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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

The National Book Committee will hold Litbeat Festival to encourage collaborations among the book industry with the creative industry ecosystem.

Books

Litbeat Festival to boost collaborations among book, creative industries

The National Book Committee will hold Litbeat Festival to encourage collaborations among the book industry with the creative industry ecosystem.

6 years ago

Books

By the way: Why I’m not a multi-millionaire

After the last of my travel books, I returned to a favorite Legian Beach village in Bali to find that my favorable review had brought great harm to the original villagers.

6 years ago

Books

Final 'Girl With Dragon Tattoo' novel hits shelves

It is only right that a best-selling novel series about an unstoppable computer-hacker assassin should go out with a bang.

6 years ago

Picture perfect: The 'Tawali Pasana' docks in the blue-green waters of the serene Triton Bay in Kaimana regency, West Papua.

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‘Salt Water and Spear Tips’: Danish adventurer recounts New Guinea expedition

Danish filmmaker, adventurer and illustrator Thor F. Jensen tells of his journey circumnavigating New Guinea in his upcoming book, Salt Water and Spear Tips.

6 years ago

In this handout photo received by AFP on August 22, 2019, Bob Dylan (C) poses for a photo at his fiftieth birthday in 1991, with friends Louie Kemp (L) and Larry (last name unknown).

Books

When Bob was Bobby: Memoir offers insider's look at enigmatic Dylan

Bob Dylan's childhood best friend Louie Kemp has released a backstage pass of sorts into the mythology of Dylan, in the form of a memoir released this week, dishing on everything from the folk hero's Passover Seder meal with Marlon Brando to his own food fight at a Chinese restaurant with Joan Baez.

6 years ago

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Palestinian author Adania Shibli strikes balance between politics, self

Through her stories, Adania Shibli highlights the many difficult situations that have become a part of Palestinians' daily life.

6 years ago

'Buku Latihan Soal - Mantappu Jiwa' by Jerome Polin Sijabat, published by PT Gramedia Pustaka Utama.

Books

Jerome Polin tells all in 'Mantappu Jiwa'

Having garnered more than 1.8 million subscribers on YouTube, Jerome has started another chapter in his life by releasing his first book Buku Latihan Soal – Mantappu Jiwa.

6 years ago

'A Song of Ice and Fire' by George R. R. Martin, with a Game of Thrones dragon cover DVD collection

Books

George R. R. Martin to continue ‘Game of Thrones’ despite HBO’s controversial ending

Even though one possible ending has been explored in the HBO television show, Game of Thrones creator George R. R. Martin is still continuing on his plans to finish the book series.

6 years ago

Forgotten: The colonial authority labeled books, magazines, and other reading materials written by writers affiliated to the resistance movement as "wild literatures".

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Festival showcases Indonesia's 'wild literature' of the colonial era

The modern Indonesia language was once used as a weapon of destruction against the nation's literary traditions.

6 years ago

Indonesia's booth at the 2019 Beijing International Book Fair.

Books

Indonesia takes part in 2019 Beijing International Book Fair

Five Indonesian publishers are to take part in the 2019 Beijing International Book Fair, namely Gramedia Publishers, Mizan Group, Kanisius, Torch Library and Litara Foundation.

6 years ago

Out now: Nuril Basri’s latest novel 'Rasa' (Feelings) is published simultaneously in Indonesia and Malaysia this year.

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‘Rasa’: Stop whining and start living

Nuril Basri’s latest novel Rasa (Feelings) can be read as a satire which makes fun of the naïveté of middle-class Jakartans.

6 years ago

A photo shows a coin displaying the Little Prince character on March 21, 2016 at the Monnaie de Paris in Pessac, western France .

Books

'The Little Prince' sketches found in Switzerland

Early sketches of "The Little Prince", the world famous creation of French writer Antoine de Saint-Exupery, have been found in storage in northern Switzerland.

6 years ago

Janet DeNeefe (right), founder of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, presented the Lifetime Achievement Award to writer Sapardi Djoko Damono during the festival’s opening ceremony in Puri Ubud, Bali, on Oct. 24, 2018.

Books

Irvine Welsh, Lindy West among 2019 Ubud Writers & Readers Festival lineup

This year, participants are coming from various countries around the globe, including Italy, Colombia, Cameroon, Thailand, Turkey, Portugal, Pakistan and more.

6 years ago

Discussing a legend: Moderator Frisca Clarissa (left), writer A. Fuadi (second left), Lafran Pane's nephew Nina Pane (center), politician Akhmad Muqowam (second right) and researcher Hariqo Wibawa talk about Fuadi's new book, 'Merdeka Sejak Hati', in a discussion at the National Library in Jakarta.

