Sidewalk 'literature' functions as alternative reading

By A. Ariobimo Nusantara

JAKARTA (JP): The domino effect of soaring print paper prices is increasingly being felt now, particularly in book publication circles. Many publishers have given up launching new books for fear that the selling prices would be unrealistically high.

A novel by Mira W., previously sold at below Rp 9,000, is now priced at Rp 17,500. Fans of S. Mara Gd. must be willing to allow an increase of 100 percent if they insist on having new works by this writer.

What about translated works? Michael Crichton's latest novel, Airframe is now sold at Rp 23,000, while John Grisham's The Chamber costs Rp 27,000. Before the monetary crisis, their works were available at below Rp 20,000.

The increasing price of print paper must finally trigger a rise in other printing components, such as separation film, ink and plates. As for translated work, the copyright fee must be paid in U.S. dollars. Let's say this copyright fee is now $1,000. Prior to the monetary turmoil, which began last July, this converted to about Rp 2,500,000 -- now it has become fourfold.

Unlike bookstores, sidewalk booksellers, found in various parts of the city, have a different story to tell.

Roni, for example, said that he must raise the price of a book from Rp 1,000 to Rp 1,500. Other sellers have increased prices up to Rp 3,000.

"Previously I got a Rp 50 profit when I sold a book at Rp 1,000 and this profit still had value," he said. "However, as Rp 50 profit is now meaningless, I have to raise the selling price," he added. His fellow seller, Dea, agreed. Both pick spots around Kebayoran Lama market, South Jakarta, to sell their books.

The presence of Roni, Dea and other sidewalk booksellers, usually considered unofficial booksellers and, therefore, outside the country's book organization, has given special color to the national book world.

Their presence also shows that Indonesia has never had any accurate data on the number of books published, reading interests or the public's purchasing power of books. There are assumptions that the national production of books is 5,000 titles a year and that the public has a weak purchasing power and little interest in reading.

However, based on Roni's description, one may safely say that the amount of sidewalk literature available is quite big. For example, an average of 50 or 60 copies of the martial arts series Wiro Sableng by Bastian Tito are sold a month. It is not surprising, therefore, that owing to its popularity, Wiro Sableng has been made into a television series.

Other names like Fredy S., Tara Zagita and Abdullah Harahap are well-known for their romance stories and mysteries. Titles such as Birahi Malam (Nocturnal Desire), Sanggama Kubur (Sex in a Grave), Wanita Panggilan (Call Girls), Belum Terlambat untuk Bercinta (Not Too Late to Make Love), Misteri Gadis Indo (Mystery of a Eurasian Girl) and Buah Percintaan (Fruit of Lovemaking) tickle people's fancy to just cast a glance at them.

Reportedly, between 40,000 and 80,000 copies of novels by Fredy S. -- the big shot of sidewalk literature -- are sold in a month.

This is an extraordinary figure because usually, a top seller only has 4,000 copies printed, and it may take several years for bookstores to sell that many copies.

Few know where the selling chain of these novels begins. Roni, originally from Padang, West Sumatra, admitted that many of his fellow sidewalk booksellers are from Padang.

Usually, they buy the books from agents in Pasar Senen, Central Jakarta, at fixed prices: Rp 950 each for books by bestselling writers and Rp 750 each for books by writers not in that category.

In turn, these agents get their supplies of books generally from Medan, North Sumatra, although some are supplied directly in Jakarta.

The distribution chain is difficult to trace because these novels rarely mention the names of publishers. Even if you have the name of a publisher, you have nowhere to go because the address is not printed.

So, don't be surprised if some day you happen to come across two novels by two different writers with the same story, the only difference being the names of the characters and the setting.

Fredy S, Tara Zagita, Abdullah Harahap and their works are part of an interesting phenomenon. They supply, on a routine basis, the reading needs of people on the lower rung of the social ladder.

Their novels are found not only in small kiosks in Jakarta but also in other provinces. Besides, books of this type can easily attract prospective buyers -- usually teenagers and low-income people -- because street vendors actively sell them in almost all bus terminals and railway stations.

In appearance, these novels are just like any other novels. Between 160 pages and 200 pages thick, they are printed in 12- centimeter-by-17-centimeter format and with a full-color cover.

They differ strikingly from bookstore novels in that their printing is of low quality.

Sometimes, the printing is such that the words are illegible. And despite their low price, the novels are also put in plastic wrapping, just like those sold in a bookstore. Sidewalk booksellers have a simple and realistic reason for doing so. "We sell the books on the sidewalk and at any time, dust and dirt can soil our goods," they said.

To be able to digest this type of literature, try to read one carefully and evaluate it. There have been many new names in this book group recently. It is easy to guess why many people are attracted to writing this kind of literature.

With their modest command of Indonesian grammar, these writers are free to develop their stories as long as their writing smack of passionate sexual romances. Sometimes there are pages and pages of vulgar depiction of sex scenes.

In this respect, Fredy S., the most senior of sidewalk writers, depicts sex scenes in a more refined manner. And his plots are better organized and his references quite wide. Understandable, considering he began his career in this kind of writing in 1983 and now has 300 titles to his credit.

Some of the books, including Senyumku Adalah Tangisku (My Smile is My Sorrow) have even been made into wide-screen or television films. Some 100 tiles have been published by Ciptaan Jiwaseni SDN BHD in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, according to the Kompas daily.

Recognition extended to Fredy's works show at least that sidewalk literature can also become a "cultural industry", although it is born in the midst of people at the lower end of social ladder. If we pay close attention to the plots, settings and storylines, we can see that these people find their dreams and illusions expressed in such novels.

As their enthusiasm, emotional turbulence and dynamism have gone unheeded while life has become increasingly stuffier, they can find fleeting relief only in dreams and illusions.

The cheap release valve is found in sidewalk literature, a literary genre which, in fact, can be enjoyed by practically anybody in a time of crisis. And at only Rp 1,500!