Nov 16, 2013 Pramoedya Ananta Toer (lahir di Blora, Jawa Tengah, 6 Februari 1925 – meninggal di Jakarta, 30 April 2006 pada umur 81 tahun), secara luas dianggap sebagai salah satu pengarang yang produktif dalam sejarah sastra Indonesia. Pramoedya telah menghasilkan lebih dari 50 karya dan diterjemahkan ke dalam lebih dari 41 bahasa asing. Document about Mangir By Pramoedya Ananta Toer is available on print and digital edition. Galvanized steel and coil download free pdf ebooks about pns 67. Tak berpusat tersebat pra drama mangir karya pramoedya ananta toer.
The only thing that prevents me from giving this novel the highest rating is that I have more than a sneaking suspicion that the translation (by Willem Samuels) is simply not up to snuff. I don't read Bahasa Indonesian, so I'm in no place to be able to tell for sure, but the translation's employment of English-language colloquialisms in obvious attempts to stand in for plain speech in the novel's original language is bothersome. (And it is of some interest that Pramoedya's literary language is The only thing that prevents me from giving this novel the highest rating is that I have more than a sneaking suspicion that the translation (by Willem Samuels) is simply not up to snuff. I don't read Bahasa Indonesian, so I'm in no place to be able to tell for sure, but the translation's employment of English-language colloquialisms in obvious attempts to stand in for plain speech in the novel's original language is bothersome. (And it is of some interest that Pramoedya's literary language is not the same as the language of his late nineteenth/early twentieth century characters, who speak Javanese.)All of that said, the story of The Girl From the Coast has such emotional resonance that it reminds me of nothing so much as the first novel of Pramoedya's surviving masterwork, the Buru Quartet. This Earth of Mankind was the greatest of the four novels in Pramoedya's epic, and it says something for the translator Max Lane that he was able both to produce workable English prose and to preserve Pramoedya's plainspoken yet withering portrayal of human pain and injustice.
( House of Glass, at the other end of the Quartet, was almost as great a novel, but it is a wildly different one, told from the sinister viewpoint of the police-spy.)It turns out that The Girl from the Coast was to be only the first part of a trilogy based on the story of Pramoedya's own family (beginning with his grandmother). The last two manuscripts were destroyed by the Indonesian military. It is tantalizing to consider what must have been lost.
Few great artists ever produce even one masterwork of such scope; we will never know for sure if Pramoedya did it twice. A heartbreaking story based on the author's own grandmother's early life.At the turn of the 20th century, the protagonist, a 14 year old girl from a fishing village in the northern coast of Java, is taken to the house of a high official (he is referred to as 'Bendoro').
Her parents agree to a marriage arrangement, thinking that it will improve the life quality of their daughter and also probably because they are afraid of Bendoro. This is just a 'practice marriage' for Bendoro. Actually he can A heartbreaking story based on the author's own grandmother's early life.At the turn of the 20th century, the protagonist, a 14 year old girl from a fishing village in the northern coast of Java, is taken to the house of a high official (he is referred to as 'Bendoro').
Her parents agree to a marriage arrangement, thinking that it will improve the life quality of their daughter and also probably because they are afraid of Bendoro. This is just a 'practice marriage' for Bendoro. Actually he can only officially marry a woman who is from the same social class.The protagonist doesn't understand this and she doesn't understand the concept of 'class'. For her, the free and playful life she lived in the fishing village is more meaningful than the isolated life she leads in the city. She is taken care of by a old female servant who grows to love the girl and explains to her 'the situation' as best as she can.
The novel is interspersed with some tragic and some funny moments until it reaches an abrupt ending.Pramoedya Ananta Toer is often hailed as the greatest Indonesian writer. With this novel he criticized the feudal and inhumane practices of the Javanese upper class. I found the story very insightful especially into the mindset of the 'wong cilik' ('the little people' in Javanese). All of the servants in Bendoro's house accepted that their fate was to be part of the lower class. I also enjoyed the conversations between the girl and the old female servant.'
Perempuan nak, kalau sudah kawin jeleknya laki jeleknya kita, baiknya laki baiknya kita.' 'Mengapa orang pada suka emas?' 'Karena, ya, karena.
Yah, apa mesti sahaya katakan? Karena dengan emas. Ya, supaya dia tidak kelihatan seperti sahaya, supaya tidak sama dengan orang kebanyakan.Ya, orang kebanyakan seperti sahaya inilah, bekerja berat, tapi makan pun hampir tidak.'
'Kau mengabdi pada tanah ini, tanah yang memberimu nasi dan air. Tapi para raja dan para pangeran dan para bupati sudah jual tanah keramat ini pada Belanda. Kau hanya baru sampai melawan para raja, para pangeran dan para bupati.
Satu turunan tidak bakal selesai, man. Kalau para raja, pangeran dan bupati sudah dikalahkan, baru kau bisa berhadapan pada Belanda. Entah berapa turunan lagi. Tapi kerja itu mesti dimulai.'
'Sekarang Mas Nganten belum mengerti, tapi pengalaman bakal membuat Mas Nganten memahaminya baik-baik.' 'Nasib kitalah memang, nak. Seganas-ganas laut, dia lebih pemurah dari hati priyayi.' Is loosely based on the experiences of 's grandmother. The fourteen-year-old lovely girl from a fishing village became the wife of a nobleman, the assistant to the Regent of Rembang.
Her parents thought they were giving her a better life in this arranged marriage. Although the girl was surrounded by riches, she led a life of loneliness in the Bendoro's large house. She found out she was just a 'practice wife' or a concubine since a nobleman must marry is loosely based on the experiences of 's grandmother. The fourteen-year-old lovely girl from a fishing village became the wife of a nobleman, the assistant to the Regent of Rembang. Her parents thought they were giving her a better life in this arranged marriage. Although the girl was surrounded by riches, she led a life of loneliness in the Bendoro's large house. She found out she was just a 'practice wife' or a concubine since a nobleman must marry within his own social class.
