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From award-winning Indonesian author Laksmi Pamuntjak comes a tale of profound love against the backdrop of myth, culture, and politics. In this sweeping saga of love, loss, revolution, and the resilience of the human spirit, Amba must find the courage to forge her own path. Amba was named after a tragic figure in Indonesian mythology, and she spends her lifetime trying to invent a story she can call her own. When she meets two suitors who fit perfectly into her namesake's myth, Amba cannot help but feel that fate is teasing her. Salwa, respectful to a fault, pledges to honor and protect Amba, no matter what. Bhisma, a sophisticated, European-trained doctor, offers her sensual pleasures and a world of ideas. But military coups and religious disputes make 1960s Indonesia a place of uncertainty, and the chaos strengthens Amba's pursuit of freedom. The more Amba does to claim her own story, the better she understands her inextricable bonds to history, myth, and love.… (more)
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I was provided with an electronic copy in return for an honest review.
In 1960s Indonesia, a world being shaped by revolution, Amba is hell-bent on carving her own path through life. A path away from the unfortunate essence of her name (being that of a tragic Indonesian princess). Life begins to play tricks on her when she comes in contact with not one but
Okay so first off a warning, the writing in this book is very choppy and I wholeheartedly believe that that is due to it being translated from Indonesian to English. But once you get past the first couple of chapters the writing just kind of seems to grow on you and you get past it. there are some portions of the book that seem to repeat itself over and over again. there is also a lot of backstory for characters who seem non consequential to the main plot. As English is my first language, a lot of the names of people and places in this book are a little hard for me to follow. But again after a few chapters of reading you find that you can get past it.
It's interesting to watch another country's revolution through their eyes. The rise and fall of Communism was a huge point in history in every country it touched. And this place the central scene throughout this book. There were however a lot of lighthearted instances in this book. Parts of it actually reminded me of My Big Fat Greek Wedding in the family dynamics that are portrayed. Not to lump one group with the other but it reminded me of the same lightheartedness and familiarity with the scene that you feel while watching that film.
I learned something while reading this book that I did not know before: Like Judaism, you can be only "partly Muslim" and still practice local tradition and customs older than the 14th century. I had no idea that this was even possible. But you learn something new everyday and definitely learn new things while reading.
All technicalities aside this book was a great read. One that I would definitely recommend to anyone who can get past the choppy writing style of the translated work.