Winning the 2020 Southeast Asian Writers Award for her novel Laut Bercerita (The Sea Speaks his Name), did not bring peace of mind for author and journalist Leila S. Chudori. The novel, published in December 2017 and inspired by real events, tells the story of activists who were kidnapped, … [Read more...]
Indonesian travel novel a tribute to open borders
August 6, 2020 by
'The Wandering' attacks male privilege, but extols a bygone era of nomadic freedom. BANGKOK -- More than nine years ago the Indonesian feminist writer Intan Paramaditha began working on her first novel, a structurally ambitious pop fable that aimed primarily at liberating women from traditional … [Read more...]
Who Are the Real Villains in “The Majesties”?
January 25, 2020 by
Tiffany Tsao on Western gatekeeping and the future of Indonesian literature. The opening of Tiffany Tsao’s The Majesties does not let you get away with murder: “When your sister murders three hundred people, you can’t help but wonder why – especially if you were one of the intended victims.” … [Read more...]
To Buru Island: A Journey to the Dark Side of Indonesia’s Past
January 25, 2020 by
Mars Noersmono’s story is a first-person account of a nation’s shame. Mars Noersmono has a story he’s determined to tell. It’s deeply disturbing — a tale of horror and courage, despair and resilience. Although primarily about Indonesia’s bloody and brutal past, it’s also a sober warning … [Read more...]
Baby all grown up
January 5, 2020 by
Laksmi Pamuntjak's new novel Fall Baby sees its protagonist discovering her true parentage and encountering censorship of her work. Art, politics and the relationships between women make for a heady combination in Indonesian writer Laksmi Pamuntjak's new novel Fall Baby, in which an artist … [Read more...]