She is referred to as 'the girl' throughout the story which seems fitting since she is treated like a piece of property, rather than as an individual. The kindness of an older woman servant helps the girl navigate her way in the household. Her story is written simply but emotionally, almost like a fable.The story took place during the Dutch colonial rule of Java (Indonesia) around 1900. The brutality of the Dutch occupants is described by many characters, especially the forced labor to build a railroad line. The tale also gives us a look into the lives of the men and women in the fishing village where the fishermen risk their lives in the sea to put food on the table.The author had written a trilogy about his family's history and the growth of the nationalist movement in Indonesia. This first book is the only one that survived. The last two books were destroyed by the Indonesian military.
An epilogue was added on to the English version of this novel to give closure to the girl's story. The author spent more than seventeen years imprisoned by both colonial and independent governments for his political activity. It's hard to explain how something so plainspoken and straighforward can be so opaque. Maybe the reason is that the girl of the title herself understands so little of what exactly is expected of her, she has to learn every artificial response in the alien culture that she has been brought to. And then when shereturns to her village there is violence and coercion that is also shadowy and bewildering. But these events in her village form a kind of reversal, a kind of retaliation against that It's hard to explain how something so plainspoken and straighforward can be so opaque.
Maybe the reason is that the girl of the title herself understands so little of what exactly is expected of her, she has to learn every artificial response in the alien culture that she has been brought to. And then when shereturns to her village there is violence and coercion that is also shadowy and bewildering. But these events in her village form a kind of reversal, a kind of retaliation against that feudal governing class that strip the girl of the one thing she treasures, her own daughter.I wondered about the translation, as sometimes words jar, in particular the colloquial expressions that are probably meant to render the vernacular of the fishermen, but merely sit on the surface like a piece of dirty foam. And I always felt as if I was outside of this, it was affecting, but in an intellectual way rather than emotionally.The epilogue explains that this was meant as the first in a trilogy, and tells us that the story is based on Toer's own family. This review has been hidden because it contains spoilers. To view it, Okay, I'm not entirely sure I'm reviewing the right book, as the one I've read was a translation. But I think this is the right book.It was about a girl who becomes a 'practice wife' for a rich young nobleman.
After she has a child, he sends her away so that he can marry a noble lady. He takes her child from her.
Some interesting things from this book: 1) She never wanted to be noble. She always wished to go back to her village, despite being showered with luxuries. 2) She is never named. She Okay, I'm not entirely sure I'm reviewing the right book, as the one I've read was a translation. But I think this is the right book.It was about a girl who becomes a 'practice wife' for a rich young nobleman. After she has a child, he sends her away so that he can marry a noble lady.
He takes her child from her. Some interesting things from this book: 1) She never wanted to be noble. She always wished to go back to her village, despite being showered with luxuries. 2) She is never named. She is the girl from the coast to everyone, including to herself.I enjoyed reading this, but it is frustrating to read about women who are treated as property, trapped, unable to speak for themselves.
I picked this to read for my podcast episode of books from Southeast Asia and it was a delightful discovery. The writing style is fairly spare and formal, but the author conveys a lot through relatively little language.
I loved watching how the Girl moves from innocence to understanding of the machinations of the aristocratic world, and the author's empathy for powerless women in society, and how he examines what you gain and lose through wealth. The dialogue could get a bit didactic at times, I picked this to read for my podcast episode of books from Southeast Asia and it was a delightful discovery. The writing style is fairly spare and formal, but the author conveys a lot through relatively little language. I loved watching how the Girl moves from innocence to understanding of the machinations of the aristocratic world, and the author's empathy for powerless women in society, and how he examines what you gain and lose through wealth.
The dialogue could get a bit didactic at times, but I'm looking forward to reading more of Toer's backlist. Many years ago I read three volumes of the Buru Quartet, shortly after returning from a business trip to Jakarta. It was a pleasure to revisit the work or Pramoedya Ananta Toer and think about the complex world of Indonesia.Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country (over 220 million people) and the largest predominately Moslem one.
It is very widespread geographically, including 6,000 inhabited islands with a land mass making it the 16th largest country in the world in terms of land Many years ago I read three volumes of the Buru Quartet, shortly after returning from a business trip to Jakarta. It was a pleasure to revisit the work or Pramoedya Ananta Toer and think about the complex world of Indonesia.Indonesia is the world's fourth most populous country (over 220 million people) and the largest predominately Moslem one.
It is very widespread geographically, including 6,000 inhabited islands with a land mass making it the 16th largest country in the world in terms of land area. 130 million people live on the island of Java, making it the world's most populous island. The country is diverse culturally including over 300 distinct ethnicities speaking over 700 different languages or dialects.Pramoedya was born in 1925 in Blora on the island of Java, then under the control of the Dutch. Pramoedya was part of the opposition to the Dutch colonists and he was imprisoned by them from 1947 to 1949. At that time he wrote his first major novel, 'The Fugitive.' In the 1970's he was imprisoned by the leaders of independent Indonesia because his writings, supporting the needs of the people, were interpreted as too communistic.
While in the Buru prison, without pen or paper he composed the four novels that make up the so-called Buru Quartet. After his release to house arrest, he was able to write down these novels and they were published in Indonesian and in English translation from 1980 through 1992.'
The Girl from the Coast' was published in 1982 in Indonesian, but did not appear in English until 2002. The book fulfills Pramoedya's promise to tell the story of his beloved grandmother. At the same time he continues his themes of the oppression of women in much of society and the oppression of the 'lower' classes. Pramoedya is keenly aware that often the greater human virtues are preserved best in the traditions of simple village life.This book is about the life of a teenage girl in the Java of over 100 years ago. Yet it much to say about the unfairness of life and the struggle for communication between youth and parents that still fill the world today. Therefore, this book may speak to teenagers even more effectively than to adults.
