Description

Okky Madasari's book is a socially critical developmental novel about Sasana and Jaka's struggle for their personal freedom - both physical and inner. It is told alternately from the perspective of Sasana and Jaka, whereby in addition to the main topic, different social topics are relentlessly addressed. The novel takes place initially during the period of the so-called new order under the dictator Suharto and in the last third after his fall in the young democracy in Indonesia.

Okky Madasari was born in Magetan, East Java, Indonesia in 1984 and studied Political Science at Gajah Madah University in Yogyakarta Sociology at the Universitas Indonesia in Jakarta. Today she lives in Jakarta.

Reviews and press:

"In her novel "Gebunden", the Indonesian author Okky Madasari raises questions about social constraints and the possibilities of the individual to lead a self-determined life - especially with regard to the topics of transgender people and religious radicalization" (...) more

– Sabine Müller, asienhaus.de

"I have written four novels and all my books are about Indonesia and its people, their living conditions from the previous regimes to the present. I want to show that after the fall of totalitarianism, the country - albeit a democracy - has to face a lot of difficulties: injustice, corruption, discrimination, violence, poverty." (...) more

– Deutschlandfunk

"In 'Bound' Okky Madasari shows a person who is tossed about by social and political changes and who sees this powerlessness as an invitation to fight. And one who gives up this fight."

– BOOKSmagazine

Reading sample: