mustamin, also appears join in this discussion.

October 5-10 



(55) Festival Sastra & Temu II Sastrawan NTT, takes place in Ende, NTT.

October 5



(56) The organizers of the Singapore Writers Festival have dropped Indonesian poet Sitok Srengenge from the festival’s line-up, after Indonesian artists posted an open letter on Sunday petitioning that Sitok be excluded from the festival due to sexual abuse allegations made against him. The Singapore Writers Festival: Island Of Dreams runs from Oct 30 to Nov 8.



October 6



(57) Hamsad Rangkuti releases short story collection “Lips in the Chamber Pot”. Hamsad Rangkuti’s stories are carefully crafted, humorous, and often carry an unexpected twist. Overall, they deal lovingly with the diverse cultures of the disparate Indonesian Republic and with its turbulent history.

October 13



(58) NaNoWriMo is an international event, and the stories being written every year reflect hundreds of participating regions. NaNoWriMo are taking a Road Trip to NaNo to hear from their amazing writers all around the world. Eve Shi, their Municipal Liaison in the Indonesia region shares how her region comes together to celebrate their cultural traditions through writing.

October 13



(59) The 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair was officially opened on Tuesday, October 13, 2015 at Frankfurt Messe, Germany. Indonesia was made as a guest of honor at the 500-year-old event.

October 14-18



(60) Frankfurt Book Fair 2015. Seventy Indonesian authors are due to attend the Frankfurt Book Fair in the autumn and presenting new releases of their works in German. Authors include Laksmi Pamuntjak, Ayu Utami and Leila Chudori, who reveal the darker chapters of the country’s history in their books by addressing topics such as political persecution and genocide. Andrea Hirata, who tells of his own path out of poverty in his best-seller, The Dreamer, will also be appearing in Frankfurt, as well as lyricist Dorothea Rosa Herliany, who is best known for her expressive and often shocking poetry. With Okky Madasari another member of the young generation of female authors will be there too. And with Sapardi Djoko Damono, Nh. Dini and Toeti Heraty the fair visitors can meet some living legends from Indonesian literature.

Indonesia is the guest of honor at this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair, the industry’s biggest annual get-together for publishers, editors and writers from around the globe. With the slogan “17,000 Islands of Imagination”, Indonesia, the fourth largest country in the world, is offering glimpses into its rich cultural and literary landscape – for the first time in the German-speaking world.

“In its role as guest of honour at the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair, Indonesia has the opportunity to take a first tentative step on the international literary stage”, explains Goenawan Mohamad, Chairman of the Guest of Honour Committee.



October 14



(61) On The conversation AU, Manneke Budiman, of the University of Indonesia’s literature department, gives an introduction to Indonesian literature, 2015 FBF’s Guest of Honour, and explains how colonial legacy plays a part in determining “Third World” authors’ place on the international literary stage. 


October 15



(62) In the midst of organizing the Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, Indonesian poet Goenawan Mohamad launches his newest book ‘Faith Writing’. A collection of Goenawan’s writings in the span of his 40 years of work, curated and translated by Jennifer Lindsay, an Australian translator who for many years translated ‘Catatan Pinggir’ or the edge notes, Goenawan’s regular column in Tempo magazine. Faith Writing is published by the Singapore University Press. 



(63) AmazonCrossing, the literary translation imprint of Amazon Publishing, today announced a commitment to publish exceptional works of literature from Indonesian authors translated into English beginning in early 2016. 



Indonesian titles planned for publication include Nirzona, a love story by Abidah El Khalieqy, set against the backdrop of the Aceh tsunami, a rare moment in recent history when the world’s eyes turned to Indonesia; English-language originals The Oddfits and The More Known World, the first two titles in the Oddfits series from Indonesia-born Tiffany Tsao, a translator and past Indonesia editor at large for Asymptote Journal; Paper Boats, a new adult love story written in glittering, quotable prose from popular novelist, actress, and singer Dee Lestari; A new edition of Laksmi Pamuntjak’s acclaimed A Question of Red and her latest, Aruna and Her Palate, which follows a food writer’s travels through Indonesia; and Hummingbird, a stunning work of magical realism from Nukila Amal

October 19



(64) Ratih Kumala’s Gadis Kretek also translated into English by Annie Tucker, and published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama with the title, Cigarette Girl.

(65) If you want to know more about Mario F Lawi, this lovely piece, in Bahasa Indonesia, from Aan Mansyur might help you out. Long read but well worth a read.



October 23



(66) Three panel sessions dedicated to discussing the 1965 Communist repression and an art exhibition and book launch The Act of Living will no longer be taking place across the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival period. In addition the film screening of Joshua Oppenheimer’s The Look of Silence has also been cancelled, as well as two book launches, The Crocodile Hole and Bali 1964-1999. 

The announcement by organisers was unprecedented in the 12-year history of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival and signalled heightened sensitivities in Indonesia around the 50th anniversary of the mass killings, in which about 500,000 people died. Another backward step for freedom in Indonesia

.

