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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

Alicia Keys attends Variety's Power of Women: New York at Cipriani Wall Street on April 13, 2018 in New York City.

Books

Alicia Keys' memoir set to release in November

Alicia Keys' first book is to be published by Oprah Winfrey's nonfiction imprint with Flatiron Books.

6 years ago

South Korean writer Hwang Sok-yong poses in Paris on March 16, 2016.

Books

Korean writer on long list for Man Booker International Prize

Novelist Hwang Sok-yong, one of the most acclaimed writers in South Korea today, has been long-listed for the 2019 Man Booker International Prize for "At Dusk".

6 years ago

Stories of women: Desi Anwar tells five stories of five young women growing up facing humiliation, disappointment and loss in "Lima Cerita", the Indonesian translation of her first foray into fiction "Growing Pains".

Books

Desi Anwar’s five stories seek to soothe pain of growing up

Growing up is hard to do. And the worst part is that it never ends. In her first foray into fiction, journalist and writer Desi Anwar takes readers by the hand to show them that they are not alone in their struggles and that there “isn’t much a cup of tea can’t help with”.

6 years ago

Elif Shafak speaks in the English PEN Literary Salon on the first day of the 2019 London Book Fair on March 12 at Olympia Hall, London, England.

Books

‘Extremists polarize humanity, storytellers do exact opposite’: Elif Shafak

The Jakarta Post talked to Elif Shafak on the sidelines of the London Book Fair, discussing politics and literature, gender discrimination in the publishing industry and Rumi.

6 years ago

The London Book Fair 2019 opens on March 12 at the Olympia London exhibition center in Kensington, London.

Books

Indonesian publishers win LBF International Excellence Awards 2019

The London Book Fair (LBF) has recognized two Indonesian publishers with its International Excellence Awards 2019.

6 years ago

'Prabu Anom', the Sundanese version of 'The Little Prince'.

Books

'The Little Prince' becomes Sundanese in 'Prabu Anom'

Translator Syauqi Stya Lacksana has introduced "Prabu Anom", the Sundanese version of the beloved "The Little Prince".

6 years ago

Books

Dr. Seuss lawsuit over Star Trek-themed parody is dismissed

A US judge dismissed a lawsuit by Dr. Seuss Enterprises to stop publication of a "Star Trek"-themed book parodying the Seuss book "Oh, the Places You'll Go!".

6 years ago

Talk about love: Speaking in a press conference for upcoming poetry-musical musical performance titled 'Cinta Tak Pernah Sederhana' (Love is never simple) are (from left) actors Atiqah Hasiholan, Marsha Timothy, Reza Rahadian, Chelsea Islan and Sita Nursanti, and producer Happy Salma.

Books

Love Is Never Simple: Love poems to be made into musical

Love poems by Indonesian literary legends – from W.S. Rendra to Chairil Anwar – are set to charm audiences through a musical performance titled Cinta Tak Pernah Sederhana (Love is never simple).

6 years ago

Enlightenment: In the pre-Islamic era, Balinese and Javanese people regularly practiced yoga for spirituality, lovemaking and preparing for their imminent death.

Books

‘Dharma Pātañjala’: a compelling look at yoga practices in ancient Bali

Dharma Pātañjala, a new book by French researcher Andrea Acri, reveals that Balinese and Javanese people in the olden days took yoga very seriously. Yoga was an inseparable part of their love life and their preparation for death.

6 years ago

A member of staff poses holding a first edition copy of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' by British author J K Rowling annotated by Rowling that will form part of the 'English PEN First Editions, Second Thoughts Sale' at Sotheby's auction house in central London on May 20, 2013.

Books

First edition copy of 'Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone' could fetch $79,000 at auction

A first edition of "Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone" is part of Bonhams' "Fine Books, Manuscripts, Atlases and Historical Photographs" auction set to take place in London later this month.

6 years ago

Mutual respect: CEO of the Frankfurt Book Fair Juergen Boos meets with author Nuril Basri in a Tangerang restaurant to discuss reading, writing and cruise ships.

Books

The increasing global visibility of Indonesian authors

For nearly four years since Indonesia attended the 2015 Frankfurt Book Fair as a guest of honor, Indonesian literature has been going through an exciting period in terms of global recognition.

6 years ago

The opening ceremony of the 2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival.

Books

Ubud Writers and Readers Festival introduces 2019 theme

The Ubud Writers and Readers Festival has unveiled its theme and artwork for this year.

6 years ago

In this file photo taken on October 13, 2016, a woman takes pictures of the Swedish Academy in Stockholm, Sweden, where the laureate of the 2016 Nobel Prize in Literature was announced.

Books

Two Nobel literature prizes to be awarded this year after Academy cleans house

Two Nobel prizes will be awarded for literature this year after the Swedish literary academy that chooses the winner cleaned house following scandals that prevented last year's prize from being given, the Nobel Foundation said on Tuesday.

6 years ago

The 2018 London Book Fair at the Olympia Hall, London. The Baltic Countries were the Market Focus during last year's book fair.

