To be or not to be happy? That is certainly not the question. The soon-to-be-published in America short story collection Happy Stories, Mostly (2021) expresses an LGBTQ+ person’s limited accessibility to happiness in a world plagued with acute heteronormativity. Author Norman Erikson … [Read more...]

The days are getting longer and spring is in the air. Admittedly with such a strange and unsatisfying New England winter, I have been yearning for spring for a while, so it’s a relief to finally have the weather changing and the flowers coming up. And of course there are the spring 2023 new releases … [Read more...]

In intimate detail, Indonesian writer Pasaribu’s debut collection explores the way colonial violence and anti-queer prejudice permeate contemporary culture. Looking through a queer lens, the reader is invited to witness the psychic damage done by heteronormativity and homophobia. As hinted in the … [Read more...]

Poet Pasaribu makes their English-language debut with a remarkable collection of speculative and absurdist fiction incorporating Batak and Christian culture. In an introductory note, Pasaribu riffs on the Indonesian word hampir (almost), and its implications for queer people (“What does it mean to … [Read more...]

“I have a vision for modern Indonesian cuisine,” writes Pandean-Elliott (Jakarta Bites) in this comprehensive exploration of her homeland’s major gastronomic regions: “to preserve the great traditions of classic recipes while exploring exciting, new possibilities.” The U.K.-based chef identifies … [Read more...]