TheJakartaPost

Please Update your browser

Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.

LOG IN

Don’t have an account? Register here Give your organization full access to The Jakarta Post. Register here

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

US writer Alice McDermott poses in Paris on Sept. 7, 2016

Books

US novelist Alice McDermott takes top French literary prize

The American writer Alice McDermott's novel "The Ninth Hour" was awarded France's Prix Femina for the best foreign novel of the year on Monday.

7 years ago

Hikers are seen exploring Mount Tambora in West Nusa Tenggara.

Books

Book set to highlight 28 Indonesian mountain expeditions

The Ekspedisi 28 Gunung (28-mountain expedition) project and all forms of documentation such as texts, pictures and videos from it are currently being incorporated into a book that is planned to be published early next year.

7 years ago

Flip Da Skrip: Kumpulan Catatan Rap Nerd (a rap nerd’s collection of notes) by Herry Sutresna (aka “Ucok Homicide”)

Books

'Flip Da Skrip': Offers the history of hip-hop

Flip Da Skrip is an in-depth look into the last 10 years of hip-hop that is as insightful as it is personal.

7 years ago

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

Books

Sapardi Djoko Damono keeping his mind sharp with writing

A career in academia and literature offered poet Sapardi Djoko Damono a lifelong learning experience.

7 years ago

Night of music: Celtic Room performs during the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali on Sunday. Established in 2016, the group comprises 60 members from across Indonesia.

Books

UWRF 2018 ends on high note

“I believe the festival will keep growing in the future and it will not be solely a literary festival, but also a human rights and arts festival,” DeNeefe said.

7 years ago

Books

'Unmarked Graves': The injustice that won't die

A historian digs deep into the horrors of Indonesia’s communist purge that took place in the 1960s in the East Java province.

7 years ago

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

Books

2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival ends on high note, celebrates gender equality, diversity

Panel discussions and performances on Saturday and Sunday have shown that the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival has gradually transformed into a multidisciplinary art event.

7 years ago

Elizabeth Gilbert, author of bestselling memoir 'Eat Pray Love'

Books

‘Eat Pray Love’ liberated me, says author

Elizabeth Gilbert chatted to "The Jakarta Post" on her life, happiness and white privilege.

7 years ago

Books

UWRF: Writers, artists push creative boundaries

Whether venturing into a new medium or tackling contentious issues in their writings to enrich and stimulate their minds, these writers and artists are always eager to explore the unknown.

7 years ago

Books

Gramedia Pustaka Utama launches two books at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival

The English version of Nayla by Djenar Maesa Ayu and a silent comic, Gugug! by Mohammad “Emte” Taufiq, were launched at the 2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival (UWRF) in Ubud, Bali, on Thursday.

7 years ago

Sharing ideas: Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti speaks on Thursday in a discussion titled “Sink It” held in the Neka Museum as part of the 2018 Ubud Writers and Readers Festival in Bali.

Books

Writers, activists gather for Ubud festival

The festival also got political with several discussions taking on serious tones, raising issues from human rights to religion.

7 years ago

Literature accolade: Janet DeNeefe (right), founder of the Ubud Writers and Readers Festival, presents the “Lifetime Achievement Award” to writer Sapardi Djoko Damono during the festival’s opening ceremony in Puri Ubud, Bali, on Wednesday. The five-day festival will run until Sunday.

Books

Poetry legend Sapardi Djoko Damono honored at 2018 UWRF

Sapardi is the third writer to be honored with the award after the late Sitor Situmorang and NH Dini.

7 years ago

Books

Kim Scott and his artistic literary approach on colonialism

Kim Scott reflects modestly on his journey — from teaching in remote communities in Australia to becoming, perhaps, the country’s most critically acclaimed novelist.

7 years ago

Copies of Japanese writer Haruki Murakami's latest novel 'Killing Commendatore' are displayed sealed in wrappers with yellow warning notices in a bookstore in Hong Kong on July 26, 2018.

Books

Murakami's latest novel released in English to mixed reviews

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami's latest effort has split U.S. critics upon its release this month in English translation, with some praising the novel's breadth and surrealism while others write it off as an unfocused "disappointment."

7 years ago

In this file photo taken on October 14, 2018 British author Anna Burns holds her book 'Milkman' during a photocall at the Royal Festival Hall in London, ahead of Tuesday's announcement of the winner of the 2018 Man Booker Prize for Fiction.

Books

Novel set in Northern Ireland conflict wins Booker Prize

Author Anna Burns on Tuesday became the first Northern Irish writer, and the first woman since 2013, to win Britain's renowned Man Booker Prize for her novel "Milkman".

