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Book reviews for "Pramoedya,_Ananta_Toer" sorted by average review score:
Tales from Djakarta
Published in Paperback by Equinox Publishing (Asia) Pte. Ltd. (19 December, 2001)
Author: Pramoedya Ananta Toer
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A Master Writer
These early works of Toer are well translated. Toer is an amazing writer as the stories in Tales from Djakarta show. This is a fine publication and well worth the price of admission.

Tales From Djakarta: Caricatures of Circumstances and their Human Beings (Studies on Southeast Asia)
Published in Paperback by Southeast Asia Program Publications (1999)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer, Benedict R. O'G Anderson, and Pramoedya Ananta Introduction by Benedict R. O'G. Anderson Toer
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Thoughts of Tales from Djarkarta
A U.S. CITIZEN READS PRAMOEDYA

(Thoughts of Tales from Djakarta by M. C. Reitz)

In the U. S. a new genre of popular TV show has emerged, "survivor shows." Typically the producers round-up "average citizens" and arrange for a controlled experience of survival and competition. Of course no one dies, no one loses their mind or their identity, safety precautions are taken, medical teams are ready, no one must remain in this contrived condition against their will. The motivation is large amounts of money and instant fame. The characters become the subject of talk at work, in the car, on the phone, at the dinner table and other instants of casual conversation. Everyone has their favorite character and every one hypothesizes about the "human being" beneath the "caricatures."

At first thought, Tales From Djakarta by Pramoedya Ananta Toer puts to shame any suggestion that these survivor shows have any merit except to an overfed population whose energies are devoted to wealth and power rather than the basic need for food and shelter. The people of Ananta Toer's book are human beings who have endured a lifetime of degrading and hostile events. They are born into these events and die within these events. Ananta Toer's people adapt to small niches and yet their universal identity as human beings is never in question. Whether they experience fleeting moments of joy amidst poverty of spirit, kindness amidst destructive forces, love amidst hate, intimacy amidst lust or necessity amidst condemnation, their dignity and their worth as "human" is never in question.

On second thought, Ananta Toer's book reveals a universal truth for all of human kind throughout history. Beneath the caricatures caused by events lies a fully human being worthy of our respect and love. We can only look at ourselves and say, "What events produced this caricature called me and where is my humanity?"

The Girl from the Coast
Published in Hardcover by Select Books (1991)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Harry Aveling
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A gripping story
This is a gripping story about class differences and being woman in colonial Indonesia.

We only get to know her as "The Girl", a stunningly beautiful teenager from a fishing village, who is picked to marry the local aristocrat "Bendoro". She objects to leaving the safety of her home, but is given no choice by her poor parents. They consider the marriage proposal from the powerful man in the nearby city to be a guarantee for a future of prosperity and good reputation.

So she is transformed from a village girl to Mistress, confined to the large manor with all its power plays. No longer is she able to move around freely. She is not to take part in the daily work. Her only obligation is to serve her husband obediently whenever he decides to order her attention.

"The Girl from the Coast" is a fascinating study about the system of social classes, not only in Indonesia, but in general. Trying to understand, the girl repeatedly turns to the servant who has been assigned to her. Why is her husband away all the time? What does he think of her? Why are there so many secrets in the manor?

Slowly she realizes what is happening in her new life. Materially she has no complaints, but she has lost her freedom. In Bendoro's world women are just another piece of property, to be enjoyed for entertainment or as a piece of furniture. In time she will be discarded, as all Bendoro's previous wives have been.

Two years after her marriage, the husband grants the girl permission to visit her parents in the village. It is a shocking experience. Far from enjoying the freedom of her village, she is now treated diffently. In the eyes of the villagers she is no longer the same as them; rather she is nobility.

Thus Toer describes when she first meets her former family and neighbors:

"All eyes were upon her, but each time she looked into a person's eyes, that person bowed his or her head quickly, as if nervous because of her presence. The girl winced. She couldn't remember her fellow villagers ever having acted that way toward her. No, of that she was sure, and now she felt even more strange than before, separated from her kinspeople, like a monkey in a cage."

Pramoedya Ananta Toer is Indonesia's master novelist, well known for books like "The Buru Quartet" and "The Fugitive". He was also a much respected dissident during the Suharto era, spending years in Indonesian prisons. Mr. Toer has been mentioned a number of times as a possible candidate for the Nobel literature prize.

