Perhaps I’ve become too much of a snob after 2 months in Bandung but I couldn’t get into this 2🦜

Although references to Sunda culture are technically correct - it feels forced and unnatural (like someone has visited West Java for a week and then googled a bunch of stuff).

Contrastingly my reading experience (in Aus) of Beauty is a Wound by Eka Kurniawan (set in Indo, same time period but written by an Indo) was much better and immersive! 

Also the audiobook narration made 0 sense: why get a British woman who cannot pronounce any of the Indo or Sunda words to narrate this story? (Plus it’s an Aussie book!) 0 stars for the audiobook.

I really don’t know who this book is for: as someone who understands the language and culture I found the writing inauthentic, stilted and without soul but those who aren’t familiar with the language/culture will find the writing alienating and difficult to follow as there are countless cultural references and terms. 

Maaf Mirandi but it's giving June Hayward from Yellowface 🤷‍♀️