Roman Tetralogi Buru mengambil latar belakang dan cikal bakal nation Indonesia di awal abad ke-20. Dengan membacanya waktu kita dibalikkan sedemikian rupa dan hidup di era membibitnya pergerakan nasional mula-mula, juga pertautan rasa, kegamangan jiwa, percintaan, dan pertarungan kekuatan anonim para srikandi yang mengawal penyemaian bangunan nasional yang kemudian kelak Roman Tetralogi Buru mengambil latar belakang dan cikal bakal nation Indonesia di awal abad ke-20. This Earth of Mankind is the first novel of the Buru Quartet, so called because it was composed when Pramoedya Ananta Toer was a political prisoner on Buru Island in the 60s. I say ‘composed’ rather than ‘written’ because the first version of it was told orally to his fellow prisoners.
He had apparently just about finished the research and planning when he was arrested and all his notes and books were destroyed.Which is an immediately intriguing back-story, although the relationship between the This Earth of Mankind is the first novel of the Buru Quartet, so called because it was composed when Pramoedya Ananta Toer was a political prisoner on Buru Island in the 60s. I say ‘composed’ rather than ‘written’ because the first version of it was told orally to his fellow prisoners. In all honesty, I didn’t like the novel as much as I liked the other two required reading novels for Oriental Literature class, “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion” and “The Rope of Ash”, nor do I think it is asimpressive as the other Asian Literary works that we have read in class, like the short stories of Lu Xun. The first few parts actually didn’t get my attention. There are points in the story that I asked myself where the book was getting at or what it is trying to say.
I know it is aIn all honesty, I didn’t like the novel as much as I liked the other two required reading novels for Oriental Literature class, “The Temple of the Golden Pavilion” and “The Rope of Ash”, nor do I think it is asimpressive as the other Asian Literary works that we have read in class, like the short stories of Lu Xun. The first few parts actually didn’t get my attention. There are points in the story that I asked myself where the book was getting at or what it is trying to say. I know it is a post-colonial literature, so naturally I was looking for a Political commentary but was disappointed that I got a love story that lacks backbone. Minke and Annelies fell inlove immediately after they met and I am not really a fan of the kind of story.
I was annoyed by Annelies. She was being immature and helpless.
She was very anti-feminist and she doesn’t do much except become sick and followMinke around. She was so weak and needy. But I liked reading about everyone else, especially the European friends of Minke, who supplied the information about colonial Indonesia. The Mellema’s family doctor, Dr.
Martinet, who explained the condition of Annelies and what theauthor was trying to communicate when he wrote about Annelies, and the La Croix sisters who were trying to help Minke become a successful Javanese who could lead Indonesia to rebel against Dutch rule. They supplied vital ideas and information not only to Minke but to thereaders as well.I liked that I get to learn about the condition of Java during the Dutch rule and was sad to discover that their condition is as worse as the Philippines have experienced during the Spanish,Japanese and American rule. The natives, although it is their land, are being oppressed by the colonizers, the trespassers. The natives are being denied of their rights in their own land and the colonizers thinking that they are superior in every way.I think the writer was brilliant when he wrote this story as a ‘love story’ to hide his political commentaries. As a result, it wasn’t nauseating to read, unlike other political novels.The Malay culture isn’t really presented much, either. There is no vivid picture on what Java is like before the Dutch conquered Indonesia, except when Minke’s family would appear in the book, like Minke and Annelies’ wedding.
The author gave a very vivid picture of the event and it was very exciting to read because their customs, when it comes to weddings are different from what we have here in the Philippines.What I like most about reading the novel is that I get to learn about Indonesia: the History and their Culture. It is a part of Asia, of home, that, in all honesty, I wasn’t very familiar with. I have been reading too much Western novel and I was surprise that I found this book rather strange when I’m Asian and a Malay at that. We are very Western indeed and it is sad that we did not keep our culture.
Our culture is probably as colourful or as different as that of other Asian countries and if we kept our culture, it would probably keep us grounded, just like what the Malayan culture has made Minke and Nyai as they are. Their education is that of the West but their heart and morals remained Javanese. That made them not just tough, but humble as well. Robert Mellema has the the mind of a Westerner and look at what happened to him.
Nyai and Minke, although defeated, fought with dignity and fought for what they believe is right and fair.I think, this is a call for Indonesia, and maybe to all parts of Asia, to fight against Western rule. The author thinks it is okay to be educated by the West because the Asians could use this education as a tool for rebellion but it is also important to keep our Asian morals that is unique.
Our morals, our culture and traditions not only defines our identity as Asians but it keeps us grounded, always reminding as that it is not power that we want but Freedom. Freedom to practice our religion, our culture, our tradition.
Freedom to live and rule our own land. Freedom to be who we are.I'm not a very good writer, am I?:P. This is a long-delayed review, partly because I must admit I never finished reading it and partly because I so wanted to like this Indonesian author having read about his time as a political prisoner in the 1960s. As a history teacher, I did appreciate how Ananta Toer captures 19th Century colonial life and the caste-like system that was instituted by the Dutch. The romantic story between the native Javanese boy and the mixed race girl at the centre of the novel, however, did not feel realistic This is a long-delayed review, partly because I must admit I never finished reading it and partly because I so wanted to like this Indonesian author having read about his time as a political prisoner in the 1960s. As a history teacher, I did appreciate how Ananta Toer captures 19th Century colonial life and the caste-like system that was instituted by the Dutch.
The romantic story between the native Javanese boy and the mixed race girl at the centre of the novel, however, did not feel realistic to me and that is why time and time again I could only read a chapter or two before putting the book down. First, thanks to Sara-Maria and Manu (hard as this is for me to do, a debt is a debt) for encouraging me to read the Buru Qurtet. These four books and made for superb summer reading.All the book covers say that Toer is 'Asia's leading candidate for the Nobel Prize.' I have no doubts about that. This not because he is a great stylist of prose (at least not in the English translation), nor because he uncovers new ground in form. Rather, I think it is Toer's ambition and vast First, thanks to Sara-Maria and Manu (hard as this is for me to do, a debt is a debt) for encouraging me to read the Buru Qurtet. These four books and made for superb summer reading.All the book covers say that Toer is 'Asia's leading candidate for the Nobel Prize.'