October 28 – November 1



(67) After attracting over 26,000 literature-lovers in 2014, Ubud Writers & Readers Festival (UWRF) is set to descend on Bali’s cultural capital once again this October, for its 12th edition, in a global melting pot of big ideas and extraordinary stories. 

Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2015, celebrates the theme 17,000 Islands of Imagination. The theme is also that chosen by the Frankfurt Book Fair for this year’s Guest of Honour Nation, Indonesia. The Ubud Writers & Readers Festival is the major annual project of the not-for-profit foundation, the Yayasan Mudra Swari Saraswati. It was first conceived of by Janet DeNeefe, co-founder of the Foundation, as a healing project in response to the first Bali bombing. 



October 28



(68) After warnings from local police, the Ubud Writers & Readers Festival 2015 also had to cancel the launch of Eliza Vitri Handayani’s novel From Now On Everything Will Be Different.



October 31



(69) At his hour-long talk When Meaning Is Managed: The Fate Of Literature in Indonesia at the Singapore Writers Festival, Goenawan Mohamad charmed the 125-strong audience at The Arts House Chamber with his unwavering faith in the power of writing and his unexpected humour 



November 7



(70) Shortlists for The 15th Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa went public today, halving the number to just 10 nominees. The winners of all award categories will be announced at a special ceremony at the Atrium of Plasa Senayan on Thursday 14 January 2016.

November 10


(71) Pidato Kebudayaan DKJ 2015 this year is delivered by Nirwan A. Arsuka, under the title “Percakapan dengan Semesta”

(72) The Singapore Writers Festival this year again hit the sweet spot with lovers of literature, with packed halls at many of its 300 ticketed and free events and its highest-ever attendance for a ticketed event when more than 1,300 showed up at Harvard philosopher Michael Sandel’s lecture. About 125 people packed into the Chamber for the $15 SWF lecture delivered by Indonesian activist Goenawan Mohamad, part of the festival’s first South-east Asia focus.



November 12


(73) Goenawan Mohamad, interviewed by Tempo, clearly talked about Indonesia as the Guest of Honor of Frankfurt Book Fair 2015, and his involvement as appointed chairman of Indonesian National Committee.

November 12-14



(74) The forth annual Borobudur Writers and Cultural Festival (BWCF) in 2015 officially opened at the Hotel Inna Garuda, Yogyakarta, with Mountain, Disaster, and Myth of the Nusantara, as its central theme. Gathering of writers, artists, and cultural experts was organized Samana Foundation and PT Taman Wisata Candi. This is a festival of arts and cultural literacy, a vehicle for education and creativity for peoples to be creative in the promotion of Central Java and Yogyakarta as one of the major centers of Indonesia’s tourism industry.



November 19



(75) A novelist, short story writer, poet, literary critic, journalist, politician, and humanist from Kutai, East Kalimantan, Korrie Layun Rampan died at 62 in Jakarta. In the world of Indonesian literature, Korrie is a diligent bibliographer. He can be compared to H.B. Jassin who in his time became an icon of criticism and a great classifier of Indonesian literature. You can find a comprehensive piece about the late Korrie Layun Rampan at Harian Kompas, written by Amir Sodikin. 



November 21



(76) Apresiasi Seni 2015, Kupang with Ahda Imran, Amanche Franck, AS Laksana, Ishack Sonlay, Joko Pinurbo, Mario Lawi, Wayan Sunarta, and Yusi Avianto Pareanom.



November 23



(77) “Siti,” a black-and-white feature about the struggle of a Javanese woman who is her family’s main breadwinner, won three Citra awards, including for best film, at the Film Festival Indonesia gala, while Jenny Jusuf won Citra award for best adapted screenplay of “Filosofi Kopi”, a new film adapted from Dewi “Dee” Lestari’s short story of the same title. In her debut as a feature-film scriptwriter, Jenny Jusuf impresses by creating depth out of the 30-page short story, published in 2006 as part of Filosofi Kopi: Kumpulan Cerita dan Prosa Satu Dekade (Coffee Philosophy: A Decade’s Worth of Stories and Prose).   



November 24-25



(78) Seminar Politik Kritik Sastra di Indonesia takes place at Pusat Kebudayaan Koesnadi-Hardjasoemantri, Universitas Gadjah Mada

November 27



(79) “Beauty Is A Wound” named one of 100 Notable Books of 2015, selected by the editors of New York Times Books’ Review. The year’s notable fiction, poetry and nonfiction, represent books reviewed since Dec. 7, 2014, when New York Times published their previous Notables list. 



November 28

(80) Lily Yulianti Farid, along with Joshua Ip, Danton Remoto, and Chuah Guat Eng talked about Futile States, on how do we write against the divides of language, identity and politics at George Town Literary Festival 2015.

December 4



(81) Wijaya Herlambang, a researcher in politics, culture, literature and society died in Cirebon. His published book, Cultural Violence: Its Practice and Challenge in Indonesia (Saarbrucken, 2011) has been translated into Indonesian language and published as: “Kekerasan Budaya Pasca 1965: Bagaimana Orde Baru Melegitimasi Anti-komunisme Melalui Sastra dan Film” (Marjin Kiri, 2013). His research interest includes political violence and foreign infiltration in Indonesia.



