Bookshops are once again flourishing in the Indonesian capital but the business of selling books is only part of the story behind this welcome revival. In Jakarta’s publishing sphere, a creative community is finding fresh ways to celebrate the written word and to support local writers, keeping the art of print alive while bringing readers together in physical spaces. Monocle draws insights into the city’s burgeoning literary scene from five of its leading figures.
1.
The bookseller
Judo Suwidji
Co-founder, Periplus
Suwidji has been drawn to books since childhood. As a boy he became captivated by a map that his father owned, which would later awaken a fascination with illustrated books. Now 62, he is a co-founder of Periplus, one of Indonesia’s largest bookselling chains, with 57 well-stocked outposts nationwide (including a must-visit location in Jakarta International Airport Terminal 3).
Suwidji’s dream is simple: to introduce as many people as possible to the pleasures of reading and, with luck, even inspire some of them to start writing. Though Periplus was founded in 1985 to import foreign titles and magazines, Suwidji now wants more books about Indonesia on his shelves. “What I really hope is that at Periplus, we can introduce talented young writers,” he says. “Whether they write in Indonesian or in English, it does not matter. They are welcome. What matters is that they write well. After that, we will bring in publishers from across the world.”
To appeal to the next generation of young readers, Periplus is investing in its physical shops and recently unveiled fresh interiors, featuring lighter natural woods and brighter lighting, at its branches inside Plaza Indonesia and Plaza Senayan – two of Jakarta’s premier shopping malls. “A bookshop shouldn’t be intimidating,” he says.
2.
The writer
Ratih Kumala
Author of ‘Gadis Kretek’ (‘Cigarette Girl’) and ‘Koloni’ (‘Colony’)
Kumala is one half of an Indonesian literary power couple – her husband is novelist Eka Kurniawan – but that does not make her job any easier. “Survival as a writer demands agility,” she says, speaking to Monocle after participating in a discussion about one of her short-story collections just outside Jakarta. Kumala began her career with shorter works before publishing Gadis Kretek, which Netflix adapted into a series in 2023.
Her latest release, Koloni (Colony), takes the form of a fable about ants to explore themes of hierarchy and gender equality. Penguin Books published the English translation by Dalih Sembiring in August. “My goal when I write a book is simply to entertain. Even now, if my readers feel entertained, then I’ve done my job,” she says, advising young writers to become their own sternest critics and to have the courage to start over.
3.
The book-fair chief
Wedha Stratesti Yudha
Committee chair, Indonesia International Book Fair
Book-related events are booming in Jakarta and they don’t come any bigger than the Indonesia International Book Fair (IIBF). This year’s edition of the annual event, which took place at the Jakarta International Convention Center in early October, drew more than 250,000 visitors and proved particularly popular with children, who could be seen eagerly exploring the lower ground floor in search of picture books and comics. Vica Lietha, author of Eat My Belly, was also there to join a pitching session, telling Monocle that it was a valuable opportunity.
The IIBF has been running since 1980. It is overseen by Yudha, committee chair of the Indonesian Publishers Association. An industry veteran herself, Yudha hopes that the IIBF can give to publishers from across the vast archipelago the same opportunities enjoyed by their international peers and those in Jakarta. “Not every author can be found in a designated bookshop and some publishers face similar challenges when it comes to distribution,” she says, while sipping coffee in the Kompas Gramedia building on Palmerah Street, home to prominent media titles, including Kompas, The Jakarta Post and Tempo.
The IIBF encourages other cities to host similar events and raise awareness of unequal access to publications across the archipelago: more remote islands tend to have higher prices and lower literacy rates. Yudha’s goal is for the IIBF to become a literary hub for readers, publishers and writers to gather and exchange ideas. “The publishing industry cannot develop in isolation,” she says. “It is interconnected with other industries.”
4.
The librarian
Sheilla Njoto
Co-founder, Margin
When Njoto returned to Indonesia from Australia, where she received much of her education, she was struck by the shortage of libraries in Jakarta. “Indonesia’s literacy rate is high but many people read words without truly grasping their meaning,” says Njoto. Channelling her frustration, she decided to do something about it. In 2025, she and two friends, Agatha Tika and Reisky Handika, opened independent library Margin in the Pejaten neighbourhood of South Jakarta as a place to encourage exploration over having to choose a book to buy.
Njoto, an art graduate, helped design a welcoming space to encourage members to settle in for long reading sessions. She also wants the library to host discussions on everything from poetry and art to politics. “Books have the power to ignite empathy,” she says. The 30-year-old is originally from Surabaya, Indonesia’s second-largest city, which sits at the opposite end of Java to Jakarta. As a writer herself, Njoto understands the importance of supporting emerging voices. That’s why Margin has a dedicated space for showcasing fiction and non-fiction titles by local writers, which are available for sale. “We have a special consignment system,” she says. “The writers place their books on our shelves and we only charge a bank transaction fee. It’s a fair arrangement for everyone involved.”
5.
The producer
Handoko Hendroyono
Owner, Filosofi Literasi
Filosofi Literasi (pictured) opened in August inside Sarinah, a rejuvenated 1960s shopping centre in Central Jakarta. The book café is the passion project of film producer Handoko Hendroyono. The 63-year-old has developed a knack for turning historic buildings into vibrant hangouts via his placemaking initiative, M Bloc Group. Giving Monocle a tour of Filosofi Literasi, he points out titles such as Mustikarasa, a cookbook containing the favourite dishes of Indonesia’s first president, Sukarno, and Atheis by Achdiat K Mihardja, a 1940s novel about a young Muslim’s experience with religion. There are also newer releases, such as Dee Lestari’s Perahu Kertas and Laskar Pelangi by Andrea Hirata. For Hendroyono, technology cannot come close to replicating human touch; he believes in creating physical spaces where conversation can spark new ideas.
The coffee at the café is seriously good too. Indonesian beans are among the world’s best and Hendroyono’s grinding goes back more than a decade. It all started in 2015 with a bestselling book set in a coffee shop, which he turned into a film. Later, he and a friend opened a coffee shop with the same name. Now he wants to complete the circle by using coffee to encourage Indonesian literature and film. “Films depend on books and books need writers who can build universes worth adapting,” he says. “We built Filosofi Literasi because good source material leads to good scripts.”
The post Meet five literary leaders helping Jakarta’s book industry turn a new page appeared first on Monocle.