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'Merdeka Sejak Hati’: A Tribute to Lafran Pane

Even though the Association of Islamic Students (HMI) is the biggest student organization in Indonesia, nobody has ever truly dug deep into the story of its founder Lafran Pane. That is, until now.

6 years ago

Books

Ministry launches guide books for identifying protected species

The books are connected to an app run by the police’s Investigation Department (Bareskrim).

6 years ago

US President Barack Obama presents the Presidential Medal of Freedom to author Toni Morrison during a ceremony in the East Room of the White House in Washington, DC on May 29, 2012.

Books

Toni Morrison: Five key novels

Nobel- and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist Toni Morrison, a leading figure in African-American literature, has explored slavery's enduring legacy in a poetic, raw voice that has influenced generations of writers.

6 years ago

A Marcel Proust original edition of 'Du cote de chez Swann' (Swann's Way) is displayed at Sotheby's auction company in Paris on September 28, 2017, ahead of its scheduled sale on October 30.

Books

Newly discovered Proust novellas to be published in October

Fans of French literary giant Marcel Proust will soon have the chance to read nine novellas from early in his career that were only unearthed last year, the publishing house said Monday.

6 years ago

'Stealing with the Eyes: Imaginings and Incantations in Indonesia' by Will Buckingham

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‘Stealing with the Eyes’: Bewitched, bothered and bewildered

A British anthropologist recounts the imaginings and incantations he encountered during his adventures to the Tanimbar Islands in Maluku.

6 years ago

Adventurer: Kirli can often be seen riding her motorbike around southeast Australia. The freedom she feels on a motorbike helps her creative process.

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Author Kirli Saunders brings her Aboriginal roots into the limelight

Native Australian culture is often lost and forgotten, but one writer wants to bring it the attention it deserves.

6 years ago

Former US National Security Agency (NSA) contractor and whistle blower Edward Snowden speaks via video link from Russia as he takes part in a round table meeting on the subject of

Books

Former NSA contractor Edward Snowden publishing memoir

Edward Snowden, the former National Security Agency contractor who fled to Russia after leaking information about the US government’s mass surveillance program, is publishing a memoir.

6 years ago

Books

Four highly anticipated follow-up novels out this fall

Here is a selection of four sequels that will make you long for back-to-school season.

6 years ago

Voices from the South: The upcoming Jakarta International Literary Festival (JILF) is to feature a number of Asian and African authors, including (first row from left) Indian poet and queer activist Akhil Katyal, Turkish poet Bejan Matu, Bostwana’s Legodile Seganabeng, (second row) Thailand’s Prabda Yoon, South African writer-journalist Zainab Priya Dala and Indonesia’s Zen Ha.

Books

Jakarta’s literary festival to highlight Southern identity

Authors from Asia and Africa are to take center stage at the first-ever Jakarta International Literary Festival, which runs from Aug. 20 to 24.

6 years ago

Literacy observer and literature professor at Malang State University Djoko Saryono said improving literacy access was important in preventing knowledge gaps in society.

Books

Malang festival promotes literacy with mobile book market

Held for the second time after it was introduced in Yogyakarta in March, the event displays over 8,000 titles; all on offer with a discount of up to 80 percent.

6 years ago

Pakistani police officer and crime stories writer Omar Shahid Hamid gestures as he speaks during an interview with AFP in Karachi on May 21, 2019.

Books

Karachi vice: Pakistani cop channels police stories into gritty novels

Personal tragedy haunts the hard-boiled novels that are turning top cop Omar Shahid Hamid into one of Pakistan's most popular English-language authors.

6 years ago

Books

From ‘kecap’ to ‘rendang’: Indonesian cookbooks win Gourmand Awards

Indonesian cuisine is enjoying a spot in the limelight yet again, with three culinary books by an independent publisher, Afterhours Books, winning in the 2019 Gourmand Awards.

6 years ago

Books

Big Bad Wolf book sale heads to Yogyakarta

The Big Bad Wolf book sale will head to Yogyakarta for the first time on Aug. 2 to 12.

6 years ago

Teenage adventure: Rizal Iwan's successful series has been acquired for a movie adaptation, which is still in early development.

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‘Creepy Case Club’: Preteen horror series with Indonesian twist

Rizal Iwan’s horror series follows the adventures of three 10-year-old friends and budding detectives who discover that there's more truth to Indonesia's supernatural tales than they realized.

6 years ago