Moving portraits of everyday grace in an impressive debut collection. One of the standout scenes in Rendang rises from a second-hand memory in the daydream of a bored poet in a dressing room. A couple see a woman on the street dancing, hood over head, can of Diet Coke in hand: “The wind blew/and … [Read more...]
‘I can walk… because I have legs’ Putu Oka Sukanta’s novel ‘Spaces’
February 29, 2020 by
“I can walk, not because someone made a path for me, but because I have legs.”I consider this the defining statement in Spaces, the English-language version of Putu Oka Sukanta’s 2018 Celah. The author himself describes his book as “a work that weaves together elements of fact and the workings of … [Read more...]
UWRF to ponder consequences of human actions
February 25, 2020 by
More than 100 authors, activists, and journalists from 30 countries will gather at the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) in Bali from Oct. 23 to 27 to share their stories and ideas on karma. Karma — the theme of this year’s UWRF — is derived from the Balinese Hindus’ spiritual principle of … [Read more...]
Putu Oka Sukanta brings historical memory to wider audience
February 25, 2020 by
The story starts in present-day Jakarta, on the morning of a human rights conference. An older narrator wakes up and argues with his wife as married couples do. He chats with the taxi driver on the way to the meeting hall before taking the stage. The narrator, it becomes clear, is a former … [Read more...]
Film adaptation of Eka Kurniawan’s novel sets sights on global market
February 23, 2020 by
The third novel by award-winning author Eka Kurniawan, Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas, peculiarly given the international title Vengeance is Mine, All Others Pay Cash, has its cards lined up to become the next most-awaited movie. There is still another year to go before the movie hits … [Read more...]
