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
January 24, 2026 by
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
January 16, 2026 by
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?
January 11, 2026 by
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...]
Malam Seribu Jahanam
January 4, 2026 by
All happy families resemble one another, each unhappy family is unhappy in its own way. But that is only the tip of the iceberg. Malam Seribu Jahanam, Intan Paramaditha’s second novel after the critically acclaimed Gentayangan in 2017 (published as The Wandering in English translation in 2020) is … [Read more...]