December 5-6



(82) Indonesian Readers Festival 2015, organised by Goodreads Indonesia, takes place at Tower 2 at Synthesis Square, Jakarta.



December 6



(83) Supernova Gelombang and Dee Lestari won favorite Book and Author at Anugerah Pembaca Indonesia – Indonesian Readers Festival 2015.



December 9



(84) Historical Indonesian novel praised in Germany. A novel by Indonesian author Laksmi Pamuntjak, Amba, which was translated into German under the title “Alle Farben Rot”, has sold more than 10,000 copies since sales opened in Germany on Sept. 25. The book has been translated into Dutch under the title “Amba of de Kleur van Rood”, and is set to be printed in the US in July 2016 with “The Question of Red” as its title. 



December 10



(85) Poet Leon Agusta, a seminal modern Indonesian literary figure, died on Thursday in his hometown of Padang, West Sumatra. He was 77. Leon Agusta was the penname of Ridwan Ilyas, who was born in Sigiran, Maninjau, on Aug. 5, 1938. The poet, whose works from 1962 to 2011 were compiled in Gendang Pengembara (The Drifter’s Drum), is survived by wife Margaret Rose Glade and son Paul Agusta. His latest book of poems is Gendang Pengembara, which reflects his wanderings, or explorations of poetry and literature throughout the decades of his career. 



(86) The 15 Best Books of 2015, fifteen books that made the grade, selected by Harpers Bazaar magazine. One of them is Beauty Is A Wound, a touching combination of romance, tragedy, and satire, the novel follows the women of one family over many generations as their struggles reflect the Indonesia’s turbulent past and its battle for independence.

(87) This is the second, third, and fourth part in a six-part series on literature in translation from Indonesia. Read an interview with literary translator and co-founder of the Lontar Foundation John McGlynn, an excerpt from Leila S. Chudori‘s novel Home about Indonesian political exiles after 1965, and fiction by Abidah El Khalieqy about a Muslim woman writer taking on the patriarchy of conservative Islam. The following is the fourth installment in this series, an interview with Intan Paramaditha on the political potential of horror and writing as a feminist practice.



December 11



(88) Happy to see that The Guardian found our Writer’s page worth a share. See if you can find “Nukila Amal” on this post 😉 



December 12



(89) Benedict Richard O’Gorman Anderson, an Indonesianist with Cornell University, US died at the age of 79 on Saturday night during a nostalgic visit to Indonesia. During his life, Anderson’s works became references for scholars and students in Indonesia, such as Java in a Time of Revolution, Debating World Literature, Language and Power: Exploring Political Cultures in Indonesia, and Imagined Communities. 



December 14



(90) Six emerging names who will likely become even more influential in the coming year. And Aan Mansyur is one of them.



December 15



(91) Eka Kurniawan’s Beauty Is a Wound and Leila S Chudori’s Home among World Literature Today’s 75 Notable Translations of 2015. 



December 16-19



(92) Festival Sastra Islam Nusantara 2015 in Makassar. 


December 19



(93) Young Indonesian poet and writer Rain Chudori launched a compilation of her short stories “Monsoon Tiger and Other Stories” in Jakarta. Published by Kepustakaan Popular Gramedia (KPG), the book consists of eight short stories written over the course of her life, beginning when she was just 14 years old. All written in English, Rain said these tales are inspired by her own experiences. 



December 22



(94) Eka Kurniawan, has been selected as one of Foreign Policy’s 100 Leading Global Thinkers 2015 for pinning Indonesian literature on the map.


(95) “Sergius Mencari Bacchus” by Norman Erikson Pasaribu; “Kawitan” by Ni Made Purnama Sari; and “Ibu Mendulang, Anak Berlari: Kumpulan Puisi Pendek di Atas Celemek” by Cyntha Hariadi won 2015 Manuscripts of Poetry Book Competition by The Jakarta Arts Council (DKJ). 



December 26


(96) Yet another good news from Eka Kurniawan. Following Cantik Itu Luka & Lelaki Harimau, Eka Kurniawan’s novel, Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas, will be available in English-translation. Love and Vengeance, translated by Annie Tucker, expected to be released in spring 2017. 




(97) 16 titles have been nominated for Manuscripts of Poetry Book competition – ILTF Award 2016

(98) Translation rights for “Beauty Is a Wound” have been sold for a total of 23 international editions, with 27 publishers.

December 30



(99) Kambing dan Hujan, a novel by Mahfud Ikhwan, –the winner of Sayembara Novel DKJ 2014–, has won a Karya Sastra Terbaik 2015 conducted by Jakartabeat.


December 31



(100) Ika Natassa and Twitter Indonesia start a #PollStory project, as Ika Natassa writes a Twitter story (one episode at a time every Tue & Thurs), & people will help her decide what should happen at the end of each episode.