Book Review: Bali Chronicles

Barrie,

Thanks for your first effort at reviewing books about Indonesia. Now take a long, slow breath. Exhale. relax.

There is absolutely no reason to take the academic approach to these book reviews on this blog, but rather take a personal and emotional approach. If I want academics, I’ll read the New Yorker, so better you go with your emotions, impressions and opinions. Get loose with your voice and be brave enough to really spill your guts about how you feel about these books. And do please avoid all the Indonesia books which have been reviewed over the past 30 years. If you review Island of Bali, I will kill you.

Hi Carl,

Thanks for the support and valued advice. I often read your blog and find it absolutely brilliant, and therefore, when I say I value your advice then I really mean it!.

A definite NO regarding the Island of Bali!. Altough Miguel did an admirable literary piece, I found Hugh Mabbett’s book ‘The Balinese’ a lot better and more laid-back. But hey, that’s only my opinion.

Basically, with these book reviews I will be aiming at the general tourist in mind who is more interested in the culture etc.

Hi Barrie
Thanks for the excellent review of Bali Chronicles. I will add this to my Bali Book Collection Have just finished reading “Bali - A Paradise Created” by Adrian Vickers. I guess from reading your review on Chronicles the book will follow very much the content and layout of the former. Nevertheless the book is to be highly recommended. Maybe you can do a review later on Barrie. As a lover of Bali, its culture, history, religion and people I find all books written on Bali very enlightening and fulfilling.
It was interesting to read one comment concerning Covarrubias’s masterpiece. The book is now somewhat outdated for obvious reasons as Balinese culture has evolved and developed over the ensuing years. A far better handle on all things Balinese which is more relevant and of course up to date is to be found in the two volume classic
SEKALA and NISKALA WRITTEN BY THE AMERICAN ANTHROPOLOGIST FRED B EISEMAN JR.
Volume 1 Essays on Religion, Ritual & Art
Volume 2 Essays on Society Tradition & Craft
THESE BOOKS ARE A MUST FOR ALL “TRUE BELIEVERS”
Eiseman lives in Jimbaren Bay and he and his wife partake fully in all
aspects of Balinese life. The writings are very easy to rea and follow unlike some of Covarrubias writings. One of the volumes contains a chapter devoted solely to the great Purification Ceremony of “Eka Dasa Rudra” which Eiseman attended. This fascinating chapter alone is worth the price. Both volumes are priced at around A$70 EACH. I will be interested to get some feedback from Blog addicts who have perhaps read these ESSAYS.

Hi Frank,

Those 2 books were already on my list!. I found Sekala and Niskala to be what I call ‘The word’ on Balinese culture. They are the supreme volumes.

In fact I had a very hard time getting hold of a copy of Vol.2, and, thanks to a thorough search by a Balinese friend of mine she managed to locate a copy in DPS.

I gotr my copies from Nusantara book shop in Croydon, Melb!

They are open Saturday mornings too!

http://www.nusantara.com.au/nusantara.html

I have bought some posters & puzzles etc from there for in Maddy’s room… It’s a place I could look through for hours!

Hi Tracey,

Thanks for the info. I bookmarked that site a few months ago but have not checked back with them since. At the time they were re-constructing the site.

There was one book, and damned if I can remember the name, that was released in April about Bali and projected at the tourist in mind. It sold out in the first week. I thought I would easily get a copy at DPS airport, but, NO!.

I can remember the cover though!.