Chudori relentlessly examines the complexity of having a home; home can be both political and personal, and involve remembering and forgetting. . . . the novel stays grounded with nostalgic themes of food and love, anchoring the reader with mouthwatering detail and the intrigue of Romeo and Juliet-esque affairs. –
Publishers Weekly A writer with a fine appreciation of social collisions and domestic dramas that mirror wider political concerns. . . . Special mention must be made of John McGlynn's translation, which admirably brings to life the energy of Chudori's storytelling. Whether describing Indonesia - 'a place that gave the world the scent of cloves and a wasted sadness' - or contemplating the life of a flâneur 'building his home in the flow and motion of movement', McGlynn is consistently able to capture the musicality of
Bahasa Indonesia on the page with pinpoint clarity - essential for a novel with a complicated, sometimes breathless structure. –
Tash Aw, The Times Literary Supplement (TLS) A story of families and friends entangled in the cruel snare of history. –
Time The suffering and loss that Suryo and the other exiles face, while realistic, is also utterly heartbreaking . . . The history might be new for American readers, but the relationship issues are universal. –
Hannah Wise, Dallas Morning News Home is an interesting and powerful novel, one worth reading and thinking over. It's a book that lingers in your consciousness, not to mention the way the characters seem unwilling to leave your mind even weeks after reading. –
Meytal Radzinski, Bibiblio If you liked the food writing in Kitchens of the Great Midwest, you might give this one a try. It's set in Indonesia and Paris and has lots of scenes in restaurants that will make your mouth water. It's a sprawling, engrossing story, and a great portrayal of political upheaval in very different cultures and across several decades.? –
Rebecca Hussey, Book Riot (Recommended Book) An epic family saga set in Indonesia during Suharto's regime. Heartbreaking and lovely. –
Liberty Hardy, via Twitter (@missliberty's #2015damngoodbooks) "Despite the background of violence and repression, it is also somehow a cosy read, about love and food in Paris and Jakarta." –
Hamish McDonald, Nikkei: Asian Review An epic, ambitious slab of fiction crammed with a rich and diverse cast of characters whose lives have been swept along by Indonesia's dramatic and at times extremely tragic contemporary history . . . A wonderful exercise in humanism by a prodigious and impressive storyteller. –
Jakarta Globe A highly entertaining epic, with a plethora of historical stories to tell. –
Messengers Booker Never less than fascinating . . . a wonderful introduction to Indonesian literature for readers with an interest in political, historical novels.–
Tony's Reading List It is rare to pick up a novel as powerful and engrossing as
Home by Leila Chudori The narrative spans time and place to cast reflections on love at first sight, complex family dynamics, and identity. With vivid depictions of Indonesian cuisine and its preparation, Chudori tackles universal subjects through multi generational perspectives. Bridging the 1960's revolt and uprisings in France and Indonesia, she sheds light on life as a forced expatriate in Paris. Walks through the Père Lachaise Cemetery, poetry, and an eventual return to home through a documentary assignment help create the narrative of this marvelous, yet heartbreaking novel.
Home is one of my absolute favorite books of 2015! –
Patrick Kukucka, bookseller, Malaprop's Bookstore (Asheville, NC)
[
Home] is a novel of art and education, and also of food and its importance in cementing a sense of community and belonging. For English-speaking readers unfamiliar with Indonesian culture and history, the novel is an excellent introduction. For any reader, it's a thought-provoking read and a satisfying examination of what it means to have and then lose and then try to find one's home. -
Rebecca Hussey, Full-Stop By turns beautiful, moving, tragic and life-affirming, and is a remarkable creative response to the barbarism of Suharto's notorious coup. –
Gareth Richards, bookseller, Gerakbudaya Bookshop (George Town, Penang, Malaysia) - Best Books of 2015 An excellent novel...[Chudori] tells a first-class story and, even if Indonesia is remote and unknown to us, we find ourselves sharing its troubles and very much taking the sides that Chudori wants us to take. This is her first novel and it is to be hoped that she writes more. –
The Modern Novel
