TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Galila is the third novel written by Jessica Huwae, an Ambon-Batak breed who had previously work as journalist for Indonesian magazines such as Femina, Cita Cinta, MRA Group, and Media Group. Jessi, how Jessica often called, had written two other novels entitled soulmate.com and Remang-Remang.
For Jessica, Galila is a novel that reflects herself as the offspring of two different ethnic, Ambon and Batak. Jessica said that she was once felt that she has no strong ethnic root.
"I didn't really feel that I am an Ambonese, and also not too much of Batak ethnic. I felt like I am a person from Jakarta. From Ambon, I learn about happiness and arts, while from Batak I learn about family," said Jessi.
An urge to write the novel arose after she visited the beauty of her father's ancestor land in Saparua, Maluku. Since then she had been determined to write a novel that tells about Maluku culture. Galila tells the story about a singer from Maluku who is able to tackle life in the capital city. The novel also depicts how love can stand above differences.
HADRIANI P.
