Beauty is a Wound - Chapters 1-4 (spoilers)

[Hugh]

This topic is for free discussion of the early parts of the book. How well did the introductory chapter on Dewi Ayu's return from the dead set the tone? Were you surprised by the sudden shift back into colonial times? Any other thoughts are welcome.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎]

I have some reading resistances to overcome. The novel here in the beginning is reminding me too strongly of Midnight’s Children, which in turn reminds me too strongly of The Tin Drum for me to ever completely appreciate. Making room in my heart for yet another story about a deformed child who is the metaphorical representation of a nation, or at least I think that’s where it’s going, is a challenge.

I’m trying to be open to it and I thinking being aware of my resistance will help. But it’s also a challenge for me when ch 2 is all a flashback and is told from a different point of view.

[Hugh]

Chapter 2 may seem like a flashback at first but it is actually the start of the core story, which is mostly told chronologically.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎]

Thanks Hugh. First chapters behave in interesting ways in setting up expectations. I spent the first half of Chapter 2 thinking ‘why am I learning about these people?’ before settling into the story’s rhythms.

[Hugh]

Beauty doesn't reappear until just before the end.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎]

I'm struggling with the character of Dewi Ayu. I'm trying to create a context where the mythological nature of the writing allows me to think of her as a character on a hero's journey, so to speak, but it's hard for me to marry the awful things happening to her with the upbeat nature of her reactions to them.

Her preternatural understanding of how to hide her jewels by swallowing them and then retrieving them on the other end? I don't know what to think about that. The way she just knows what to do.

Also, the way she just knows how to gather leeches from the cows, and how to cook the leeches. Or the way she steps forward intrepidly to be raped in place of her friend.

Some books jitter unsuccessfully for me between the real and the fantastic and this is one of them so far. The Sympathizer was like that for me too. Still hoping to settle in because I loved Man Tiger by the same author.

[Tamara]

Lark wrote: "Still hoping to settle in because I loved Man Tiger by the same author..."

I read Man Tiger in 2017 and Beauty Is a Wound in 2016. I don't remember much about either book, so I went back and checked my reviews. Although I enjoyed Man Tiger, I thought Beauty is a Wound is a much better novel. I was effusive in praising it. So hang in there. Hopefully it will pick up for you soon.

[Monika]

Lark wrote: "I'm struggling with the character of Dewi Ayu. I'm trying to create a context where the mythological nature of the writing allows me to think of her as a character on a hero's journey, so to speak,..."

I think I understand your struggle. Dewi Ayu doesn't make you feel comfortable and there's this mismatch that you describe between the horrible things happening to her and her upbeat reaction. At the beginning, this didn't feel right to me neither, as if it wasn't the correct reaction. But slowly I started to wonder who am I to judge what the correct reaction to prison, rape and misery is. And I let myself take along into this pragmatic view of the world without moral judgement. I ended up finding a certain humour to the story and Dewi Ayu became my favourite character. Nobody's cooler than Dewi Ayu!

P.S. I have to say that I liked the Sympathizer a lot.

[Hugh]

There is a lot of humour in the story, but it is very dark. And though Dewi Ayu holds the whole thing together her role becomes smaller as the book goes on.

I have never read Man Tiger, so can't compare the two.

[Mark]

Well! My copy just arrived from the Lib. So far, I don't see the reason for the sparse and mostly downbeat reactions. It reminds me of the wayang kulit, as brought to life in The Year of Living Dangerously.

In the movie version, Billy Kwan explains:

"You like my puppets? If you want to understand Java, you have to understand Wayang: the sacred shadow play. The puppet master is a priest. ... Their shadows are souls and the screen is heaven. You must watch their shadows, not the puppets. The right in constant struggle with left. The forces of light and darkness in endless balance. In the West we want answers for everything. Everything is right or wrong. Good or bad. But, in wayang, no such final conclusions exists."

Any complaints about Dewi Ayu surely have to include the fact that she appears in the book springing from her grave after 21 years!

[Hugh]

Thanks Mark - good to see somebody is still reading the book. As always, the discussion threads will remain open beyond the end of the month.

[♑︎♑︎♑︎]

I'm looking forward to hearing more about your impressions, Mark.

For most of the literary reading world this novel is Kurniawan's masterpiece and the much shorter and more focused Man Tiger is an interesting afterthought, but for me it was the opposite.

[Mark]

Hee, well, Belladonna looks like a wonderful book, but since none of my local libs have it, I'll be in Beauty for a while...