I have no doubts about that. This not because he is a great stylist of prose (at least not in the English translation), nor because he uncovers new ground in form.
Rather, I think it is Toer's ambition and vast knowledge that is astounding.Somewhere in the back of my mind, I recall the statement that Benedict Anderson, he of fame, was influenced by Toer. I can see that.
In the first three books, Toer is developing a theory of colonial resistance and colonial consciousness. He also formulates a theory of nationalism. All this is done within dramatic plots and very engaging characters. I continue to believe that some of the best third world theorizing is done through fiction.The strength and weakness of the four novels is the vast amount of detail that Toer offers. You will learn more about Dutch Indonesia than you ever thought was possible. These details had the effect of completely transporting into a different time and place. I kept thinking to myself: 'Why is it that I know next to nothing about Southeast Asia's struggle with the Dutch colonialism?'
Reading these books was like looking out at your back yard and realizing that, in it, there is a trail that leads to whole another dimension.The fourth novel, was rather unsettling for me. First the point of view shifts. The first three books are written from the point of view of Minke - a gifted 'native' who internalizes the Dutch and Western norms of his white education and who comes to see the impossibility of realizing the values of equality and justice within the colonial setting. House of Glass shifts the point of view to another native but one who is a collaborationist.
In some ways this novel reminds me a bit of the first essay in Memmi's. Second, it is not difficult to identify with the tragedy that befalls Minke since his character has integrity. But the collaborationist in House of Glass, while intelligent, falls further and further into self-hatred. I found the fourth book emotionally difficult.All in all an enthralling experience. I am very impressed with Toer's historical and theoretical grasp, although I wished he had done more work on the daily operations of the sugar factories that ruled Indonesia.
This is a complex novel about Dutch-Indo relations through the eyes of Minke, an intelligent Javanese boy who is sent up through Dutch schooling. He falls in love with the daughter of a nyai (a concubine, or slave, as she would put it) whose father is Dutch but whose mother is native. He calls the nyai 'Mama' through most of the novel. He is forced to confront his own preconceived notions on intelligence, hierarchy, and personal value, largely because of Mama: 'Stories about happy things are This is a complex novel about Dutch-Indo relations through the eyes of Minke, an intelligent Javanese boy who is sent up through Dutch schooling.
He falls in love with the daughter of a nyai (a concubine, or slave, as she would put it) whose father is Dutch but whose mother is native. He calls the nyai 'Mama' through most of the novel. He is forced to confront his own preconceived notions on intelligence, hierarchy, and personal value, largely because of Mama: 'Stories about happy things are never interesting. They are not stories about people and their lives, but about heaven, and clearly do not take place on this earth of ours.'
There are co-existing governments in Indonesia during this time period - Minke's father is a bupati, a regional nobleman post that is given honor and authority until it involves a non-native person, and then all bets are off. Minke could actually have moved up into a similar role (because of his blood) but seems to be positioning himself to have more of an influence in crossing the lines, something that is not a popular approach, but one gaining a lot of attention, referred to as 'Association Theory,' this idea of equal governance with the Europeans.
It looks like continues Minke's story as he takes on a larger role. Since this volume ends so tragically, I would be interested in knowing what happens next.I have read a handful of books set in Indonesia (more than a handful if you include West Papua) but this is the only one translated from a native author. It actually is against the law to sell or purchase his work within Indonesia, and the quartet that this novel introduces were originally composed orally while the author was in jail for political reasons, recited to other inmates, until he was allowed to have paper. The author's life is reflected in the tensions of the novel - native vs. European, tradition vs.
Religion, etc. 'Science was giving birth to more and more miracles. The legends of my ancestors were being put to shame. No longer was it necessary to meditate in the mountains for years in order to be able to speak to somebody across the seas. The Germans had laid a cable reaching from England to India! And these cables were multiplying and spreading all over the face of the earth.
The whole world could now observe the behavior of any person. And people could now observe the behavior of the whole world.But mankind and its problems remained as they have always been. And no more so than in the matters of love.' Also discussed on of the Reading Envy Podcast. This first time I read this book was in English about eight, nine years ago. I wrote a review in my early days of Goodreads.
Soon after that I got my first smart phone and downloaded the GR app. My clumsy fingers accidentally deleted the original first review and I was never able to retrieve it back. Now, I've come back to Pramoedya Ananta Toer's classic and read it in the original language, Indonesian. I feel so happy.
At the same time my feelings about this book have changed quite a bit and I This first time I read this book was in English about eight, nine years ago. I wrote a review in my early days of Goodreads. Soon after that I got my first smart phone and downloaded the GR app.
My clumsy fingers accidentally deleted the original first review and I was never able to retrieve it back. Now, I've come back to Pramoedya Ananta Toer's classic and read it in the original language, Indonesian.
I feel so happy. At the same time my feelings about this book have changed quite a bit and I think the person that I was who read this the first time around isn't quite the same with the one today. The first time I read this book, I was full of admiration and pride, because it was my first encounter with a classic from Indonesian literature. I thought the love story between Minke and Annelies was sweet. But having already finished the Buru Quartet and knowing the outcome of the story, I felt very different about their relationship now. It was corny and I felt that throughout this book Minke was being praised so much and being a bit arrogant himself. I was kind of rolling my eyes every time I read such a passage.
Also, Annelies was so young, but back in the day that was common. I found Tuan Mellema's transformation unbelievable. Overall, what I liked the best was the mix of characters that we encounter and the setting in Dutch East Indies at the turn of the 20th century. The author clearly shows how colonialism wrecked the self-esteem and mentality of the natives. They thought the world of the white colonialists and thought they couldn't do anything wrong.
