TIMES MALAYSIA, JAKARTA – For the fourth time, Eka Kurniawan's novel has had its translation rights acquired into a foreign language, as of Saturday (12/10/2024).

Recently, Eka Kurniawan's latest novel titled Anjing Mengeong Kucing Menggonggong successfully had its translation rights acquired by Sabine Wespieser Editeur to be translated into French for the first time. 

In an Instagram post, Eka (@gnolbo) mentioned that this will be his fourth novel to be translated into French, following three previous novels that were also published by the same publisher. These three novels are Les Belles de Halimunda, L’homme-tigre, and Cash.

The Anjing Mengeong Kucing Menggonggong Novel

Childhood is one of the most influential phases in a child's growth, affecting their mental, physical, and life experiences. These aspects are shaped by various key moments, one of which is the way parents raise their children. 

This becomes highly significant because not all parents or communities understand this well. They often follow patterns that have long been established and rooted in their social environment. This can become risky if done incorrectly.

In his review, Prasetyo Agung Ginanjar suggests that this moment seems to be what Eka is trying to unravel in his latest novel.

"Through pronomial perspectives, Eka invites readers to repeatedly follow the story of Sato Reang (the main character in the novel)," he said.

In one part, Eka writes that at one point Sato expresses his feelings about something that perhaps many of us experienced as children, similar to Sato's experience.

“If I’m being honest, I’d rather go to the market. It’s more fun than sitting cross-legged in a prayer house, reading letters I never use and words whose meanings I don’t know” (page 4).

A variety of fleeting dialogues and brief statements like this seem to be the critical focus that Eka builds, where parents stifle children's freedom in making choices with parenting styles that are outdated and filled with dogma passed down from adults.

This type of novel is often satirical, exploring deeply rooted social and moral critiques within society. With his novel being published in foreign language this will set Eka Kurniawan in a new chapter of his writing career. (*)