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Maya
Nuril Basri
Written by Shawn Hoo, originally published in Straits Times
Sep 14, 2024
Maya
Nuril Basri
Written by Shawn Hoo, originally published in Straits Times
Sep 14, 2024
Sold as a “tragicomic tale of an Indonesian migrant worker’s voyage through love and betrayal”, Indonesian writer Nuril Basri’s third novel does not accomplish enough emotional depth to qualify as tragedy, comedy or anywhere in between.
Maya is, at best, an episodic and lightweight account of the sexual coming-of-age of its titular hero. A Jakarta-born virgin on the verge of turning 30, Maya tries to turn her life around by working as a server aboard a European cruise ship – only to meet annoying bosses, flirtatious men and pretentious patrons.
Maya is, at best, an episodic and lightweight account of the sexual coming-of-age of its titular hero. A Jakarta-born virgin on the verge of turning 30, Maya tries to turn her life around by working as a server aboard a European cruise ship – only to meet annoying bosses, flirtatious men and pretentious patrons.
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