Lalita

Author: Ayu Utami

Publisher: KPG (Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia)

Publication Date: September 2012

Pages: 251

This is the second book in Bilangan Fu series. The author, Ayu Utami,  will make twelve books for these series. She plans to publish one book every year. Every book in the series will always consist of two things, which are a mystery that having relation to cultural treasures of the archipelago and one topic with the subject of logic or the way of thinking.

Lalita is a story about a woman named Lalita Vistara. She claims that she has been living in four different eras, on the 5th century in Nepal and Sriwijaya, 10th century in Magelang, Yogyakarta and Muntilan, 15th century as a dracula in Transylvania and the 20th century here in the archipelago.

The author divides the book into three chapters, Indigo, Hitam (Black) and Red (Merah). All is about color. Indigo will tell about Lalita as one of Anshel's granddaughter. The setting is the present condition now in Jakarta. While Hitam chapter tells about Lalita's grandpa, Anshel from Slavia during the late 19th century until early 20th century. After Anshel explores many things in his life, he at last  searchs his spirituality to Borobudur in Magelang, Central Java. He considers this journey as his critics to Sigmund Freud' psychoanalysis theory. And the last chapter, Merah will make all the characters in the book meet each other.

The central figures in Bilangan Fu series, two climbers Parang Jati and Sandi Yuda and one girl Marja will always appear in the series. The three of them have special relationship since they love each other in their own unique and sensual way. In Lalita, beside telling about these three characters, the author will focus on the story of Borobudur temple. The story will give new insight on Indonesian art, history and culture.

With her rich prose and extensive research, Ayu will bring her readers to a new viewpoint of Indonesian complex history. We will realize that there are so many things to be proud of as Indonesian. I also love the book cover. It was drawn by the author as an honor to the botanical painters, Amir Hamzah and Mohamad Toha.