From Now on Everything Will Be Different - Eliza Vitri Handayani

Book Summary: As democratic reforms swept Indonesia in the late nineties, the nation’s young generation asked themselves: what does it mean to be free? Spanning fifteen years, this novel follows the struggles and hopes, loves and disappointments of two young Indonesians who came of age during Reformasi. Following the entwined paths of Julita and Rizky as they struggle to break free from a pattern of repeated disappointments and define themselves, Handayani presents a portrait of the changing and complex reality of contemporary Indonesia, and of the younger generation born out of revolution. This novel is a compelling study of freedom and love, community and conformity, told with humour, sensuality and a subtly sharp political intelligence.

My Thoughts: I received this book three years ago from my Indonesian class after the author actually attended one of my classes as a guest lecturer! She was so lovely, down to earth and approachable, telling the story of how she originally wrote this story in Indonesian, then translated it herself into English to maintain its' textual integrity. 

I'm a big lover also for handwritten letters (it must be the romantic in me) and really love the way Handayani uses letters in creating the story, jumping back and forth between the present and the past. It's such an intimate and raw way of communicating, allowing these two individuals to express their deepest hopes and fears to each other. Something to remember, however - this is not a love story. Whilst I really wanted it to be (again, the typical romantic), I've concluded that it is instead a coming-of-age story - one that involves love, heartbreak, resilience, strength and personal growth. 

Having personally read so much about Indonesian history during this turbulent period, it was quite refreshing to obverse this through the teenage lens. No topic was off limits - from politics, career pressures, freedom, sex & STD's - all set during a tense dueling political landscape of conservative Islam and its' minorities. This is perhaps the very first book I've read which really delves into such issues with contemporary Jakarta backdrop, making Indonesia so much more than just mi goreng, Jokowi or ojeks. There is a colourful lived experience happening right now in the region, where young people are trying to figure out who they are, what they love and how they fit in this big, big world. It's these universal themes that make this book so relatable to any audience, interwoven with lessons and insights of the make up of Indonesian society. 

This book is so beautifully written - I read the ending over and over simply because I loved the imagery and triumph of the main characters. It's only a matter of time for Western audiences to realise the complexity that constitutes the nation. I hope that this book is the beginning of a trend in Indonesian authors becoming famous on a global level, because it's these voices that need to be heard if we want to see a change in the world. 

You can purchase this book from Vagabond Press (yes, a Sydney based publisher!) here.