Books

'London welcomes Indonesia': 2019 London Book Fair marks 70 years of Indonesia-UK bilateral relations

“In the UK, there are 5,000 islands of receptivity waiting for your creation to come,” said Smith, “London welcomes Indonesia next week.”

6 years ago

Organizing book clubs in Indonesia, a country where reading is not a popular activity, is no easy task.

Books

By the way: The hungry heart’s weekend book club

Organizing book clubs in Indonesia, a country where reading is not a popular activity, is no easy task.

6 years ago

Preview shoppers at Big Bad Wolf 2018 at ICE BSD, Tangerang, on March 28, 2018.

Books

Big Bad Wolf 2019 visitors hunt for affordable books

Big Bad Wolf 2019 offers 60 to 80 percent discounts on books.

6 years ago

Books

A veteran at 11, South African author poised to publish fifth book

In between public speaking engagements and running a charitable foundation, South African Stacey Fru is working hard on her fourth and fifth books.

6 years ago

Britain's Camilla, Duchess of Cornwall, addresses the audience at the Guildhall in central London on October 17, 2017, before announcing the winner of the 2017 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

Books

Britain's Booker Prize lives on with new sponsor

Britain's most prestigious literary prize will revert to being as known as the Booker Prize this year after securing a new sponsor, it announced on Thursday.

6 years ago

The model of Indonesia's national stand for the 2019 London Book Fair, to be held on March 12-14 in London.

Books

Indonesian publishers short-listed for London Book Fair’s Excellence Awards

Since Indonesia will be the Market Focus Country at the upcoming event, the awards feature two special categories, namely The Market Focus Indonesia Children’s, Young Adult and Education Award and The Market Focus Indonesia Adult Trade Award.

6 years ago

'Sing, Unburied, Sing' is a novel by Mississippi native Jesmyn Ward.

Books

'Sing, Unburied, Sing' lends lyrical prose to dark themes

Set in the fictional town of Bois, Sauvage, Mississippi, the book opens with teenage boy Jojo questioning what death is as he’s about to help his grandfather Pop slaughter a goat.

6 years ago

All smiles: Author Eka Kurniawan poses with his Prince Claus Award certificate during an event held by Dutch Ambassador to Indonesia Rob Swartbol in Jakarta.

Books

Eka Kurniawan celebrates Prince Claus Award in town

Author Eka Kurniawan was surrounded by family, friends and peers as they celebrated his outstanding achievements in literature.

6 years ago

Into history: Empire of the Winds reads well but its more a reference book.

Books

Seas rose, islands appeared, cultures evolved in ‘Empire of the Winds’

When an author sets out to write “the history of the world’s biggest, most important archipelago – from its birth following the last ice age to today” readers wonder about this grand ambition.

6 years ago

Road stories: 'Going South to the North' by Felix Dass captures life on the road with one of Indonesia's most successful indie-pop bands, White Shoes and The Couples Company.

Books

New book takes fans on WSATCC tour to Northern Territory

Writer and music critic Felix Dass has captured one of Indonesia's most successful indie-pop bands through on-tour and behind-the-scenes images in Going South to the North.

6 years ago

A feminist author collected essays from 18 Muslim women whose lives tell a different story, including her own.

Books

What does it mean to be a Muslim woman? New book presents 18 views

A feminist author collected essays from 18 Muslim women whose lives tell a different story, including her own.

6 years ago

Hipster cafe: Visitors flock to Kafe Sastra, which is located in the lobby of publisher Balai Pustaka on Jl. Bunga in East Jakarta.

Books

The revival of Balai Pustaka

The country’s oldest publisher has come to life again.

6 years ago

Books

What chefs think of James Patterson’s new thriller, ‘The Chef’

James Patterson publishes books faster than most people read them. Over a four-decade career, he’s produced 250 titles and sold more than 385 million copies.

6 years ago

The writer is indeed very busy as she is about to hop on the luxurious World Cruise 2019 of cruise line Silversea’s Silver Whisper themed “The Tale of Tales”.

Books

Laksmi Pamuntjak’s first English novel ‘Srikandi’ acquired by Penguin Random House

Laksmi’s book included in the Penguin Random House India and Southeast Asia (SEA)'s inaugural catalogue is Srikandi (Fall Baby), her third novel but the first one written in English.

6 years ago

Books

‘Not A Virgin’ author brings his books to English readers

Dysfunctional families, loneliness, insecurity and, in one book, living as part of a minority in a foreign land are all parts of the world that author Nuril Basri has crafted in his books.

6 years ago

'The Flower Girls' by Alice Clark-Platts.

Books

Alice Clark-Platts on 'The Flower Girls' and the beauty of evil

Three girls go to a park but only two come back. The murder of 2-year-old Kirstie Swann at the hands of two sisters Laurel and Primrose Bowman, aged 10 and 6, takes the spotlight in 'The Flower Girls' by Alice Clark-Platts.

6 years ago