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Leila S. Chudori,

John H. McGlynn (Translator)

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Feb 05, 2013 Astrid Lim rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: indonesia-asli, literature, historical-fiction, bbi

The theme of this book is actually very interesting. Politics, history, Indonesia, France, New Order, Soeharto's decline, etc etc. It felt personal to me too, since I've known a few political exile during my stay in Holland. But I had some complaints: the writing (language is a bit awkward here and there), the romance (took too much part of the book), and the ending (unexplainable and a bit anti climactic). But I'll still recommend this for any Indonesian literature readers. ...more

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Sep 02, 2020 Karen rated it really liked it

Shelves: translation-2020

When I read a book that is set in a country that I don't know too much about, and it creates in me an impetus to read more, than I feel it has done its job. In this case Indonesia.

Home is set in Paris and Jakarta, Indonesia. The story revolves around September 30, 1965 when the army instigated an anti-communist purge that killed between 500,000 and 1 million people. The main character Dimas was one person who was able to escape the purges by going abroad, and eventually settling in Paris.

I enj ...more

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Nov 10, 2021 Julie Griffin rated it really liked it

It must be me but here is another book that I put down initially. The story kept me through to the finish and I felt that it was ultimately worth reading due to the plotline and the exposure to modern Indonesian politics and culture, but I fought the prose style on this one the entire book.
The story begins in Paris with Dimas, an Indonesian man who was caught outside of Jakarta in the unrest culminating in September 30, 1965, in which several military generals were assassinated in a coup attemp It must be me but here is another book that I put down initially. The story kept me through to the finish and I felt that it was ultimately worth reading due to the plotline and the exposure to modern Indonesian politics and culture, but I fought the prose style on this one the entire book.
The story begins in Paris with Dimas, an Indonesian man who was caught outside of Jakarta in the unrest culminating in September 30, 1965, in which several military generals were assassinated in a coup attempt which was later blamed on "communists" (see The Year of Living Dangerously, with Mel Gibson and Digourney Weaver). Out of the country on a conference, Dimas is banned from reentering Indonesia and finally settled in Paris, where he is ultimately joined by fellow exiles and friends. He falls in love and marries a french woman, Vivienne, and they have a much loved daughter, Lintang. She grows up surrounded by stories and food from Indonesia, and ultimately, when she is making a film for her college degree, she chooses to go to her father's homeland and interview people from that time. She ends up in an uprising of its own, and witnesses many things. This book has so much to say about being a migrant from one's home and continuing attachment through food in particular, and there are many mouth watering descriptions of traditional foods.
Pluses of the book are the engrossing story and immersion into the time and culture.
The drawback for me was the writing. The overripe prose at the beginning (her eyes were fields of sea green grass with the blue of the sky above) had me rolling my eyes and putting it down several times before I picked it up again. Thankfully this calms down, but this is also one of those breathless books where all the women are slim and beautiful and described thusly over and over and over again. I wish that passionate stuff had been kept to the food! Clearly, many do not agree with my annoyance with this kind of writing, as this young author is one of the most popular in Indonesia and she has been awarded many literary prizes.
Am I glad I read it? Yes, ultimately. Would I recommend it? Yes, especially to those more tolerant of the romantic prose, and those armchair travelers like me who enjoy dipping their toes in other cultures. And foodies will find much to enjoy also. ...more

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Mar 22, 2019 Travellinckx rated it liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: novel, sastra, indonesia, fiction

Jan 27, 2018 Rajivi marked it as to-read

Jan 31, 2025 Nikki Morse marked it as to-read

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