That's why Annelies' mother was such an exceptional woman at that time - self-educated, strong and principled. At the same time, I couldn't help feel how much Indonesia has changed since then. How would Pramoedya Ananta Toer view Indonesia now?' .Tetapi kecantikan, bahkan hidup sendiri menjadi sia-sia bila dikuasai ketakutan.' 'Dan advokat itu orang Eropa juga. 'Hanya pengabdi uang.
Bertambah banyak uang kau berikan padanya, bertambah dia jujur padamu. Itulah Eropa.' Rest in peace to the postcolonial novel of characters. There were once droves of them, from all parts of the newly liberated world, but they're a rare commodity in an era where the “ethnic” novel in the U.S. Has been reduced to level one alienation and occasional italicized references to spices.Toer wrote a fucking four-volume epic without a pen on a prison island in Indonesia (and you think you're a writer.). And the first volume is a novel of beautifully drawn characters.
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Forster Rest in peace to the postcolonial novel of characters. There were once droves of them, from all parts of the newly liberated world, but they're a rare commodity in an era where the “ethnic” novel in the U.S. Has been reduced to level one alienation and occasional italicized references to spices.Toer wrote a fucking four-volume epic without a pen on a prison island in Indonesia (and you think you're a writer.). And the first volume is a novel of beautifully drawn characters. Forster in A Passage to India, Toer is interested in showing every nuance of colonial existence, every intersection of the colonizer and colonized, from the decent people to the outright motherfuckers, and the infinite varieties of complex humanity in between.
My only regret is- given all the references to what dialects characters are speaking at any given moment- that I wasn't able to read the original in what is presumably a shimmering heteroglossia. Historical fiction set on the island of Java at the turn of the 19th century. Knowing next to nothing about the milieu it was almost like reading science fiction, i.e. Trying to understand the 'futuristic' slang and social conventions. Adding to my confusion were the echoes of the colonial relationship between the British and India, replaced here by the Dutch and the 'Indonesians' (I write it in quotations because the book mostly refers to Javanese, Acehnese, Madurese, i.e. Specific islands Historical fiction set on the island of Java at the turn of the 19th century. Knowing next to nothing about the milieu it was almost like reading science fiction, i.e.
Trying to understand the 'futuristic' slang and social conventions. Adding to my confusion were the echoes of the colonial relationship between the British and India, replaced here by the Dutch and the 'Indonesians' (I write it in quotations because the book mostly refers to Javanese, Acehnese, Madurese, i.e. Specific islands although the term 'Indo' refers to those of mixed Dutch and local descent) and the hints of Hinduism in the names of figures from Javanese mythology contrasted with the fact that most of the islanders practice Islam.
An interesting book marred( I assume from all the 5 star reviews in the original language) by an abysmal - and sorry to say, laugh-out-loud-translation. That said, I really enjoyed the outright bizarre and melodramatic (and yes they are melodramatic) turns in the story: the keystone cops chases, the courtroom scenes, the doctor who goes on and on for pages about the psyche like some pipe smoking physician giving Rock Hudson moral advice. I also liked the main character's growing self-awareness An interesting book marred( I assume from all the 5 star reviews in the original language) by an abysmal - and sorry to say, laugh-out-loud-translation. That said, I really enjoyed the outright bizarre and melodramatic (and yes they are melodramatic) turns in the story: the keystone cops chases, the courtroom scenes, the doctor who goes on and on for pages about the psyche like some pipe smoking physician giving Rock Hudson moral advice. I also liked the main character's growing self-awareness of his sexism, even if Ann (again, the translation might be at fault here) comes off as too much of a delicate flower.But 'Who is this Fatso?' Though I've read many Indonesian novels, I missed this book which is considered as the milestone in Indonesian literature.
I'm not into classics. The only reason to read it was just because Bumi Manusia would be screening soon, starring my favorite actor: Dilan Iqbaal.As the pages turned on and on, I began to like it.
It wasn't like the classics I had read before. The pace wasn't slow as other classics. The characters were built very well. The emotions were absorbed in my mind. It is not Though I've read many Indonesian novels, I missed this book which is considered as the milestone in Indonesian literature.
I'm not into classics. The only reason to read it was just because Bumi Manusia would be screening soon, starring my favorite actor: Dilan Iqbaal.As the pages turned on and on, I began to like it. It wasn't like the classics I had read before. The pace wasn't slow as other classics. The characters were built very well.
The emotions were absorbed in my mind. It is not exaggerated that people say Bumi Manusia is Indonesia's best work of all time.
My interest in this book is primarily literary and cultural. Pramoedya Ananta Toer has masterfully combined a devastating critique of colonialism with a poignant love story, set in the late 1800s before Indonesia had even been named.Minke is the only Native Javanese student in the H.B.S., one of the best high schools in the Dutch Indies.
Despite his obvious academic abilities, he would not have gained admission to this prestigious school if it were not for his grandfather's status. It turns out My interest in this book is primarily literary and cultural. Pramoedya Ananta Toer has masterfully combined a devastating critique of colonialism with a poignant love story, set in the late 1800s before Indonesia had even been named.Minke is the only Native Javanese student in the H.B.S., one of the best high schools in the Dutch Indies. Despite his obvious academic abilities, he would not have gained admission to this prestigious school if it were not for his grandfather's status. It turns out that Minke is descended from Javanese royalty! But his high position in Javanese society doesn't help much in his school or when mingling with the Europeans.
Due to his race, all of his western education and ideas, his ability to speak and read fluent Dutch, and his dreams of being a journalist or writer cannot gain him real admission to colonial society. He is inherently a lesser being because he is a pure-blooded Native. The Indos, or part-natives, will always be higher than him, and of course the Pure Europeans will always have the most authority of all.This is the world that Minke inhabits. While he recognizes and chafes against these restrictions from the beginning, he doesn't quite grasp their full implications until he falls in love with Annelise Mellema, an Indo girl who is the daughter of a wealthy Dutch businessman and his concubine, or nyai.
