Want to know what books Dee Lestari recommends on their reading list? We've researched interviews, social media posts, podcasts, and articles to build a comprehensive list of Dee Lestari's favorite book recommendations of all time.
1
Dorothea Rosa Herliany and Harry Aveling | 3.70
In a strongly patriarchal society in which the norms of feminine subordination are sanctified by the strictures of religion, the rage and aggression of Dorothea Herliany's poems is remarkable. This collection introduces the work of one of Indonesia's most significant writers. more In a strongly patriarchal society in which the norms of feminine subordination are sanctified by the strictures of religion, the rage and aggression of Dorothea Herliany's poems is remarkable. This collection introduces the work of one of Indonesia's most significant writers. less 
Dee LestariDorothea is one of Indonesia’s most prominent female poets. For those who are mostly used to perceive women from a more patriarchal point of view, it may be shocking. (Source)
See more recommendations for this book...
2
Eka Kurniawan, Labodalih Sembiring, Benedict Anderson | 4.07
A wry, affecting tale set in a small town on the Indonesian coast, Man Tiger tells the story of two interlinked and tormented families and of Margio, a young man ordinary in all particulars except that he conceals within himself a supernatural female white tiger. The inequities and betrayals of family life coalesce around and torment this magical being. An explosive act of violence follows, and its mysterious cause is unraveled as events progress toward a heartbreaking revelation.
Lyrical and bawdy, experimental and political, this extraordinary novel announces the arrival of a... more A wry, affecting tale set in a small town on the Indonesian coast, Man Tiger tells the story of two interlinked and tormented families and of Margio, a young man ordinary in all particulars except that he conceals within himself a supernatural female white tiger. The inequities and betrayals of family life coalesce around and torment this magical being. An explosive act of violence follows, and its mysterious cause is unraveled as events progress toward a heartbreaking revelation.
Lyrical and bawdy, experimental and political, this extraordinary novel announces the arrival of a powerful new voice on the global literary stage. less Dee LestariEka’s writing has a distinct, masculine voice. I admire his seriousness in crafting his story. This book depicts familiar facets of Indonesia, and yet those facets can be totally unique for an international audience. (Source)
See more recommendations for this book...
3
Saman is a story filtered through the lives of its feisty female protagonists and the enigmatic “hero” Saman. It is at once an exposé of the oppression of plantation workers in South Sumatra, a lyrical quest to understand the place of religion and spirituality in contemporary lives, a playful exploration of female sexuality and a story about love in all its guises, while touching on all of Indonesia’s taboos: extramarital sex, political repression and the relationship between Christians and Muslims.
Saman has taken the Indonesian literary world by storm and sold over 100,000... more Saman is a story filtered through the lives of its feisty female protagonists and the enigmatic “hero” Saman. It is at once an exposé of the oppression of plantation workers in South Sumatra, a lyrical quest to understand the place of religion and spirituality in contemporary lives, a playful exploration of female sexuality and a story about love in all its guises, while touching on all of Indonesia’s taboos: extramarital sex, political repression and the relationship between Christians and Muslims.
Saman has taken the Indonesian literary world by storm and sold over 100,000 copies in the Indonesian language, and is now available for the first time in English.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ayu Utami was born in Bogor, grew up in Jakarta and obtained her bachelor degree in Literature Studies from University of Indonesia. She worked as a journalist for Matra, Forum Keadilan, and D&R. Not long after the New Order regime closed Tempo, Editor, and Detik, she participated in the founding of Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists to protest the closure of those three weeklys. Currently she is working for the cultural journal Kalam, and at Teater Utan Kayu. Saman was awarded the Prince Claus Award in the year 2000. less Dee LestariThe story broke many barriers of various taboos and sensitive topics, including the rise of women authors. To me, Saman was a mark of a new era in literature. (Source)
See more recommendations for this book...
4
Suddenly the Night is an anthology of poetry by Sapardi Djoko Damono, one of Indonesia's preeminent poets. As is stated in the introduction to the book, "More than any other contemprary Indonesian poet, Sapardi realizes that poetry is more than convention and that convention is not necessarily a requisite for poetry. Through the language of his poetry and its meaning, sound, and rhythm Sapardi proves himself capable of depicting a highly imaginative awareness of experience. more Suddenly the Night is an anthology of poetry by Sapardi Djoko Damono, one of Indonesia's preeminent poets. As is stated in the introduction to the book, "More than any other contemprary Indonesian poet, Sapardi realizes that poetry is more than convention and that convention is not necessarily a requisite for poetry. Through the language of his poetry and its meaning, sound, and rhythm Sapardi proves himself capable of depicting a highly imaginative awareness of experience. less Dee LestariSapardi is a prominent Indonesian poet. He’s known as the ‘Robert Frost of Indonesia.’ I think one of the special qualities of Sapardi was how his work managed to resonate with younger readers. (Source)
See more recommendations for this book...
Don't have time to read Dee Lestari's favorite books? Read Shortform summaries.
Shortform summaries help you learn 10x faster by:
- Being comprehensive: you learn the most important points in the book
- Cutting out the fluff: you focus your time on what's important to know
- Interactive exercises: apply the book's ideas to your own life with our educators' guidance.