Indonesia. Unless you are Indonesian by birth or marriage, the name might conjure images of peaceful havens in Bali, stunning batik textiles, or the aroma of premium coffee. Felix Nesi is determined to change this. Nesi is a rising Indonesian novelist and short-story writer who draws on his West … [Read more...]
In Felix Nesi’s debut novel, residents of West Timor grapple with violence, religious and political power, and inner turmoil
March 17, 2026 by
Nothing ‘Normal’ Happens in “Orang-Orang Bloomington” by Budi Darma
March 3, 2026 by
Is the main character… alright? (Genuinely asking lol) I just finished this 212 page short story collection by Budi Darma and reading it felt like I had stumbled onto someone’s anonymous morally messy diary or like someone’s private Twitter account where they dump all their most … [Read more...]
Failed by Love and Life: How “Olenka” by Budi Darma Became My Favorite Read This Year
March 3, 2026 by
In 2024, for about a year, I got caught up in French and English academic journals as additional sources to prepare myself for earning a DELF B2 certificate and a bachelor degree. At the beginning of the year, I befriended bunch of French grammatical books and our relationship went very well to the … [Read more...]
Delay: A Comics Anthology, edited by Charis Loke and Paolo Chikiamco
February 26, 2026 by
T ime is one of the grand themes of literature and art. A new comics anthology, Delay, brings together 11 pieces of graphic fiction in the short form from various Southeast Asian artists including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, and connects the concept of time to such … [Read more...]