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The knack: Jesse Q. Sutanto has a knack for writing stories brimming with humor, but her greatest strength is her versatility. (Courtesy of Donny Wu)

Books

Jesse Q. Sutanto returns with cozy murder mystery

Slowly but surely building a reputation as one of the most prolific and versatile writers in the industry, Jesse Q. Sutanto’s new book Vera Wong’s Unsolicited Advice for Murderers will be released on March 14.

2 years ago

Books

'Mountains More Ancient' sheds light on Indonesian slavery in South Africa

Author Isna Marifa discusses her time with the Cape Malay people and how it influenced her novel Mountains More Ancient. ...

2 years ago

Books

Understanding the impact of Pramoedya’s 'Buru Quartet'

Leading Australian expert on Indonesia Max Lane recounts late Indonesian literary giant Pramoedya Ananta Toer’s role in inspiring the downfall of former president Soeharto’s New Order regime through his Buru Quartet tetralogy ...

2 years ago

The Latest

Going digital: Indonesian comic creators have turned to social media, mostly Instagram, to showcase their creativity and reach audiences.

Books

Webcomics spread joy, laughter on Instagram

Aspiring Indonesian webcomic artists take pleasure in making their followers smile with the hilarious, awkward and sometimes dry jokes they post on Instagram.

5 years ago

Books

'Fifty Shades' trilogy tops best-selling novels of the decade

The story, with a spotlight on young Anastasia Steele’s BDSM relationship with her wealthy and mysterious older boyfriend Christian Grey, was well-received around the world.

5 years ago

Books

Jia Tolentino’s 'Trick Mirror' is the smartest book of the year

Every decade or so, a nonfiction book arrives that is so good that it causes a seismic shift in the way people think about everyday occurrences.

5 years ago

Moving forward: Author Iksaka Banu tries to move beyond a polarized historical narrative in his works.

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Trace of history: Author Iksaka Banu on coming full circle

Award-winning author Iksaka Banu tells of his adventures in historical fiction.

5 years ago

Connection: Shared histories between Indonesia and Latin America can also be traced in literary works.

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Latin American connection: Can Indonesian literature have the same influence?

Many contemporary Indonesian authors are fascinated by and even draw on Latin American literature. And the big question is, can they influence their Latin American counterparts in the same way?

5 years ago

Books

'Three Women': Sincere account on women, desire and sex

The three women are Maggie, Lina and Sloane. Each of them is grappling with their own sexuality, both in the past and the present.

5 years ago

A person views a portrait of Queen Elizabeth I by artist Steven van der Meulen at Sotheby's auctioneers, ahead of its sale in London in this Nov. 16, 2007 file photo. The painting was sold for £2.6 million ($5.4 million) on Nov. 22, 2007.

Books

Elizabeth I revealed as the translator of Tacitus into English

Elizabeth I, one of England's best-loved monarchs, has been revealed to be the translator behind an English version of an ancient text by Tacitus who described the high politics, treachery and debauchery of the Roman elite.

5 years ago

A voice within: Author Laksmi Pamuntjak published her latest novel "Fall Baby" last month. The sequel to "Amba" (The Question of Red) is one of very few novels written in English by an Indonesian author. It was published by Penguin Random House.

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Author delivers strong message about art, bigotry

Author Laksmi Pamuntjak has just finished her Australian book tour.

5 years ago

'Memikirkan Kata: Panduan Menulis Untuk Semua' (Contemplating Words: A Writing Guide for Everyone)

Books

'Memikirkan Kata' deciphers one of the greatest writing conundrums: Producing words

I prefer to call Memikirkan Kata a ‘lesson-learned aspects of writing’ book instead of a technical guide.

5 years ago

Books

Female comic superhero fights India's sex traffickers, challenges stigma

A female superhero will use her powers to fight sex crimes in India and the stigma that trafficking survivors face, in the third installment of a comic series due to be released this week.

5 years ago

Fiction: Through his latest novel, "The President", author Mohamad Sobary aims to fight injustice.

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‘The President’: Mohamad Sobary’s political commentary

Society has become more aware of political issues, and the increasing presence of political commentary within the media is proof of that.

5 years ago

Glamor: A mini fashion show, depicting traditional cloths worn in classical and contemporary styles inspired by the book, is staged.

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Looking stylish and spot-on in Indonesian ‘wastra’

The recognition of batik as an intangible cultural heritage of humanity on Oct. 1, 2009, which also marked National Batik Day, has expanded the market for the traditional cloth as Indonesians now wear batik shirts or dresses, or even kebaya, to work.

5 years ago

On a list titled “The 10 Best Translated Novels of the Decade”, Literary Hub deputy editor Emily Firetog praises Tucker’s English translation of 'Cantik Itu Luka' – published in 2015 – for its ability to amplify Eka’s unique literary voice and authorial intention without robbing the novel of its essence.

Books

‘Beauty is a Wound’ among Literary Hub's best translated novels of the decade

Eka Kurniawan’s critically acclaimed contemporary literature classic Cantik Itu Luka (Beauty is a Wound) continues to make rounds worldwide as Annie Tucker’s English translation of the novel was recently recognized by literary website Literary Hub as “one of the best translated novels of the decade”.

5 years ago

Books

'The Creative Curve': Creativity principles and what you can do to be more creative

To illustrate the creativity essentials, Gannett introduces the “Creative Curve” along with four primary tenets that accompany the process of being a creative individual.

