Yusuf B. Mangunwijaya (1929–1999)

This is a haunting, oddball novel, narrated in its entirety with only references to dialogue. At times seeming like the world's longest rumor story, it features an extremely beautiful aging woman who has risen from being a servant to a world-traveling, politically powerful relationship and finance-broker on behalf of herself and her country, Indonesia. Touching on revolution, Communism, global finance's intersection with projects in the 3rd world, love and fate, the story doesn't so much as twist and turn as it does play the same notes at different ages and times. At times dragging and dry, the book requires effort as it exists entirely around the thoughts of the multi-named (and sometimes multi-faced) Punyo Iin Sulinda Pertiwi 'Nus' 'Nussy' 'Bi' Nusamusbida.… (more)