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In this audacious novel, Kurniawan weaves a tapestry of Indonesian history, blending satire, family saga, folklore, and dark humour. The tale revolves around the striking courtesan Dewi Ayu and her four daughters, who find themselves embroiled in a world of incest, murder, bestiality, rape, madness, and supernatural vengeance.
Through a lens of grotesque exaggeration, the author delivers a scathing commentary on Indonesia's tumultuous past: from the rapacious greed of colonial rule to the chaotic struggle for independence, and the horrific 1965 massacre of alleged Communists, followed by Suharto's three-decade authoritarian regime.
The narrative grips readers from its startling opening line, chronicling Dewi Ayu's resurrection after two decades in the grave. Drawing inspiration from local folklore, all-night shadow puppet performances, and literary giants like Melville and Gogol, Kurniawan crafts a distinctive voice that injects a luscious yet astringent flavour into contemporary literature.
Book ISBN: | 9780811223638 |
Book Author: | Annie Tucker |
Book Format: | Paperback / softback |
Book Imprint: | New Directions Publishing Corporation |
Book Publisher: | New Directions Publishing Corporation |
Book Dimensions: | 141 x 203 x 33 cm |
Book Publication Date: | 2015-09-22 |
Book Pagination: | 384 pages |
Book Weight: | 468g |
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’
Sherlock & Pages is a little bookshop with a big heart. We are based in Frome, Somerset, England and curate lists of books in the areas we are passionate about – landscape, nature, history, and heritage. In short, the conservation of all we’ve inherited and all we are responsible to pass on. We aim to inspire and be inspired, to form a literary culture of care and passion about this precious planet we call home.
This is a shop where you might find something you haven’t seen before, and we like to think we’ve got something for everyone. We choose each of our books with care and for a reason. This is because our physical store is small but beautifully formed, holding only around 1200 titles at any one time. We try and recreate the feel of the shop wherever we are online, to reflect our niche categories and personality.
We have an active social media presence and aim to share our story with all our friends. The long-term goal is to build a hub for the books and writers we believe in. Who knows where our adventure will lead but by supporting Sherlock & Pages you’re helping us to add a further layer of magic to our little corner of the world. If you haven’t visited our physical store, one day you might just make a literary pilgrimage down to Somerset.
Our tagline is ‘Long Live the Hedgerows’ and our symbol a hibernating dormouse. If you want to support an independent with a unique character and which will share stories with you for years to come, then choose Sherlock & Pages. The world needs bookshops with soul, for they are ‘citadels of light.’