In his epilogue Mr. Toer explains that "The Girl from the Coast" originally was intended as the first volume in a trilogy of novels on the growth of the nationalist movement in Indonesia. However, the two other novels in the trilogy were destroyed by the Indonesian military. That being said, "The Girl from the Coast" stands perfectly well on its own feet.

A celebration of the human spirit...
Pramoedya Toer has created a poignant and moving portrait of courage in The Girl from the Coast. Inspired by his family history, the author also lends a personal perspective. He is a dissident in Indonesia, once imprisoned for seventeen years for his own beliefs. In his many novels, Toer writes of the struggle of the common man, the need for respect for each individual, not only by rank of noble birth. He is the voice of those exploited and abused by a repressive government.

Known to the reader only as "the girl", the principal character in The Girl from the Coast is profoundly affecting. This amazing young woman shines throughout the pages with an irrepressible spirit. Taken from her simple fishing village for an arranged marriage to a city nobleman, the girl leaves the safety of her parents to begin a life for which she is totally unprepared. She is isolated and frightened in an untenable situation where she has no skills. She has one servant, who counsels the girl in the ways of the household. But when the servant is dismissed, her husband becomes the central figure in her world, and her days are spent awaiting his visits. The girl understands that her entire world depends upon his good will alone. To her dismay, she is informed that hers is only a "practice" marriage, not binding at all should the "Bendoro", or master, choose to divorce her.

This is a story about powerlessness, the impoverished vs. the privileged in a society that turns a deaf ear to anyone not of noble birth. But the girl is extraordinarily courageous in the face of terrible choices and heartbreaking circumstances, yet hopeful, for her spirit burns brightly. Alone and isolated, she uncovers her hidden strengths and nurtures her independence.

The Girl from the Coast is sprinkled throughout with intimate descriptions that draw the reader into the somber air of the very rooms the girl inhales in her solitude. This novel ripples with the energy of the plot as the story unfurls in unexpected ways. We witness the girl's plight as she is thrust along a path into the future, one that is almost preordained by a system that denies the humanity of the disenfranchised. In spite of her trials, the girl triumphs as the embodiment of the will to survive and to live a life of contentment, if not fulfillment.

With each stroke of Toer's pen, this country comes alive, his vital prose full of love for the people and the land, the intensely blue skies, waves breaking against a beach, the sound of a young girl's heart breaking. He defines the bond of commonality found in all humanity. His seductive language is as fluid as poetry: "At that moment it was only the dancing wind that ruled the world. Time moved forward, sometimes creeping slowly, sometimes advancing in wild leaps". The Girl from the Coast will haunt this reader long after the last page is turned. Luan Gaines/ 2003.

A master writer
Samuels excellent translation of Toer's Girl from the Coast captures well the master writer that Toer is. There are few writing today that can equal his magic with words (in bahasa Indonesia or translated into English). I highly recommend this book.

The Mute's Soliloquy: A Memoir
Published in Paperback by Penguin USA (Paper) (03 April, 2000)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Willem Samuels
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a heroic work
I was so impressed after I read Pramoedya Ananta Toer's deft review of Eduard Douwes Dekkera's "Max Havelaar" in the NY Times, that I knew I had to find other works written by him. Fortunately, I found the "The Mute's Soliloquy" shortly thereafter.

This book is the about the heroism of a life, a writer who does not see himself as heroic, but whose survival as a writer keeps alive the stories of all those who did not necessarily return home from the penal colonies. The book also imports a historic contextualization that shifts the world view East: how did World War II, how did colonialism, how did history impact Indonesia? How does this relate to Indonesia's current internal conflicts? This book is both personal and global.

A Story of Survival in the Indonesian Gulag
I had not read any of Pramoedya Ananta Toer's books before this one, but I will now try to read them all!

This volume is a compilation of various materials that Mr. Toer was able to write during his imprisonment (without trial) for 13 years. Most of that time was spent on the remote island of Buru, where he and other prisoners were used as corvee' laborers to reshape the island. They did this at a huge price in human suffering and death.

However, I would emphasize that the artistry and raw beauty in Mr. Toer's writing in The Mute's Soliloquy, shines through the misery and isolation faced by the author and the other prisoners. Mr. Toer gives us an idea of how he and some of other prisoners managed to maintain their basic humanity in the face of deprivation, torture and brutality. Mr. Toer's letters to his children, in particular, are moving, sometimes humorous, and insightful.

His book is a worthy companion of those by Primo Levi, Alexandr Solzhenitsyn, and Elie Weisel.

