Un Soir du Paris (An Evening in Paris) is a lesbian-themed short story collection compiled by SepociKopi.com and published in 2010 by Gramedia Pustaka Utama. It consists of twelve short stories collected over a three-year period from several publications. The first Indonesian short story collection dealing with lesbianism, it received mixed reception.
Background
In Indonesia, few works have been written dealing with lesbianism. To address that, beginning in August 2007 the LGBT website SepociKopi.com began collecting short stories published up to ten years previously with a lesbian theme, both those published in mass media and those published in individual short story anthologies. These works were first republished on the website. Several of the authors published in the anthology had previously written works dealing with lesbianism, including Clara Ng with her novel Gerhana Kembar (Twin Eclipses; 2007) and Linda Christanty with her short story "Mercusuar" ("Lighthouse").
Contents
Un Soir du Paris consists of 12 short stories. It is preceded by a foreword by Balinese writer Oka Rusmini, who had previously published two novels dealing with lesbianism: Tarian Bumi (Dance of the Earth; 2000) and Tempurung (Shell; 2010).
Cahaya Sunyi Ibu
Rafli, in a letter to his sister Rosa, writes of his aging mother's love affair with an elderly Jewish woman named Caroline, who is her roommate in a nursing home in the United States. The women, as well as several other residents, are attempting to escape the nursing home as they consider the conditions inhumane. Caroline and the mother spend long hours in the garden discussing it. When Caroline dies, the mother and other residents plan to make their escape to the beach. In his closing remarks, Rafli writes that he intends to join them to better understand his mother.
"Cahaya Sunyi dari Ibu" ("A Silent Light from Mother") was written by Triyanto Triwikromo in Los Angeles and Semarang in 2007. It was originally published in Jawa Pos on 21 October 2007. Rusmini wrote that the story required further polishing, to make it more than a simple melancholic love story. Dalih Sembiring, writing for The Jakarta Globe, wrote that the story had an interesting premise but was "sometimes mired in over-the-top poetic language."
Danau
An unnamed female narrator, part of a guerrilla campaign which dumps bodies in a lake reported to be haunted, admires a woman from afar. The narrator stalks her, takes a picture from her bedroom, and ultimately meets her. The two become friends, but the narrator hides her guerrilla lifestyle. Although both are romantically interested in each other, they decide to not pursue a relationship due to society's disapproval of lesbianism.
"Danau" ("Lake") was written by Linda Christanty and originally published in Pantau magazine in December 2003. Rusmini wrote that the story required further polishing, to make it more than a simple melancholic love story. Sembiring wrote that the story felt as if it were "treading water", but still compelling.
Dua Perempuan dengan HP-nya
Two working women, fresh from the office, go to the beach and sit in a convertible, holding hands while talking on their cell phones. Sandra, in a blazer and miniskirt, talks to her maid and ensures that her children and husband are properly taken care of, as she will come home late. Susan, in a blazer and pants, aggressively tells her husband's secretary that she cannot make a meeting, while accusing the secretary of having an affair. When their conversations are over, the women begin kissing passionately and, when their cell phones ring, reach into their blazers to turn off the phones.
"Dua Perempuan dengan HP-nya" ("Two Women and Their Cell Phones") was written by Seno Gumira Ajidarma in Jakarta on 18 August 1997. It was originally published in Koran Tempo on 1 April 2001. Rusmini wrote that the subject matter, of heterosexual matters disturbing a lesbian relationship, was indeed common, and that the story would have been more interesting had Ajidarma provided a way for the two unnamed lovers to further their relationship. Sembiring wrote that the story left the reader with a sense of liberation, and both main characters were comfortable with their sexual orientation.