For the last five years, the Nyai has run her master's company single-handedly, only assisted by her daughter. The Nyai is incredibly well educated and a wonderful leader and administrator, self-taught and educated by her master. But because she is a pure-blooded native and, even worse, just a nyai, she has no real power over anything in this colonial society – not even the company that she built from scratch or the land purchased in her name.When Minke and Ann fall head over heels in love, both colonial and Javanese society see their relationship as scandalous. This is especially so when rumors begin to spread about how Minke is staying at their house. And then there is the controversy of Minke’s Dutch writings being published to critical acclaim in the papersCritique of ColonialismThis book is, first and foremost, a devastating critique of Colonialism, specifically Dutch Colonialism in the Indies.Time and again, Minke highlights the Europeans' hypocrisy: the same people simultaneously teach him about the vast benefits of European society and systematically debase Native Javans for no reason other than their race.
He is reminded again and again that, although he is mostly treated as an equal in school, he can be completely cast aside at a moment’s notice. Although his family is powerful in Native society, he is only allowed admission to colonial circles due to the good nature of the Europeans.Read the rest here. An introduction to the novels of an internationally read Indonesian author, Pramoedya Ananta Toer. This one begins his Buru Quartet. The tetralogy's title refers to the prison in which he first told then wrote it. The setting begins around 1898 Surabaya, Java, a period of Dutch Indies colonization.
The story begins with two privileged, optimistic, competent natives. Nyai (concubine) Ontosoroh has been educated by her Netherlands European consort Herman Mellema. She's competent in the Dutch An introduction to the novels of an internationally read Indonesian author, Pramoedya Ananta Toer. This one begins his Buru Quartet. The tetralogy's title refers to the prison in which he first told then wrote it. The setting begins around 1898 Surabaya, Java, a period of Dutch Indies colonization. The story begins with two privileged, optimistic, competent natives.
Nyai (concubine) Ontosoroh has been educated by her Netherlands European consort Herman Mellema. She's competent in the Dutch language and in European ways and is the successful owner-manager of their dairy business. They have two grown children, Annelies and Robert.
The native is Minke, a name given to him when his teacher was exasperated with him. His family is among the native nobility, and Minke has the privilege to attend the elite Dutch high school. His schooling in modern, European enlightened education and science and in Dutch language makes him impatient with traditional Javanese customs of obeisance. As this first book of the Quartet introduces the themes, characters, and setting, some unknown parts of the story will be revealed in the sequels. The two complacent, independent characters above find themselves in a conflict. When Mellema dies in a seedy brothal, his Netherlands's son of a former marriage wants Nyai's business, money, and daughter Annelies.
Nyai and Minke attempt to fight Maurits Mellema's greedy grab at his father's inheritance and at Annelies (she and Minke have married). Though Nyai and Minke have the support of many natives, the powerful directive of the Netherlands court is supported by the local Dutch Indies court. In other words, Nyai and Minke can petition for their human rights, but the European court in Java does not recognize their class. The conflict over the inheritance and Annelies reveals the hidden social inequality of the natives Nyai and Minke when they make their rare contact with the courts and teaches them that their own ancestry might be as worthy as that of the colonizers.
No matter what your circumstances are, you fight! You fight with all you have.This Earth of Mankind is the first novel of the Buru Quartet, the book was orally narrated by the author when he was a political prisoner in Buru islands to his fellow prisoners, and it was published later.
The book is banned in Indonesia till this day!This story was slow to start with, had a lot of background to be told and story line to be built. I loved the main characters Minke and specially Nyai. I wish No matter what your circumstances are, you fight! You fight with all you have.This Earth of Mankind is the first novel of the Buru Quartet, the book was orally narrated by the author when he was a political prisoner in Buru islands to his fellow prisoners, and it was published later. The book is banned in Indonesia till this day!This story was slow to start with, had a lot of background to be told and story line to be built.
I loved the main characters Minke and specially Nyai. I wish Annelies was a bit strong as her own mum.It was good to know about the colonial laws for Natives, Indos and Whites. Colonial laws wouldn't be in favor of natives obviously, but in this book it shows how disastrous they were for Nyai's family. However, they still fight knowing they cant win against the European law.The ending was sad, maybe because author wanted a solid foundation for this series and wanted readers to pickup the next book quickly! So, will I pick up the next book? Maybe not so soon:D. “I only want to become a free human being, not given orders, not giving orders, Mother.”“Ha!
Will there be a time like that, Gus? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”This novel sets in 19th century Java in the port of Surabaya during Dutch colonization in East-Indies. The characters in the story are mixture of Indonesian, Dutch, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese. All these people have with them aspects of the life of their own: their politics; their ideas on religion, philosophy, and morality; their “I only want to become a free human being, not given orders, not giving orders, Mother.”“Ha!
Will there be a time like that, Gus? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”This novel sets in 19th century Java in the port of Surabaya during Dutch colonization in East-Indies. The characters in the story are mixture of Indonesian, Dutch, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese.
All these people have with them aspects of the life of their own: their politics; their ideas on religion, philosophy, and morality; their prejudices and their hatreds; and sometimes their imagination and foresight.The terms Native, Mixed-Blood, and Pure are capitalized because they do not simply identify racial origins, but manifest how race and caste dominated all of Netherlands Indies society. The colonizers’ determination was that the native people, especially the toiling classes, of the Netherlands Indies should remain forever submerged in a culture of silence.“Yes, this is how it is in all colonies: Asia, Africa, America, Australia. Everything that is not European, and especially if it is not colonial, is trodden upon, laughed at, humiliated, for no other reason than to prove the supremacy of Europe and of colonial might in every matter—not excluding ignorance.”The center of the story is Minke, an eighteen-year-old Native Javanese. He is the only Native in the Dutch High School (H.B.S.). His attendance there shows not only his intelligence but also a strong connection to Dutch. His grandparents had dominated Java for so long while his parents are feudal Java’s delegates.
