Synopsis
Relying on atmosphere and sensation over fact and statistic, Christine Jordis has written a deeply personal, vividly impressionistic account of several journeys to the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java. Dazzled, wide-eyed, but always astute, Jordis describes famous monuments, native dances, encounters with locals. She conjures up the various literary and artistic figures who sought refuge and inspiration in Indonesia—Arthur Rimbaud, Herman Melville, Joseph Conrad—and brings ancient legends to life. She chronicles fascinating sociological observations and historical curiosities, but it is Jordis' sensual, emotional responses to her surroundings that most distinguish Bali, Java, in My Dreams from the average East-meets-West travelogue. From the heart of the lush tropical forests, Jordis guides her readers through the technicolor paradise that makes Paris seem grey in comparison.
Reviews
There are two virtues to appreciate in Jordis’s travel book: a chapter-by-chapter breakdown of locations and subjects, and plain old good writing. Jordis takes readers on a walking tour of the Indonesian islands of Bali and Java, including such places as Jakarta, Sanur and Kerambitan, making this book both interesting as a straight read and useful as a reference. The English-language fiction editor at the French publishing house Gallimard and winner of the Prix Medicis for her literary study Gens de la Tamise, Jordis also offers wry asides on travel itself along with ruminations on the locations she visits. In the chapter "From Denpasar to Batukau," she writes, "Given the brevity of his stay, the tourist is condemned to pass through places, not to stop as he would wish, trying each time to capture the spirit of the place, to hold on to its essence in the form of a good thick cluster of memories—not unlike those that the rodent hoards away for the winter." On her journey as in her book, Jordis stops to admire the art and history of the Indonesian Islands. Her choices are often downright fun. Take, for example, her chapter "Ubud and Its Visionary Hero, Walter Spies," which recounts the life of a German painter and recluse who, in the 1920s, discovered in Ubud a place of sanctuary, serenity and solitude. In telling his story, Jordis also tells the story of Ubud, its art, people, culture and impact on Westerners. (Elsewhere, Jordis makes mention of literary figures like Rimbaud, Melville and Conrad, who all spent time in the Indonesian Islands.) Clear and informative, this travel diary provides readers with an intimate look at two fascinating islands. Glossary, maps.
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