Please Read this Book!
I just attended the three-day symposium on Pramoedya's literary work and life in New York City. It was a celebration of The Mute's Soliloquy's translation into English for the first time, and Pram's first visit to the United States. Pak Pram discussed his books, his life, and Indonesia; Joesef Isak (Hasta Mitra), Goenawan Mohammed, and John McGlynn were also present. All courageous, brilliant people. It was such an amazing gift to be able to meet Pak Pram and hear him speak in his own words. He has endured so much and maintains a sense of humor that is astounding. Hearing him speak leaves no doubt about his convictions or his struggles. This book is a collection of writings that were writted by Pram during his fourteen year imprisonment on Buru Island, all of which were either smuggled out by Pram or hidden in a church in Namlea during his incarceration. That any writings survived is a miracle in itself. This book is a unique and rare opportunity to read about, and to simultaneously inhabit, a time which should never be forgotten or repeated. It is not only a beautifully complex and haunting literary work: it is a written record complete with a list of the dead at the back of the book which negates the denials heard too often regarding the events of the past. Too few people are aware of the genocide and repression that has gone on in Indonesia under the New Order regime. Beginning with the blood bath in 1965 that claimed over a million innocent lives in death, stealing whole decades from others in life, it continues to this day. The situation in Indonesia is something that the world has not taken seriously enough, and as Indonesia now looks toward its first democratic elections, we hope change will bring what Pram and others began fighting for over fifty years ago. Please read this book and continue to give voice to what the New Order had hoped to silence.

House of Glass (Buru Quartet , Vol 4)
Published in Paperback by Penguin USA (Paper) (1997)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Max Lane
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Who's Talking Now?
It took me awhile to realize that there is a different narrator in this book than on the previous three. While the story itself progressed as expected, the changeover is disturbing. I can't relate to this character as easily as I did to Minke.

A must-read book!
The book awakens national consciousness.It is an inspiration to those who dream of true freedom and oneness.

a masterwork
The entire quartet is an outstanding statement on the theme of universal freedom that all humans yearn for in their better natures. A message that should not be lost on the autocrats who commit all the things that Pangemenann does, ie, the rulers of Burma, Malaysia and Singapore

This Earth of Mankind
Published in Hardcover by William Morrow (1991)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Max Lane
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Amazing window on the story of Java
I am impressed by this English translation of BUMI MANUSIA, but the original is still more rich and colorful. I lived for a decade 30 miles from Pramoedya's home town of Blora, presumably the B____ from which Minke comes. All of Pram's books were banned then and Pram himself was in the midst of his imprisonment on Buru, but I had discovered what an amazing opening they provided to the world of turn-of-the-century colonial Java. I am a student of Javanese history and culture, but Pram's works, beginning for me with TJERITA DARI BLORA (Stories from Blora), provided a florid vision to the realities of that world for people of every caste of the colonial social structure. Every time I went into a used book shop I searched for his works. THIS EARTH OF MANKIND is in my mind an unparalleled gift to Indonesia and the world, providing innumerable images of the range of human experience in colonial Java. The Kirkus reviewer needs to know that "nyai" is not a person's name but an appelation applied to unofficial "rightless" wives of European men who were part of the colonial system. There were many of them in every town. Read CHILD OF ALL NATIONS to learn how this particular woman became Ndoro Mellema's nyai. Pram's story opens the window for us to see a whole range of human experience heretofore hidden from public view even from present-day Indonesians who were denied access to Pram's works until recent years. The subsequent novels in the quartet carry on the stunning and poignant revelations. Grievously last month when I out of habit looked again for Pram's works in bookstores in Indonesia they had again disappeared from the shelves of major stores! The story goes on.

Just the beginning of a long journey
This is indeed a book about mankind; our eyes and mind are brought face to face with the humiliation and the joy of the book's main character, a son of a nobel Javanese who is struggling to find an identity, despite his naivete of European superiority (the story took place at the closing of the 19th century, when colonialization was in place). The word, 'modern,' was not yet in the dictionary, and Pramoedya expands to give us an unforgettable experience of seeing science unravel its power in front of mankind, for better or for worse, through the eyes of his main character. We are forced to question ourselves of our own identity, our own deeds, our own laws that govern our land, our own suffering, and our own opression on our fellow mankind. Finally, we are once again faced with the sour reality of mankind when Pramoedya twists the story toward an unexpected and sad but brave ending.

