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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

Homage: The 568-page book is packed with essays, reflections, memoirs, cartoons, field surveys and records about Peter Carey and his main research subject, Prince Diponegoro. The book is a tribute to Carey who has extensively researched the 19th-century Javanese prince.

Books

'Urip iku Urub': Celebrates the achievements of British historian Peter Carey

Since conducting his first research in Indonesia in 1970s, Carey has shed light on the life and struggle of Diponegoro.

6 years ago

Books

'Testimony of Changes': Having a say on everything

Despair needs no tour guide in Indonesia — chaotic traffic, trash-clogged drains, poverty and corruption — if the list had an official stop sign it would be dug up and sold.

6 years ago

Books

Rain Chudori: Rattling cages with Comma Books

When The Jakarta Post sat down with author Rain Chudori on Sunday, what emerged was her many other roles in Comma Books, the publishing initiative she founded.

6 years ago

An assistant holds a copy of French writer Marcel Proust's manuscript

Books

Rare Proust book sells for world record 1.5 million euros

The rare copy of the first volume of the French writer's masterpiece, "Remembrance of Things Past", had been expected to go for between 600,000 and 800,000 euros.

6 years ago

The 348-page book chronicles Nadya Hutagalung's journey in the modelling and entertainment industry, as well as her work in environmental preservation and wildlife protection.

Books

Nadya Hutagalung chronicles her life's journey in a coffee table book

Offering a glimpse into her personal life, television host and eco-activist Nadya Hutagalung has released a book titled "Walk With Me".

6 years ago

Written in the style of a choose-your-own adventure novel, Intan Paramaditha’s latest book Gentayangan: Pilih Sendiri Petualangan Sepatu Merahmu (The Wandering: Choose Your Own Red Shoes Adventure) hands you a pair of pretty red shoes and sets you free to roam the earth.

Books

Intan Paramaditha's 'Gentayangan' receives PEN/Heim Translation Fund Grants

First established in 2003, PEN/Heim Translation Fund awards grants to promote the publication and reception of translated world literature in English.

6 years ago

British author John le Carre (David John Moore Cornwell) poses upon arrival for the world premiere of the film 'The Little Drummer Girl' during the BFI London Film Festival in London on October 14, 2018.

Books

New John le Carré novel coming in 2019

A new John le Carré novel titled Agent Running in the Field is slated to be published in fall 2019.

6 years ago

Pipit Rochijat Kartawidjaja’s book Dokumen Berlin is a collection of letters, both official and private, articles and other documents that bear witness to the Indonesian activist’s eventful years in Germany’s capital.

Books

Life, interrupted: Documents from Berlin

Pipit Rochijat Kartawidjaja’s book Dokumen Berlin is a collection of letters, both official and private, articles and other documents that bear witness to the Indonesian activist’s eventful years in Germany’s capital.

6 years ago

Winning writer: Eka Kurniawan talks about his writing at Amsterdam’s Compagnie Theater in the Netherlands. Eka was among winners of the prestigious Prince Claus prize this year.

Books

Author Eka Kurniawan gets Prince Claus award

Past Indonesian award winners include dancer and cineaste Sardono Kusumo, the Institute for Islamic and Social Studies LKiS, writer Ayu Utami and artist FX Harsono.

6 years ago

Actor Jackie Chan attends The Los Angeles Premiere of The Foreigner, on Oct. 5, 2017, in Hollywood, California

Books

Writer defends Jackie Chan's controversial memoir

The co-author of Jackie Chan's memoir Never Grow Up has defended the book and the Chinese kung fu icon, accusing some foreign media of engaging in sensational and false news reporting by focusing on the dark side of Chan's life.

6 years ago

Books

Patrick deWitt on 'French Exit' and the attraction of the rich

The Jakarta Post talks to Patrick deWitt about his characters, wealth and the absurdities of life.

6 years ago

‘Killing Commendatore’ by Haruki Murakami

Books

'Killing Commendatore': Haruki Murakami, devastation and transformation

Yet, the author has always been able to twist and turn this starting point into a myriad of different character back stories.

6 years ago

Books

'Sabrina': Muffled voices in a post-truth world

A graphic novel entitled Sabrina by Nick Drnaso critically comments on our world, which is currently dominated by hoaxes and trolls.

6 years ago

Former US first lady Michelle Obama (R) and Oprah Winfrey attend the opening of Obama's multi-city book tour at the United Center in Chicago, on November 13, 2018. Former US first lady Michelle Obama's book,

Books

Michelle Obama's memoir sells two million copies in two weeks

The hardcover edition of the book has sold more copies than any other book published in the United States in 2018, according to NDP BookScan data.

6 years ago

Margaret Atwood poses in the press room during the 69th Emmy Awards at the Microsoft Theatre on September 17, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.

Books

Margaret Atwood to release 'Handmaid's Tale' sequel

Canadian author Margaret Atwood said Wednesday she will publish a sequel to her novel "The Handmaid's Tale" next year, taking readers deeper into her vision of a dystopian America ruled by a misogynistic theocracy.

