'I like down-to-earth tales'

Sun, 18 Jul 2004, 00:00 WIB | Source: JP

Comedian Butet Kartaredjasa never fails to amuse audiences,
especially in his wickedly funny caricatures of former presidents
Soeharto and Habibie.

All jokes aside, however, Butet's rubber face and comical
mannerisms sometimes make it difficult for him to be taken
seriously, even when he wants to be.

"Often when I'm angry with my children, they will think I'm
acting and just leave me alone," Butet once told The Jakarta
Post.

He put on his serious face to tell us about the books that
catch, and keep, his attention.

What's on your bedside table?

Kompas (daily) 2004 short story collection. I often get free
copies of new books but haven't the chance to read all of them.

I'm also reading this book about the miracle of plants. That's
one of the themes I like to read .. about living creatures, aside
from culture, social and politics. Well, I actually like to read
anything.

Author, author...Who is most interesting to you?

The late Umar Kayam. He was always able to come up with
interesting stuff. I like the way he narrated.. it's articulate
and inspiring. The stories are down to earth, which I can totally
relate to. They are often about the reconstruction of Indonesian
family life.

Kid's choice?

Local comic books, like (superhero) Gundala the Son of
Thunder, Si Doel and those from (comic writers) Teguh Santoso,
Jan Mintaraga. I also liked the books published by Pustaka Jaya.