Maya

Author: Ayu Utami

Category: Fiction, literature

Language: Indonesia

Publication Year: 2013

Pages: 249

Description:

After two years of Saman being declared missing, Yasmin receives three letters from her secret lover. Along with the letters, Saman also sends a piece of agate. To unravel this mysterious event, the usually rational Yasmin is forced to visit a spiritual teacher, Suhubudi, who is Parang Jati’s father. At Suhubudi's hermitage, Yasmin becomes involved in another event that turns out to be a spiritual journey for her to understand herself, her love, and her country—while Parang Jati unravels the mystery of Saman's whereabouts. This story is set against the backdrop of the 1998 Reformasi movement.

Personal Notes:

This book is my favorite work by Ayu Utami. Ayu unveils a world hidden from the general public's view—or rather, deliberately concealed. The explicit scenes are shocking, but such is human nature, unpredictable and difficult to comprehend.