6 years ago

Geneva theology professors Elisabeth Parmentier (L) and Lauriane Savoy pose with an edition of 'A Women's Bible' on November 20, 2018 in Geneva.

Books

In the #MeToo era, theologians publish 'Women's Bible'

Tired of seeing their holy texts used to justify the subjugation of women, a group of feminist theologians from across the Protestant-Catholic divide have joined forces to draft "A Women's Bible".

6 years ago

The late Swedish physician, statistician and sword-swallower Hans Rosling offers an insightful, fact-based worldview in his posthumously published 'Factfulness'.

Books

'Factfulness': When numbers ring true on world progress

The book is an eye-opener on our ignorance and bias in the way we see global progress and developments.

6 years ago

‘Myth, Magic and Mystery in Bali’ by Jean Couteau

Books

'Myth, Magic and Mystery in Bali': Rediscover Bali with Jean Couteau

When one thinks Bali has no more secrets to reveal, one should read one of Jean Couteau’s books.

6 years ago

The book was released at a seminar attended by historians and professors Peter Carey and David Reeve and Gadjah Mada University (UGM) Yogyakarta lecturer Uji Nugroho.

Books

Late historian Ong Hok Ham’s book on Madiun history released

Madiun in the Chaos of History explores the role of the Madiun regent and Dutch colonial rulers during social and religious movements of the Mataram kingdom in the late 16th century.

6 years ago

Books

Author Okky Madasari ventures into new genre, launches children's series

Diving into a new literary genre, Indonesian author Okky Madasari has launched a children's series with two new novels, titled Mata di Tanah Melus (Mata in the Melus Land) and Mata dan Rahasia Pulau Gapi (Mata and the Secrets of Gapi Island).

6 years ago

Books

Okky Madasari unearths hidden tales of Indonesia in 'Mata' series

Through her stories, Okky Madasari takes us back to how an Indonesian child sees the country and the world around it.

6 years ago

Fragment facade of the house where Fyodor Dostoyevsky lived and worked, including writing the novel 'The Brothers Karamazov'.

Books

After Gabo book purge, Kuwait bans Dostoyevsky

Kuwaiti authorities have banned a book by Russian literary giant Fyodor Dostoyevsky, one of nearly 1,000 titles blacklisted at a festival which opened Wednesday in the Gulf state.

6 years ago

British psychoanalyst and author Susie Orbach said women were commodifying their bodies as they tried to conform to false images peddled by online beauty influencers.

Books

Pressure on girls for perfect body 'worse than ever', says Orbach

Girls and young women are under more pressure than ever to achieve the perfect body in an oppressive social media-driven world that could never have been imagined by 1970s feminists, says Susie Orbach.

6 years ago

Author’s talk: Author Fatima Bhutto (left) discusses her latest novel The Runaways, which explores the issue of human identity in a global context, in an event moderated by Australian Broadcasting Corporation’s Radio National (ABC-RN) journalist Kate Evans (right) during the 2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali.

Books

Fatima Bhutto questions what it means to belong

Pakistani author Fatima Bhutto explores in her new novel how we can create safe harbors for ourselves in a world of increasing alienation and segregation.

6 years ago

Hamid Basyaib's 'Love Letter from a Father' consists of 24 stories in full color.

Books

‘Love Letters from a Father: A celebration of father-daughter relationships

Published by WahyuMedia, Love Letters from a Father portrays Hamid Basyaib’s interactions with Alma, whom he describes as critical and curious.

6 years ago

Books

'To Obama': Opening a backdoor into the presidency

"America is built on the idea that everyone matters. We may forget that those ideals still exist. This book is a reminder."

6 years ago

Scottish novelist Irvine Welsh poses during an interview with AFP in Hong Kong on Nov. 8, 2018.

Books

Great for writers, terrible for citizens: The world according to Irvine Welsh

In town for the Hong Kong International Literary Festival, Irvine Welsh told AFP the world right now "is a terrible place to be a citizen in but it's a great place to be a writer in".

6 years ago

The writer, Ma Jian, said he was told that the Tai Kwun arts complex had canceled his two events scheduled for Saturday and organizers were looking for alternative venues.

Books

`China Dream' author barred by Hong Kong literary festival venue

The author of a novel critical of President Xi Jinping’s slogan touting the Chinese Dream said he has been barred from speaking at the main venue of the Hong Kong International Literary Festival.

7 years ago

French writer Nicolas Mathieu poses with his book 'Leurs enfants apres eux' after winning the Prix Goncourt, France's top literary prize, on November 7, 2018 in Paris.

Books

Bleak teenage tale wins France's top book prize

Nicolas Mathieu scooped France's top Goncourt literary prize on Wednesday for his second novel, a coming-of-age tale set against a backdrop of industrial decline and teenage lust.

7 years ago