This is an Indonesian-language book, but I’m writing the review in English because its quality deserves the broader attention as a hidden gem of Indonesian literature. It is a book of 10 short stories, that aims to portray the many different point of views in a diverse society: 1. A crippled boy … [Read more...]
Nuril Basri’s Maya is a lightweight coming-of-age tale set on board a cruise ship
September 14, 2024 by
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 … [Read more...]
Hello says the mountain
May 15, 2024 by
In the opening pages of Isna Marifa’s debut novel, Sapaan Sang Giri, a young Javanese girl awakes to the sound of her father’s voice intruding on her dreams. ‘Come, my girl, get up!’ he calls. ‘Come and see. The ship’s coming into port.’ The year is 1751, and father and daughter have been at sea for … [Read more...]
Book Review: The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties by Jesse Q. Sutanto
May 8, 2024 by
In bestselling author Jesse Q. Sutanto's The Good, the Bad, and the Aunties, the third installment in the Aunties series, a celebration descends into chaos when foes crash the party. Newlywed Meddy Chan is looking forward to jetting straight from her European honeymoon with her beloved husband … [Read more...]
