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3.73 AVERAGE
3.73 AVERAGE
adventurous
challenging
dark
informative
sad
tense
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
mysterious
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Complicated
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
Reread it after many years. Complex story written beautifully
Mixed feelings about liking this so much, mainly because it parrots the Suharto account of G30S so readily - inventing a Chinese arms shipment to the PKI, reproducing sensational claims of mutilation by Gerwani witches, and so on. Not that alternate narratives were yet widespread by the late 70s but you'd think the newsman narrator, at least, would be a little less credulous towards the junta's line. That aside, gorgeous novel. Orientalist but selfconsciously so, narrated sometimes omnisciently, sometimes ambiguously, and stocked with deeply flawed but irrepressible characters, foremost Billy Kwan.
adventurous
challenging
dark
emotional
funny
mysterious
reflective
relaxing
sad
tense
slow-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
A mix
Strong character development:
Yes
Loveable characters:
Yes
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes
I know it was a dangerous time (esp as a White woman) but I would kill to visit Jakarta in the 1960s! 3🇮🇩
I started reading this book last year in Surabaya and struggled to get into it but since returning home I’ve been missing indo and this has taken back.
This book isn’t perfect: I hate how it ends right before 1967, I felt as if Koch was edging the coup the entire time.
Also Hamilton is the epitome of Said’s Orentialist: this man knows nothing about the language, culture and political situation and has affairs with women who are probably spies but fully embraces the city and is straight vibing in indo. He almost always gets always with his ignorance by being tall, White, friendly and handsome.
Koch just gets indo (at least from the perspective of an Aussie) and reading this in Melbourne has transported me right back there! How I miss the stifling heat, chaotic stress and spicy food - balik k sn segera inshallah 🙏
Content Warnings
Graphic: Addiction, Alcoholism, Body horror, Body shaming, Bullying, Cursing, Death, Genocide, Gore, Gun violence, Hate crime, Homophobia, Infidelity, Misogyny, Racial slurs, Racism, Sexual assault, Violence, Xenophobia, Blood, Police brutality, Medical content, Mass/school shootings, Religious bigotry, Medical trauma, Stalking, Abortion, Pregnancy, Outing, Cultural appropriation, Gaslighting, Toxic friendship, Abandonment, Colonisation, War, Injury/Injury detail, Classism, Deportation
medium-paced
fast-paced
read this in school for ib, loved it so much - loved the characters, loved the metaphors and imagery. SOO much to analyse. am a bit biased bc i've grown up in indonesia but wow anyone who is interested in political history and journalism and culture will enjoyyy
adventurous
challenging
informative
reflective
medium-paced
Plot or Character Driven:
Plot
Strong character development:
No
Loveable characters:
No
Diverse cast of characters:
Yes
Flaws of characters a main focus:
Yes