Intan Paramaditha

A dazzling, provocative debut story collection from celebrated Indonesian writer Intan Paramaditha, putting fierce female characters centre stage in brilliantly funny and sharp twists on fairy tale. ‘Dark, subversive... Here are fairy tales and myths reworked with a feminist bent’ Tatler Inspired by horror fiction, myths and fairy tales, Apple and Knife is an unsettling ride that swerves into the supernatural to explore the dangers and power of occupying a female body in today’s world. These stories set in the Indonesian everyday – in corporate boardrooms, in shanty towns, on dangdut stages – reveal a soupy otherworld stewing just beneath the surface. This is subversive feminist horror at its best, where men and women alike are arbiters of fear, and where revenge is sometimes sweetest when delivered from the grave. Dark, humorous, and vividly realised, Apple and Knife brings together taboos, inversions, sex and death in a heady, intoxicating mix.

Apple and Knife

Intan Paramaditha's long-awaited English debut, announcing herself to the West as a startling and provocative new voice. Inspired by horror fiction, myths and fairy tales, Apple and Knife is an unsettling ride that swerves to the supernatural, exploring the danger and power of occupying a female body. These short fictions, set in the Indonesian everyday--in corporate boardrooms, in shanty towns, on dangdut stages--reveal a soupy otherworld stewing just beneath the surface. This is subversive feminist horror at its best, where men and women alike are arbiters of fear, and where revenge is sometimes sweetest when delivered from the grave.

favorites are ‘doors’, ‘the queen’, ‘beauty and the seventh dwarf’, ‘apple and knife’

ah yes my favourite genre, women's wrongs (southeast asian edition)

but actually dark and bite-sized and deeply about women, def a recommendation if you want to check out an indonesian author in translation

I don't often reach for short stories because I feel there isn't enough time to get into them, but with retellings, there is already a base of plot and format established. That being said, I did still find some of these stories weren't quite enough to grab me, but others sucked me in with the beautiful writing style. Definitely a very dark version of these tales, with some excellent new perspectives. 

Beth Bartholomew

Varshh

Sweetie saw everything, from the sweet little girl's eyes to heart-shaped lips. Yin Yin was so lonely there, reduced to a flawless display, a source of pride. She didn't want to be a showpiece; she liked the darkness and wanted to sleep with the devil. She wanted to kill herself. Above all, she despised having her feet bound.
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We come from the same place, cramped, dark, wet, red. But she doesn't want me because she thinks I suckle at the breast of a she-wolf
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You are in a white room, simple, doorless. You don't know where the room ends, but you have been sucked inside. You can hear nothing beyond it. Your body is light and you can't set your feet down. You drift, you fall, empty massless. You open your mouth, but you can't scream. Yet, while there, you are still considered to exist.
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I can quote on and on. If I have to describe this book in three words, I would say Dark, subversive and thought-provoking.
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Inspired by fairytales and myths, Apple and Knife is an unsettling collection of 13 stories that depict women's desire, rage and revenge. An uproar of women characters that move beyond cultural and social expectations.
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I was awed from the first to the last page. The first lines of each story pique the reader's interest and pick one's brain. I'm not a well-versed writer but after reading this book, I want to be a writer like @sihirperempuan
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I loved reading all the stories yet which pierced my heart was "Blood". I went through all the things that Mara experienced during puberty. Why shouldn't girl's periods and puberty be still an uncomfortable topic? Why even women aren't allowed to talk about it freely? This book also made me realise how close-minded I have been. How I was one of the victims of society's brainwashing scheme. I'm learning to overcome this and Apple & Knife is my starting point.
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And I can't leave out the "Scream in a bottle." It was chilling and mind-blowing. I also enjoyed reading Anastasia's version of Cinderella. So these would be my favourites if you ask me.
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Obviously, Stephen J Epstein has done a marvellous job in translating the work. I'm a language fanatic and I'm excited to learn the language and read this book in its original language. It would be really great to read the book in its original language.

PS: This book is not for the fainthearted and beginners.

Sakthi Varshini

Victoria Simansjah

As an Indonesian reading a translated version, I really appreciate the translations done by Stephen J. Epstein. The essence of the Indonesian culture and context is still rich and vibrant throughout the book. I am not an avid horror reader therefore I felt that some short stories were too open ended for me to self interpret. Although, I still appreciate the build up and character revelations. Intan Paramaditha has a unique way of composing feminist angles to a horror genre thus creating compelling narratives. I enjoyed reading it but it might take time for readers who aren’t familiar with the Indonesian culture to directly understand.

Apple and Knife

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