There are historical crimes much of the world has agreed to half-remember. Indonesia’s anti-communist massacres of 1965–66, when the Indonesian military and its civilian collaborators murdered somewhere between 500,000 and a million people—trade unionists, peasant organizers, ethnic Chinese, … [Read more...]
The ‘Sturm und Drang’ of a teenage girl and Indonesia’s transition to authoritarianism
July 24, 2026 by
Framed against the violent communist purges of 1965, Tari Lang’s debut memoir My Neighbour the Dictator weaves a gripping, Anne Frank–like coming-of-age story of a teenager thrust into Indonesia’s dangerous underground resistance. — Why are coming of age stories immensely popular? Most likely … [Read more...]
‘Just don’t ask me about politics’: How an Indonesian epic warns against staying silent
July 23, 2026 by
“I know something about responsibilities. Just don’t ask me about politics,” Bhisma says to Amba, not knowing that it will change his life. The politics he thinks he can avoid will consume him, and each page turn brings a new shade of red. Indonesian author Laksmi Pamuntjak’s Amba: The Question … [Read more...]
Tari Lang’s ‘My Neighbour, The Dictator’ looks back at Suharto era
July 19, 2026 by
Memoir recounts repression and upheaval in Indonesia through a teenager's eyes. Many Indonesians still approach free speech with caution, as broadly worded laws can be used to stifle criticism of the government. The legacy of what is widely regarded as a three-decade dictatorship has left many … [Read more...]
What’s New in Translation: July 2026
July 19, 2026 by
New titles from Peru, Russia, Italy, Germany, China, Indonesia, Bulgaria, France, Denmark, Egypt, Greece, and Argentina! Halfway through the new year, we’ve got a veering stack of tremendous books behind us, and the remaining months are sure to bring more delights, learnings, and revelations. … [Read more...]