Through Minke’s relations with his family, Pramoedya brings us back to the ways of thinking and acting of Java’s feudal rulers.“Javanese bow down in submission to those older, more powerful; this is a way to achieve nobility of character. People must have the courage to surrender, Gus. Perhaps you no longer know that song either?”One evening, his classmate invites him to a party where he meets Annelies Mellema, a beautiful Indo-European. She is a daughter of Robert Mellema and his concubine: Nyai Ontosoroh. Through her and her extraordinary family, Minke finds the strength to embrace his world and its beauty, possibility, brutality, and anger.Although mainly discussing (and criticizing) colonialism, this is not a book of revenge or hatred. Pramoedya set out to recreate the past through the telling of a story and the evocation of an atmosphere.Minke’s journey to find his identity and to come to terms with his own identity is quite heart warming.“Mother doesn’t punish you.
You’ve discovered your own way. I will not obstruct you, and will not call you back. Travel along the road you hold to be best.
But don’t hurt your parents, and those you think don’t know everything that you know.”Furthermore, his interaction with other characters in the story are full of contemplation and wisdom which I will hold dear.“Men, Gus, they love to eat. Who knows if leaves or if meat? That’s all right, providing you understand, Gus, the more you advance at school does not mean the more you can eat other people’s food. You must be able to recognize limits. That’s not too hard to understand, is it?”“Happy are they who eat from the products of their own sweat, obtain pleasure from their own endeavors, and advance because of their own experiences.”“You’re educated, Minke. An educated person must learn to act justly, beginning, first of all, with his thoughts, then later in his deeds.
That is what it means to be educated”. I read this book for my world fiction challenge, because it was getting embarrassing that I had nothing from Indonesia (the world’s fourth-most-populous country!). Unfortunately, there just aren’t a lot of choices available in English, so I wound up reading this even though it was largely lost in translation.This Earth of Mankind is a politically important book-first told orally while the author was a political prisoner-with a political (anti-colonialist) message. Second, it’s the story, set I read this book for my world fiction challenge, because it was getting embarrassing that I had nothing from Indonesia (the world’s fourth-most-populous country!). Unfortunately, there just aren’t a lot of choices available in English, so I wound up reading this even though it was largely lost in translation.This Earth of Mankind is a politically important book-first told orally while the author was a political prisoner-with a political (anti-colonialist) message. Second, it’s the story, set at the end of the 19th century, of an 18-year-old Indonesian boy, nicknamed Minke by one of the teachers in the elite Dutch school he’s privileged to attend (the teacher apparently meant to call him a monkey, and now that’s replaced his actual identity, ooooh don’t you see the damage colonialism does here?). But it’s a very weird story.
It supposedly very fast, very survivable, and very maneuverable. The Havoc is in widespread service.The KA has been deployed in Syria and Chechnya. The KA is found mostly attached to special forces units. Torrent apache longbow vs ka52.
Minke meets a reclusive family with a beautiful daughter, and the two instantly become so enamored of each other that the mother invites him to come live at their house. Which he does, apparently finding this only a little weird. The daughter, whom we’re explicitly told is “no more than a fragile doll” with the emotional maturity of a 10-year-old, becomes deathly ill whenever Minke so much as goes on an extended family visit, but he doesn’t mind sticking around too much, since she’s super hot after all.
(“A beautiful love story”? Really?) Anyway, no spoilers: the book is very slow and meandering for the first 250 pages or so, but does pick up toward the end.Toer does a good job with the cultural and historical setting, which is educational, and the characters’ personalities are distinct enough. The novel makes its political statement effectively without becoming so didactic as to belong on my “op-ed books” shelf, although it’s close. It's certainly not subtle, but the injustices of a caste-based colonial system don't lend themselves to subtlety. The translation could have been more accessibly-written, though, and there’s a lot of repetition, as if the author was perhaps too wedded to the novel’s spoken form.At any rate, I can see this novel being great for courses on comparative or post-colonial literature, and am sure its virtues are much more evident in Indonesian and to people who share that cultural background. But for non-Indonesian, non-academic readers looking for a good story, you can probably give this one a pass.
“I only want to become a free human being, not given orders, not giving orders, Mother.”“Ha! Will there be a time like that, Gus? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”This novel sets in 19th century Java in the port of Surabaya during Dutch colonization in East-Indies.
The characters in the story are mixture of Indonesian, Dutch, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese. All these people have with them aspects of the life of their own: their politics; their ideas on religion, philosophy, and morality; their “I only want to become a free human being, not given orders, not giving orders, Mother.”“Ha! Will there be a time like that, Gus? This is the first I’ve heard of it.”This novel sets in 19th century Java in the port of Surabaya during Dutch colonization in East-Indies. The characters in the story are mixture of Indonesian, Dutch, Arabs, Indians, and Chinese. All these people have with them aspects of the life of their own: their politics; their ideas on religion, philosophy, and morality; their prejudices and their hatreds; and sometimes their imagination and foresight.The terms Native, Mixed-Blood, and Pure are capitalized because they do not simply identify racial origins, but manifest how race and caste dominated all of Netherlands Indies society.
The colonizers’ determination was that the native people, especially the toiling classes, of the Netherlands Indies should remain forever submerged in a culture of silence.“Yes, this is how it is in all colonies: Asia, Africa, America, Australia. Everything that is not European, and especially if it is not colonial, is trodden upon, laughed at, humiliated, for no other reason than to prove the supremacy of Europe and of colonial might in every matter—not excluding ignorance.”The center of the story is Minke, an eighteen-year-old Native Javanese. He is the only Native in the Dutch High School (H.B.S.). His attendance there shows not only his intelligence but also a strong connection to Dutch. His grandparents had dominated Java for so long while his parents are feudal Java’s delegates. Through Minke’s relations with his family, Pramoedya brings us back to the ways of thinking and acting of Java’s feudal rulers.“Javanese bow down in submission to those older, more powerful; this is a way to achieve nobility of character. People must have the courage to surrender, Gus.
