In late 2017, the Hebrew translation of Eka Kurniawan’s internationally acclaimed novel,Cantik itu Luka (Beauty is a Wound, 2002), was published under the title Yofi Hu Petza‘. As far as I know, this is the first ever publication of an Indonesian novel translated into Hebrew. As permitted by the … [Read more...]
Under Your Wings by Tiffany Tsao
July 31, 2018 by
I am still reeling from this book at the time of reviewing it and I think it is also partly responsible for the strange dreams I have been having over the past few days. Tiffany Tsao’s novel of sisters Gwendolyn and Estella is haunting, disturbing and vivid. It is one of those novels that has such a … [Read more...]
Historical fiction in a time of war and change in Dutch Indonesia – Lian Gouw’s ‘Only a Girl’
July 30, 2018 by
There is an immediate thrill of the visual as one reads the opening sentences of “Only a Girl,” a novel by Lian Gouw. The language is so vivid, that in an instant, the reader is transported to Bandung, Indonesia/The Dutch East Indies, 1932, where “feathery leaves of the tall jacaranda trees” are … [Read more...]
Raden Mandasia Si Pencuri Daging Sapi
July 20, 2018 by
It is not uncommon for us to enjoy adventure/fantasy books, but perhaps it’s pretty hard to find the real gem here in Indonesia, much less the historical one with a grand journey and multiple characters and truly enjoyable narrative that sucks the reader right up from the very first page. Raden … [Read more...]