Book review critique<\/p>\n
Anyone who wonders why the book publishing industry in
\nIndonesia remains behind that of the rest of the region need only
\nlook to the shallow, poorly written review of Lontar's new volume
\nIndonesia in the Soeharto Years in the Sunday (June 3) edition of
\nThe Jakarta Post.<\/p>\n
If a serious, important book such as this one cannot be given
\nsome serious consideration in the nation's most important
\nEnglish-language newspaper, then what hope is there for a healthy
\nbook culture? The writer's review doesn't even scratch the
\nsurface.<\/p>\n
Indeed, despite his recitation of familiar facts about the New
\nOrder, the writer appears to have a feeble grasp of Indonesia's
\nrecent history.<\/p>\n
To compare this ambitious, authoritative volume, years in the
\nmaking, with the trashy paperbacks rushed into print after the
\nlatest disaster is shameful.<\/p>\n
A well-informed reviewer might have noted that this is the
\nmost ambitiously conceived and beautifully produced book of
\nmodern history ever published in Indonesia. Such a reviewer might
\nalso have observed that the book enormously expands the published
\nphotographic record of the New Order.<\/p>\n
JAMIE JAMES, Kerobokan, Bali<\/p>", "url": "https:\/\/jawawa.id\/newsitem\/book-review-critique-1447893297", "image": "" }, "sponsor": "Okusi Associates", "sponsor_url": "https:\/\/okusiassociates.com" }