By Leila S. Chudori

The theme of this book is actually very interesting. Politics, history, Indonesia, France, New Order, Soeharto's decline, etc.

This is a lovely book. It is dense with history (specifically the history of Indonesia post-1965, until the end of the dictatorship in 1998), and in that sense it is expansive, encompassing; but it is also deeply personal, focusing on a group of exiles, and their families, and the diaspora they create in France, and the various places that can be "home"; thus it is also introspective, deeply personal. It succeeds at both, and it is elevated by succeeding at both. Most of it focuses on the post-1965 life of political exiles and the younger generation, especially Lintang, the daughter of one exile. It includes romance, family relations, action and more. What I loved most about Pulang was the characters. They were complex and well-developed.

In conclusion, this novel is worth reading, especially for those who want to better understand the condition of Indonesia which gave birth to a New Order, the Suharto Order, with all the bitterness covered up by the legitimate government.

Must-read book

📖Book name: Pulay

Type: Novel

✍️What I learned: Historical

💰Prize: 100K

🌟Rate 5/5: 4,5

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