7 years ago

Stephen Hawking's final book 'Brief Answers to the Big Questions' is seen following its global launch at the Science Museum in London on October 15, 2018.

Books

Hawking's final book offers brief answers to big questions

Stephen Hawking's final work, which tackles issues from the existence of God to the potential for time travel, was launched on Monday.

7 years ago

Georgian letters stand at the booth of Georgia, this years guest of honor at the Frankfurt book fair in Frankfurt am Main, Germany, on October 10, 2018.

Books

Five unexpected things at the Frankfurt book fair

As the publishing world recovers from the Frankfurt book fair, here's a look at some of the most memorable and unexpected moments from the annual book lovers' extravaganza.

7 years ago

Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga is pictured at the Frankfurt book fair in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on October 12, 2018.

Books

Zimbabwe needs #MeToo moment, says acclaimed author

Thirty years after her iconic debut novel, Zimbabwean author Tsitsi Dangarembga is back with a final look at her heroine's harrowing journey through the Mugabe years, hoping to spark debate about violence against women in her country.

7 years ago

Preserving culture: Citra writes Balinese script on a lontar (palm leaf) during a Lontar exhibition at Ubud Writers and Readers Festival 2016.

Books

UWRF to return as a platform for contemporary dialog

The upcoming Ubud Writers and Readers Festival will enter its 15th edition this year, bringing more than 150 speakers from 25 countries to Bali.

7 years ago

Books

Gramedia's first Readers Fest attracts public to books

Publisher Gramedia’s first Readers Fest promotes reading in one of the least literate countries in the world.

7 years ago

Books

Reni Eddo-Lodge: Sticking around to talk about race

"I think the answer to ‘what can I do?’ can be found in challenging the injustices you see closest to home."

7 years ago

'Jendi', a comic book released on digital comic platform CIAYO Comics for the 2018 Asian Para Games, follows the story of disabled swimmer Jendi.

Books

'Jendi' from CIAYO Comics makes splash at Asian Para Games

Jendi, a comic book released on digital comic platform CIAYO Comics for the 2018 Asian Para Games, follows the story of disabled swimmer Jendi.

7 years ago

Francesca Cavallo, co-author of 'Good night stories for rebel girls' speaks during an interview at the Book Fair in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany, on October 11, 2018.

Books

How two 'rebel girls' shook up publishing

Frustrated with children's stories of passive princesses and damsels in distress, two Italian women crowdfunded their way into publishing history with a record-breaking book of inspirational tales for girls.

7 years ago

'Kura-kura Berjanggut' (The Bearded Turtle) by Azhari Aiyub

Books

'The Bearded Turtle': Novel from Aceh wins Award in Jakarta

Combining history and fiction in Aceh, the novel Kura-kura Berjanggut (The Bearded Turtle) earned Azhari Aiyub the trophy at the Kusala Sastra Khatulistiwa 2018 awards.

7 years ago

Books

From Indonesia to Germany: The story of Nuril Basri

Indonesian writer Nuril Basri, who is currently in Germany on a research grant from the Robert Bosch foundation and Literarisches Colloquium Berlin, takes part in this year’s Frankfurt Book Fair.

7 years ago

Books

In Iraq's city of bookshops, theology and poetry rub spines

Najaf in Iraq is steeped in religion and literature.

7 years ago

Nigerian writer Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at the Frankfurt Book Fair 2018 in Frankfurt am Main, central Germany, on October 9, 2018.

Books

'Women are still invisible,' warns feminist icon Adichie

Women everywhere are sharing stories of sexual harassment and gender inequality but men still aren't really listening, said Nigerian author and feminist icon Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie.

7 years ago

Japanese writer Haruki Murakami is pictured outside Hans Christian Andersen's house in Odense, on October 30, 2016.

Books

Murakami says writing is what he can do for disaster sufferers

Japanese novelist Haruki Murakami said Saturday writing good stories is the best he can do for sufferers from terrorist attacks and natural disasters such as the 2011 massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan's northeast.

7 years ago

Books

Thrity Umrigar: An emphatic novelist

Indian author Thrity Umrigar lends her X-ray vision to dissect the multifaceted human condition bound by so many layers of social stratifications and power structures

7 years ago

A visitor walks past a book display at the Frankfurt Book Fair on October 13, 2017 in Frankfurt am Main, western Germany.

Books

Uncensored: Frankfurt book fair gets political in 'stormy' times

"We need to talk." With these words, the Frankfurt book fair is this week kicking off its most politically charged edition in years, shining a spotlight on everything from #MeToo and free speech to life in Trump's America.

7 years ago

Page: 20