5 years ago

Margaret Atwood shows her award after she was made a Companion of Honour by Queen Elizabeth II at an investiture ceremony at Windsor Castle, Windsor, Britain, on October 25, 2019.

Books

Margaret Atwood’s Booker Prize-winning sequel to ‘The Handmaid’s Tale’ is bigger, darker

If “The Handmaid’s Tale” served as the readers’ introduction to the controlling, twisted world of Gilead, then “The Testaments” is the expansion of that narrative.

5 years ago

The book 'Petualangan Dana' (Dana's Adventure) was created by the Bandung-based Syamsi Dhuha Foundation for children with low vision.

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New book encourages children with limited vision to read

The Syamsi Dhuha Foundation launched a book to inspire children with limited vision to read and be more curious.

6 years ago

Engaging learning: Paulina (left) encourages her students to participate actively as she leads her third-grade class in reading from a digital book, projected onto the classroom's wall.

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Digital books in 'the jungle': One teacher’s journey

Digital books make reading fun and interesting for students at schools that have limited access to books in the country’s remote corners, like Malinau in North Kalimantan.

6 years ago

Donald Trump Jr attended Global Business Summit 2018 held in New Delhi

Books

Donald Trump Jr. has a few grievances to air in upcoming book

The president’s oldest son, Donald Trump Jr., airs some of the family’s grievances over the probe into Russian 2016 election meddling -- and many other topics, including Barack Obama’s Nobel Peace Prize -- in a new book.

6 years ago

Collaboration: Indonesian writer and stage actress Angelina Enny (right) and Dutch actor, musician and stage actor Robin Block emphasize Indonesian-Dutch connection in their book.

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‘In between’: Discovering Indonesian-Dutch connection through poetry

An exchange program helps an Indonesian author and her Dutch counterpart explore common ground.

6 years ago

Books

Balikpapan greets Big Bad Wolf book sale with enthusiasm

The first day of Big Bad Wolf book sale in Balikpapan saw enthusiasm from the city's residents.

6 years ago

The master of cosmic horror returns with the collection "A Lush and Seething Hell," which examines the violence of the human condition in two equally chilling novellas.

Books

Four spooky books to devour just in time for Halloween

Here is a selection of spine-chilling books to read for Halloween... if you dare.

6 years ago

US musician Prince performs during half-time at Super Bowl XLI at Dolphin Stadium in Miami between the Chicago Bears and the Indianapolis Colts on February 4, 2007.

Books

Dig if you will the picture... of Prince, in his own words

Master of funk, musical genius, radical visionary -- praise for the legendary artist Prince flies off the tongue, but for the co-author of his new memoir, no words can truly encapsulate working with the late artist.

6 years ago

Books

Big Bad Wolf book sale to visit Balikpapan in November

Slated to take place at the Balikpapan Sport and Convention Center (Dome Balikpapan) on Jl. Ruhui Rahayu, the event will be open from 8 a.m. until midnight.

6 years ago

Into stories: Digital platform Storial.co launches the Storial AudioStory featuring more than 31,000 titles from writers throughout Indonesia.

Books

Into stories: Digital platform launches audiobooks at UWRF

Launched at the 2019 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF), Storial AudioStory is available for some of the platform’s 31,000 titles by 100,000 Indonesian authors.

6 years ago

Books for all: Nila Tanzil is known for her various humanitarian activities, including setting up Taman Bacaan Pelangi (Rainbow Reading Park), which distributes books to children in eastern Indonesia.

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Giving as a way of life: Nila Tanzil on the addictiveness of generosity

Nila Tanzil's latest book, The Art of Giving Back, celebrates the joys that come with giving to others.

6 years ago

Author Jean-Yves Ferri and illustrator Didier Conrad pose with a figure of the character Adrenaline and their new Asterix comic album 'La Fille De Vercingetorix' (Asterix and the Chieftain's daughter) during an interview in Vanves near Paris, France, on October 22, 2019.

Books

Asterix gets update with female heroine in latest outing

Asterix, the indomitable pint-sized Gaul forever outfoxing the Romans, returns this week for his 38th comic book adventure "Asterix and the Chieftain's Daughter" featuring for the first time in its 60 year history a female heroine.

6 years ago

US President Donald Trump speaks to the press during a meeting with President of Finland Sauli Niinisto at the White House October 2, 2019, in Washington, DC.

Books

'Anonymous' Trump critic coming out with book

A senior US official who penned a newspaper column anonymously last year warning of the dangers of President Donald Trump is coming out with a book.

6 years ago

The exhibition of the guest of honor, Norway, is pictured a day prior to the opening of the Frankfurt book fair 2019 in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on October 15, 2019.

Books

Brexit, climate, racism: The Frankfurt book fair in quotes

From being "embarrassed" about Brexit to losing sleep over the climate crisis, here's a look at what star authors had to say about the state of the world at this week's Frankfurt book fair, which ends Sunday.

6 years ago

Former punk vocalist-turned-poet Edo Wallad's first poetry book is an ode to restless nights and wild city living.

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Poet Edo Wallad experiments with 'Party Before the End of the World'

Edo Wallad used to spend his time rocking out with his dance-punk band The Safari at dingy underground clubs around town, but ever since then, he has found another channel for his creativity: poetry.

6 years ago