If you’re looking for a novel that offers both an intimate human drama and a sweeping commentary on a nation’s past, this is the book to open, read, and revisit. Happy reading!
1. The Genesis of the Book Eka Kurniawan, one of Indonesia’s most celebrated contemporary writers, penned Cantik Itu Luka (translated as Beauty Is a Wound ). The novel first appeared in 2007, published by Gramedia Pustaka Utama, and quickly became a cult classic in Indonesian literature. Its success led to translations into several languages, including English (“Beauty is a Wound”, translated by John H. McGlynn) and French.
