Books Recommendation
Perempuan di Titik Nol by Nawal el – Saadawi
El Saadawi depicts patriarchy as a system that literally destroys women from birth to death, and that’s incredibly eye-opening. This book isn’t light reading – it’s an emotional rollercoaster that will make me rethink privilege and oppression systems that are still happening everywhere, just with different packaging now. Must read for anyone who wants to understand feminism beyond hashtag level
Bakat Menggonggong by Dea Anugrah
Quirky but with depth, absurd but meaningful, and somehow makes me feel less alone in my own weirdness. The way Dea Anugrah makes every story feel familiar yet absurd at the same time is genius. There are stories like “Anjing Menggonggong, Kafilah Berlalu” about a journalist who becomes a storytelling companion to the antisocial Pat, and “Sebuah Cerita Sedih” plus “Gempa Waktu” that made me think “wait, is this deep or am I overthinking?” (typical Scorpio problem).
Seperti Dendam, Rindu Harus Dibayar Tuntas by Eka Kurniawan
Kurniawan’s prose is deceptively simple but incredibly powerful. He has this way of describing violence and love with the same matter-of-fact tone that somehow makes both more impactful. The magical realist elements never feel forced; they emerge naturally from the story’s emotional landscape, like the way trauma can make reality feel surreal. This isn’t an easy read. The violence is graphic, the themes are heavy, and there are moments that will make you uncomfortable. But that’s exactly why it’s so important. Kurniawan forces us to confront difficult truths about human nature, desire, and the ways we hurt each other.
Selamat Menunaikan Ibadah Puisi by Joko Pinurbo
⭐
Jokpin has this incredible gift for irony that never feels cynical. There’s a playfulness in his voice, even when he’s dealing with serious subjects like death, loneliness, or social inequality. In one poem, he might be joking about his own inadequacies, and in the next, he’s offering a heartbreaking observation about human nature. This tonal complexity is what makes him such a compelling poet.
Misa Arwah by Dea Anugrah
Dea Anugrah’s “Misa Arwah” is a haunting exploration of grief, memory, and the thin veil between the living and the dead that left me contemplating long after I turned the final page. The novel follows characters grappling with loss in a small Indonesian town where traditional beliefs about death and the afterlife collide with modern realities, creating an atmosphere that’s both deeply rooted in local culture and universally resonant.
Perjamuan Khong Guan by Joko Pinurbo
⭐
Reading “Perjamuan Khong Guan” felt like being invited to an intimate feast where Joko Pinurbo serves up his most tender observations about family, memory, and the bittersweet nature of growing older. The title poem, which gives the collection its name, uses the iconic blue tin of Khong Guan biscuits—familiar to anyone who grew up in Indonesia—as a vessel for exploring how simple objects carry entire worlds of meaning, transforming a childhood snack into a meditation on time, loss, and the persistence of love.
Segi Tiga by Sapardi Djoko Damono
⭐
Segi Tiga reads like a fragile dream—sometimes tender, sometimes unsettling—where love is both salvation and madness. Through Suryo’s search for Noriko and his quiet confessions to Gendis, Sapardi weaves a tale that feels scattered like broken glass, yet the fragments still catch the light. It is strange, even dissonant at times, but that strangeness is exactly what lingers, the way an unfinished melody haunts long after it ends. I found myself torn between wonder and discomfort, but maybe that is what love, in all its forms, is meant to do.