Pengakuan Eks Parasit Lajang

Author: Ayu Utami

Publisher: KPG (Kepustakaan Populer Gramedia)

Publication Date: February 2013

Pages: 307

Manusia boleh kawin, tapi tidak harus.

Everybody has its own way in telling about his/her life story. Some tell in a serious tone, others focus on the tragedy or humorous things, etc.It's all fine. It's just a matter of choice. Therefore nothing's wrong when Ayu Utami declares her memoir as the first sexual and spiritual autobiography in Indonesia.  She tells her story from her childhood until to date. Perhaps from those stories we could understand the reasons behinds her novels theme or even her 'uncommon' opinion.

This book is the latest book of the trilogy, the first book is Parasit Lajang (2003), in this book, Ayu herself declares that she will not get married. In her opinion, getting married or not is simply a choice. Her decision  is also made on the purpose to 'accompany' other unmarried women towards society.

In 2011 Ayu got married to Erik Prasetya, a photographer. Although they only registered their marriage in the church and not in the state registry office, but still this decision shocked certain people. After one year of marriage, she published the second book of the trilogy, Cerita Cinta Enrico (2012), a story about her husband and the reason behind their marriage. 

Now ten years after publishing Parasit Lajang, Ayu continues her autobiography with Pengakuan Eks Parasit Lajang. She asks many questions and search  the answers for any inconsistency that she finds. For example the reason why she decided to give her virginity to her boy friend at age of 20. This decision was also made to erase the virginity concept that in her opinion is unfair particularly for women. In the coming years, she tries in her personal life to struggle against cultural values, religion and patriarchal law.  

One of unique memoirs. I don't agree with the whole author's opinion, but I guess there's always something positive in every book we read. One thing that I admire from Ayu is her honesty. Not all people will be brave enough to tell their stories, their controversial opinion or uncommon values to be compared with the society where they live.