I am an Indonesian who had been educated by text books written and mandated by the Indonesian government, the new ruler on the East Indies, the land that Pramoedya's epic story took place. I am amazed, marveled, transcended by the way Pramoedya revealed to me the secret of our culture, the reasons why my ancestors submitted to colonialization for more than three centuries. Pramoedya has opened the eyes of my soul to see the things surrounding my culture and my country, its history and its effort to come to terms with colonialization more closely, more vigilantly.

Pramoedya's writing is truly unique, and his insight toward mankind, cultural differences, and whatever else that has brought us near the end of this century is completely powerful. Now, almost exactly 100 years later than when the story took place, many of the wisdom and sorrow Pramoedya writes about still hold place. Truly.

The first of the Buru Quartet books, I recommend this book to any man and woman, of any nation and culture.

One of the great political novels of this century
The Kirkus review printed above damns Toer's novel with faint praise when it states that the book is "too obvious a polemic." Too obvious for whom? I wonder if the reviewer would take the same view of any other number of political novels which were used by their authors as a barely disguised fictional framework to attack flawed or unjust cultural values. Is The Grapes of Wrath too obvious a polemic? Of course not, and neither is This Earth of Mankind. Toer makes no effort to disguise the nature of his critique of the social and political values of colonial Indonesian society. Toer's narrative is brilliant; the characters are vivid and developed so well that we have no trouble identifying with them personally, and yet at the same time they are patently obvious symbols of the different racial and social strata in the world of which the novel is set. Toer has been accused of being overly melodramatic in this novel, and while I think that is a reasonable criticism, I have to disagree. The antagonists here are hissable characters, but Toer plays fair with them. They have a clear rationale for what they do and the justification for their actions may seem reasonable and even honorable to them even if we view it as an outrage. Toer balances this all with a tone that never comes across as angry, although given the hardships he himself has endured would make it perfectly understandable if the novel had been tinged with more brimstone. But the narrative does give one the sense of social and political displacement felt by Minke, the book's narrator, and by the family he meets in whose fate he becomes entangled. In This Earth of Mankind, Toer exposes the evils of a society based on and obsessed with castes of race and money, and in doing so has produced one of the essential political novels of the 20th Century.

Child of All Nations
Published in Hardcover by William Morrow (1993)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Max Lane
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Not exactly this earth of mankind
This follow-on tale from This Earth of Mankind has some interesting stories woven throughout -- for instance the tale of the young maiden who willingly contracts smallpox to avoid a life of shame as a concubine. However, the book lacks the momentum (and uniqueness) of his first novel. It also lacks subtlty and tends to be somewhat preachy. In this book the reader gets beaten over the head mercilessly in contrast to the gentle pats from This Earth. It just wasn't as fun. That said, it still has some interesting angles on a life and culture so very foreign to a turn-of-the-21st century American. And it has some poignant fragments, particularly those insights on the life of Minke's strong-willed concubine mother-in-law. It's still worth reading even though it's not of This Earth. I'm looking forward to Footsteps.

Pleasing
"Child of All Nations" is excellent reading for those interested in history, more specifically, the history of the Dutch East Indies. The reason I gave this novel four stars, however, and not five is because with all the historical references in the novel, it masks the underlying plot and also does not allow the reader to connect personally with the characters. The writing style in this novel, like it's predisessor,"This Earth of Mankind," is impressional, and moving.The message in the story is also very moving. The novel makes you think and helps the reader come to understand humanity more effeciently than they did before reading the novel. This set of novels (The Buru Quartet) are a comprised collection of intellectually stimulating and touching peice of literature.

Thank's Jody
Sorry, being so late, but you've done the job. The writer of this book, twice nominator for Nobel Prize, the victim of Buru exilement--without trial, the so called communist by Soeharto regime--but widely known as humanist is an Indonesian. So, read geography. Read history. I am--uhmmm--insulted, (a little bit) by such LITTLE ignorance.

The Fugitive
Published in Paperback by Penguin USA (Paper) (05 December, 2000)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Willem Samuels
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Fascinating, but uneven in tone
Published in Indonesia in 1950, this very early novel by Indonesia's foremost author focuses on the final days of the Japanese occupation during World War II. The main character, Hardo, and two soldier friends had aided the Japanese in ousting the Dutch colonials who had ruled the country for years, their ultimate goal being the independence of the country. After becoming disillusioned by the Japanese, they had attempted a coup, only to have it fail because of betrayal by one of the men. The novel focuses on Hardo, running for his life ever since, in three encounters he has while disguised as a beggar, each encounter showcasing the conflicting loyalties within the country, and developing the suspense.

