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The Puppet Master of Java
It begins with an argument between two backpackers and a taxi driver in Jakarta, Indonesia.
It ends in Bali on the night of one of the most infamous acts of terrorism in the 21st century.
More than a love story, more than an odyssey, THE PUPPET MASTER OF JAVA is an epic: a novel that captures a time and place that changed the world forever.
Travellers and travel agents, prostitutes and hawkers, sultans and shamans, presidents and terrorists. The heat, the dirt, the desperation, the shoving, the smiling, the living, the looking, the laughing, the hurrying. THE PUPPET MASTER OF JAVA is a place you haven’t been before.
THE PUPPET MASTER OF JAVA is Indonesia.
It ends in Bali on the night of one of the most infamous acts of terrorism in the 21st century.
More than a love story, more than an odyssey, THE PUPPET MASTER OF JAVA is an epic: a novel that captures a time and place that changed the world forever.
Travellers and travel agents, prostitutes and hawkers, sultans and shamans, presidents and terrorists. The heat, the dirt, the desperation, the shoving, the smiling, the living, the looking, the laughing, the hurrying. THE PUPPET MASTER OF JAVA is a place you haven’t been before.
THE PUPPET MASTER OF JAVA is Indonesia.
- GenresFiction
476 pages, Kindle Edition
First published April 2, 2015
15 people are currently reading
108 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews
June 22, 2022
Good book
July 8, 2016
The Puppet Master of Java is a book about life and, when I went into it, I didn't expect it to be something that I would enjoy (no offence Crane). I wasn't a big fan of his other book (review here), so when the opportunity came to review this one I was uncertain about accepting it. But I decided to give it a chance. At first glance the cover was nothing special. It didn't really strike me as eye-catching or interesting and I probably would have looked it over in a store, but I'm glad that Crane asked me to read it because I liked it. I really liked it.
The Puppet Master of Java details the adventure of two backpackers travelling across Indonesia and the events that proceed their arrival in Jakarta. In the beginning I thought that it was a little too slow. Don't get me wrong the description was beautiful - the imagery was astounding and the scenes literally came to life in my head as I read Crane's words off the page, but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe one of the reasons for that was because there was no one to connect to really. Leon just annoyed me. All he did was insult his friend and do his best to hurt his friend and it irritated me beyond belief. Josh on the other hand was utterly weak! He barely did anything to stand up for himself, excluding writing tall tales in his journal and even then he couldn't help but praise Leon because he felt bad.
It's when they argue that things begin to get exciting. After a dramatic turn of events, the two boys split in order to pursue their different passions. Leon, wild and free Leon, goes chasing the adventure that he's been dreaming of and get tangles up in a rebel group called the Taring Padi that fights for a better Indonesia. Josh on the other remains behind in Jakarta, in search of the love that sparked between himself and a local girl. The middle of the book was perfect as far as I was concerned. With Josh out of the way Leon became tolerable, and even likeable as we were shown how loyal he really could be! Josh's tale on the other hand became almost unbearable as we read his dreadful attempts to deal with Indonesian culture. .
On a whole the book was thoroughly enjoyable! When the boys reunited, Leon became a little irksome again but it didn't bother me as much any more. Then I reached the ending and I just had to sit in silence for a while to gather what had just happened. I couldn't believe what had just happened. The ending was so shocking and so absolutely unexpected but so good as well!
The only thing that would have made this better for me would have been an epilogue to say what had happened following the outcome. Maybe a year or so on to see if the decisions made on that last page had been upheld. But, as it was, the ending worked for me. I liked the promise of them going to follow their desires rather than actually seeing them doing them. At least then I can believe they made it.
This was a seriously good book and I've put it forth to my book club so that I can see what they all think about it as well!
