A review by issyd23
The Year of Living Dangerously by Christopher J. Koch

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

3.0

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 🙏
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