The Book of Jakarta is the latest addition to the Reading the City series from Comma Press, presenting ten short stories based in the Indonesian capital. The stories that make up the collection share connected ideals, but each still offers a unique perspective on Jakarta, ranging from the political … [Read more...]
A Close Reading Of Eka Kurniawan’s Suspense-Building In ‘Man Tiger’
January 16, 2021 by
The closing lines of this 2016 Man Booker International Prize-nominated novel by Eka Kurniawan reads: “Marry my mother and she’ll be happy.” Anwar Sadat shook his head nervously. and his reply came out brokenly. “That’s impossible, you know I have a wife and daughters,” Something in his … [Read more...]
Review: The Book of Jakarta
January 7, 2021 by
What do you know about Jakarta, or Indonesia? If the answer is “not much” then you should definitely pick up this collection of short stories. And if the answer is “a lot, actually” well, you should read it too, you will probably relate or find some familiar elements. The Book of Jakarta is a … [Read more...]
The Struggles of the Kretek Workers in Iksaka Banu’s Novel, Sang Raja (The King)
January 6, 2021 by
The novel Sang Raja was written by Iksaka Banu. This novel shows the struggles of people who worked in Bal Tiga kretek cigarette factory in Kudus in the early 1900s, during the Dutch colonial era. The problem in this research is how the efforts of the people who worked in Bal Tiga kretek cigarette … [Read more...]
Kalis Mardiasih’s bold, moderate Islamic interpretation of ‘hijrah’
January 5, 2021 by
Born and raised as a Muslim in Indonesia, I can’t help but notice the increasing popularity of the hijrah (migration) movement, especially among the young generation of Muslims in Indonesia. The transformation of young people from cultural Muslims into more devout ones has become more visible in … [Read more...]