The Puppet Master of Java details the adventure of two backpackers travelling across Indonesia and the events that proceed their arrival in Jakarta. In the beginning I thought that it was a little too slow. Don't get me wrong the description was beautiful - the imagery was astounding and the scenes literally came to life in my head as I read Crane's words off the page, but I just couldn't get into it. Maybe one of the reasons for that was because there was no one to connect to really. Leon just annoyed me. All he did was insult his friend and do his best to hurt his friend and it irritated me beyond belief. Josh on the other hand was utterly weak! He barely did anything to stand up for himself, excluding writing tall tales in his journal and even then he couldn't help but praise Leon because he felt bad.
It's when they argue that things begin to get exciting. After a dramatic turn of events, the two boys split in order to pursue their different passions. Leon, wild and free Leon, goes chasing the adventure that he's been dreaming of and get tangles up in a rebel group called the Taring Padi that fights for a better Indonesia. Josh on the other remains behind in Jakarta, in search of the love that sparked between himself and a local girl. The middle of the book was perfect as far as I was concerned. With Josh out of the way Leon became tolerable, and even likeable as we were shown how loyal he really could be! Josh's tale on the other hand became almost unbearable as we read his dreadful attempts to deal with Indonesian culture. .
On a whole the book was thoroughly enjoyable! When the boys reunited, Leon became a little irksome again but it didn't bother me as much any more. Then I reached the ending and I just had to sit in silence for a while to gather what had just happened. I couldn't believe what had just happened. The ending was so shocking and so absolutely unexpected but so good as well!
The only thing that would have made this better for me would have been an epilogue to say what had happened following the outcome. Maybe a year or so on to see if the decisions made on that last page had been upheld. But, as it was, the ending worked for me. I liked the promise of them going to follow their desires rather than actually seeing them doing them. At least then I can believe they made it.
This was a seriously good book and I've put it forth to my book club so that I can see what they all think about it as well!
September 18, 2016
Evocative and thought provoking
Having travelled in Indonesia, lived and worked in Jakarta from the late 1990's to early 2000's the places Alexander Crane conjures up are accurately portrayed...Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali...it is a story that is evocative, daring and gripping. A masterful tale that captures Java and Indonesia. But is also encapsulates the challenges a newly democratic nation faced. The story of love across cultures and the challenges this presents resonates from the pages. I married a Javanese girl and return to Java regularly. Alexander Crane made me feel, smell, taste and sense Indonesia. An excellent story that will leave lasting images and thoughts after you finish.
Having travelled in Indonesia, lived and worked in Jakarta from the late 1990's to early 2000's the places Alexander Crane conjures up are accurately portrayed...Jakarta, Yogyakarta, Bali...it is a story that is evocative, daring and gripping. A masterful tale that captures Java and Indonesia. But is also encapsulates the challenges a newly democratic nation faced. The story of love across cultures and the challenges this presents resonates from the pages. I married a Javanese girl and return to Java regularly. Alexander Crane made me feel, smell, taste and sense Indonesia. An excellent story that will leave lasting images and thoughts after you finish.
May 17, 2022
I discovered this book through Goodreads, and decided to read it as I'm traveling to Indonesia in late June 2022.
It exceeded my expectations. At first I thought it was going to be a cliched tale of two 19-year old British backpackers making their way around Indonesia in 2002, but Crane enmeshes the tale with the bombing in Bali in 2002 to dramatic effect.
There were certain parts that were rough around the edges, but in terms of capturing a place and giving background info/history on a country through a fictional narrative, it succeeded very well.
It exceeded my expectations. At first I thought it was going to be a cliched tale of two 19-year old British backpackers making their way around Indonesia in 2002, but Crane enmeshes the tale with the bombing in Bali in 2002 to dramatic effect.
There were certain parts that were rough around the edges, but in terms of capturing a place and giving background info/history on a country through a fictional narrative, it succeeded very well.
July 10, 2016
Crane's writing is beautifully descriptive & atmospheric. The characters were interesting, although mostly unlikable. I was drawn into the story from the very beginning. And the ending literally made me gasp, as what I thought was happening was actually something else completely. I reread the ending several times just to be sure I read it correctly (and hoping that it would somehow, magically change). I absolutely enjoyed this book, and look forward to reading more by Crane.
Displaying 1 - 5 of 5 reviews