“Borneo: The History of an Enigma” by Olivier Hein

A book that attempts to tell the story of one of the world’s largest and most complex islands across vast spans of time—from deep geological history to the urgent pressures of the present—Olivier Hein’s Borneo: The History of an Enigma announces its ambition from the first pages. Such scale is … [Read more...]

Different Reasons for Marginalizing Women

The noun phrase "Heart Lamp" used by Banu Mushtaq to compose the poignant story of a Kannada Muslim woman signifies more than a literal lamp. It symbolizes a metaphorical lamp that once brightened a woman's heart; a light that dimmed over time, obscured by the shadows of her suffering as a … [Read more...]

Strange Distances

The Wallace Line is a faunal boundary line in the Indo-Australian Archipelago. Drawn in the mid-nineteenth century by the English naturalist Alfred Russel Wallace, it cuts through the Indian Ocean between Bali and Lombok, upwards into the Makassar Strait between Borneo and Celebes, and … [Read more...]

‘Next Time Will Be Our Turn’ explores love, loss and loyalty

Jesse Q. Sutanto is no stranger to blending genres: From murder mystery romantic comedy “Dial A for Aunties” to the cozy and humorous “Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers,” Sutanto skillfully crafts fun and charismatic stories that leave you both in suspense and with a good laugh. She … [Read more...]

What could be more terrifying than a devil who speaks the truth?

I’m determined to finish my Around the World in 80 Books reading challenge this year, and yes, I did say that last year too   It has got more challenging as time has gone on because I’m dependent on what has been translated, so I was delighted to find Indonesian writer Intan Paramaditha included in … [Read more...]

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