Mahfud Ikhwan’s novel blends love, murder mystery, and sociopolitical intrigue rooted in Indonesia’s colonial and postcolonial history. The silky filaments of cottonwood seeds float across the dark Javanese landscape of Mahfud Ikhwan’s mysterious account of a murder foretold with teasing … [Read more...]
Nuril Basri’s Maya is a lightweight coming-of-age tale set on board a cruise ship
September 14, 2024 by
Sold as a “tragicomic tale of an Indonesian migrant worker’s voyage through love and betrayal”, Indonesian writer Nuril Basri’s third novel does not accomplish enough emotional depth to qualify as tragedy, comedy or anywhere in between. Maya is, at best, an episodic and lightweight account of the … [Read more...]
Schools to include Indonesian literature in curricula
May 25, 2024 by
Among those included in the list is a book written by renowned author Pramoedya Ananta Toer titled Bumi Manusia (This Earth of Mankind), which was banned during President Soeharto’s authoritarian regime. The government’s plan to include literary works in all learning levels from elementary to … [Read more...]
Joko Pinurbo dies, Indonesia loses its best poet
May 19, 2024 by
Poet Joko Pinurbo died in Yogyakarta. Indonesian literature has lost one of its best poets. Literature Indonesia is hit by sad news. Poet Joko Pinurbo died at the age of 61 years in Yogyakarta, Saturday (27/4/2024) morning. The man who is familiarly called Jokpin is considered one of the best … [Read more...]
Joko Pinurbo and Beauty in the Everyday World
May 18, 2024 by
The Indonesian literature world is in mourning again after Yudhistira ANM Massardi passed away in early April 2024. Now, poet born in Sukabumi, Joko Pinurbo (61), breathed his last breath on Saturday (27/4/2024). The news of Jokpin's death was conveyed by the editor of Gramedia Pustaka Utama, … [Read more...]