Perhaps you no longer know that song either?”One evening, his classmate invites him to a party where he meets Annelies Mellema, a beautiful Indo-European. She is a daughter of Robert Mellema and his concubine: Nyai Ontosoroh. Through her and her extraordinary family, Minke finds the strength to embrace his world and its beauty, possibility, brutality, and anger.Although mainly discussing (and criticizing) colonialism, this is not a book of revenge or hatred. Pramoedya set out to recreate the past through the telling of a story and the evocation of an atmosphere.Minke’s journey to find his identity and to come to terms with his own identity is quite heart warming.“Mother doesn’t punish you. You’ve discovered your own way. I will not obstruct you, and will not call you back.
Travel along the road you hold to be best. But don’t hurt your parents, and those you think don’t know everything that you know.”Furthermore, his interaction with other characters in the story are full of contemplation and wisdom which I will hold dear.“Men, Gus, they love to eat. Who knows if leaves or if meat?
That’s all right, providing you understand, Gus, the more you advance at school does not mean the more you can eat other people’s food. You must be able to recognize limits. That’s not too hard to understand, is it?”“Happy are they who eat from the products of their own sweat, obtain pleasure from their own endeavors, and advance because of their own experiences.”“You’re educated, Minke. An educated person must learn to act justly, beginning, first of all, with his thoughts, then later in his deeds. That is what it means to be educated”.
How would you demand justice if its formula is still juvenile and biased? Taking place at the very end of 19th Century Java, this book, the first part of Buru Tetralogy, will introduce you to the definition of human existentialism and how it develops through integrity and/or force majeure (colonialism).Pramoedya did not stuck with an inferior romance in which this book began with but instead architected the plot with strong, genuine political and social issues. Fibers human beings must've How would you demand justice if its formula is still juvenile and biased? Taking place at the very end of 19th Century Java, this book, the first part of Buru Tetralogy, will introduce you to the definition of human existentialism and how it develops through integrity and/or force majeure (colonialism).Pramoedya did not stuck with an inferior romance in which this book began with but instead architected the plot with strong, genuine political and social issues. Fibers human beings must've possessed in the story could somehow relate to those you are actually dealing with in the modern life: love, anger, disloyalty, faultfinding, courage, and lordliness.I could not stop embracing the writing style in any book he created for they were always impressive. In fact, this book (along 'Jalan Tak Ada Ujung' by Mochtar Lubis) succesfully inspired me to begin writing my first ever novel.
Thank you, Minke! This book bring me to the pre-independent and colonialism age of Deutch to Indische. Through this book I didnt just learn history, but also the point of view of Europe-educated man represented by the young man named Minke (HBS Student). Instead of me being critical,this book also made me upset because by the end of the book, Toer bring tragedy to the story, where Minke should be separated from his lovely wife named Annabel.Mr. Toer, you are the best genius Indonesian author, ever. I wonder why this book bring me to the pre-independent and colonialism age of Deutch to Indische.
Through this book I didnt just learn history, but also the point of view of Europe-educated man represented by the young man named Minke (HBS Student). Instead of me being critical,this book also made me upset because by the end of the book, Toer bring tragedy to the story, where Minke should be separated from his lovely wife named Annabel.Mr. Toer, you are the best genius Indonesian author, ever.
I wonder why Soeharto banned your books.Anyway, is there anyone know what the meaning of 'Phyloginik'? Neither Google translate nor Oxford Dictionary I use but none of them are working, furthermore I dont know is that word in English or Netherland language. “All the colonial wars for the last twenty-five years have been fought in the interests of capital; fought to ensure markets that would guarantee more profits for European capital. Capital has become very powerful, all-powerful. Capital decides the fate of humanity. ”For the past years, a well-informed person with good book or internet will read about how big corporations basically controlled and and ruled nations. But this problem is not a necessarily a recent one, it's been going on since “All the colonial wars for the last twenty-five years have been fought in the interests of capital; fought to ensure markets that would guarantee more profits for European capital.
Capital has become very powerful, all-powerful. Capital decides the fate of humanity. ”For the past years, a well-informed person with good book or internet will read about how big corporations basically controlled and and ruled nations.
But this problem is not a necessarily a recent one, it's been going on since hundreds years a go. At least it happened in my country.For 3 centuries, Vereenigde Oostindische Compagnie (VOC), a big Dutch corporations basically ruled a vast territory of rich Islands in South East Asia that one day will be united as today's Indonesia. But at that time, it was called Dutch East Indies.Our main character in Bumi Manusia called himself Minke, a native Javanese, an 'inlander' which under the social status of Dutch East Indies fall below the rank of European, or even below the mixed European (Indo). I read this book while travelling to Bali as I normally like to do (read a book local to the country I'm traveling to). The book struck me but for a reason unrelated to my travel to Indonesia but to the Netherlands. When I studied in Holland I was spoon fed that the Dutch colonization of the Indies was all fun, Dutch are tolerant people who'd never impose certain ideologies like their British and French counterparts they said.
The dutch were a country founded by the unwanted citizens of Europe ( I read this book while travelling to Bali as I normally like to do (read a book local to the country I'm traveling to). The book struck me but for a reason unrelated to my travel to Indonesia but to the Netherlands. When I studied in Holland I was spoon fed that the Dutch colonization of the Indies was all fun, Dutch are tolerant people who'd never impose certain ideologies like their British and French counterparts they said. The dutch were a country founded by the unwanted citizens of Europe ( the gypsies the Jews and the Portuguese) and they are the torch of tolerance. Well Pramoedya argues they are just as white supremacist as their neighbors, with a twerk of course.
The book mainly discusses how the Dutch wanted to change the Indies to the European standards from the perspective of a young native boy studying in private schools for the dutch. Ironically enough you see it in private schools and western architectonic buildings and restaurants run today in Bali for expats who decided to to quit life in the west and embrace the wisdom in the east but with their own narcissistic existence. The book is the first out of 4 books, so far it's been interesting enough for me to look for the next one, let's see how far it takes us.