Though the novel is intriguing and its powerful descriptions of nature are absolutely stunning, it is strangely inconsistent in tone and feels stylistically fragmented. Hardo's first encounter, with his future father-in-law, is positively operatic, resembling a duet between wooden characters, their dueling voices swirling around almost like a canon. "Come to the house," the traitorous father-in-law says, echoing the invitation more than fifteen times, offering Hardo, disguised as a beggar, a variety of enticements, each of which he refuses. In the second encounter, with his own father, the operatic style dies, more communication takes place, and a narrative emerges. The third section, a meeting with co-conspirator Dipo, several others involved in the rebellion, Japanese officers, and the father-in-law is a fully developed theatrical scene, tying together the narrative and themes through dialogue.

With the novel's structure echoing a variety of genres and its characters subordinated to theme, I found it difficult to become emotionally involved with the characters themselves, however much I might have been sympathetic to their plight and fascinated by the subject matter. The novel clearly presages the greatness which comes to fruition in Pramoedya's later tetralogy, This Earth of Mankind, however, and I highly recommend it as an introduction to his more mature work.

Pramodya continues his discovery of the human rationale
The Fugitive was Pramodya's first major novel. It takes place in Indoneisa during the final days of WW II. It is a story about war, nationalism, betrayal and not least human rationale and feelings. It tells the timeless story of a soldiers return. It combines political and social criticism with a tautly emontional narrative. It is a gripping story allowing us to peak into a contemporary Indonesia and a time that was a turning point for the Indonesia we see today. Pramodya is a truly amasing author, and his books has been a true gift in adding another tool to understand the human rationale. I am looking forward to read new books by Pramodya, who is working on a collection of the history of Indonesia at present.

Arus balik : sebuah novel sejarah
Published in Unknown Binding by Hasta Mitra ()
Author: Pramoedya Ananta Toer
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Bright Remembrance of Political Prisoner
Most of us can hardly write an essay without referring to another essay or book. In order to make our readers believe in the data that we are explaining, we usually still need to base our remembrance upon historical notes or another texts. But not this man. Pramoedya Ananta Toer, commonly known as Pram, did not use any historical notes to write this novel, in fact it told us about history of Nusantara (a kind of synonym for Indonesian archipelago). Accused of being an organizer of Communist Party which alleged to conduct 1965 rebellion, he exiled in Buru Island without any access to information. Besides, before he was put into the jail, all of his books which he has collected for years, were burnt by the military of New Order government that came into power after the rebellion. Therefore, he couldn't use any references to this novel. But in spite of relying only upon his remembrance, the historical data that he drawn is very convincing. From its title, Arus Balik (reverse stream), we can imagine some kind of radical changes. Indeed, this (historical) novel told us about the change of character of Nusantara people. Until 15th century, the people (mainly referred to Majapahit and Sriwijaya kingdom) had been offensive, in a sense that they rather conquered many other nations located in the north of Nusantara than being defeated by them. But after 15th century (especially after the coming of Netherlands' armada) they became defensive, in a sense that the people were so careless that they were defeated by western nations that came from the north of Nusantara. Although it actually discussed about something serious, but the using of good diction made this novel becomes interesting. But most of all, like I said above, Pram's bright remembrance in historical events that took place hundreds years ago is still the best.

Footsteps
Published in Hardcover by William Morrow (1995)
Authors: Pramoedya Ananta Toer and Max Lane
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Development of a Nationalist Critic
As we follow the developing story of Minke, we watch his footsteps leave the place of the former story and begin to explore the outside world through the study of medicine. It is clear that this study will yield for him government employment and the opportunity to help his fellow people. At the same time this is happening, he is constantly aware and being made more aware by those around him of his own people and how little he knows about them since his preference for Dutch language and education i.e. the filter of colonialism prioritizes everything and weights it in a certain manner. Influences from a developing China, the Philippines and a budding new anticolonial spirit begin to flourish in the greater environment and bring freshness, humility and depth to concepts previously understood only in a colonial fashion. In Footsteps we watch Minke grow in consciousness, develop leadership skills and independence and begin to listen to a different drummer both in terms of who his people are, and what he might best do, for them and with them. His path is changed and word by word, experience by experience, we are present at the birth of an organizer, a political journalist and a nationalist critic.

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