My Dream Job

by Norman Erikson Pasaribu

my life is the afterlife

From the author of Happy Stories, Mostly and Sergius Seeks Bacchus. Their first work originally written in English.

My Dream Job is a tender playground of intellect and wit where entire worlds collide: the English and Toba Batak languages; Christian and Batak mythology; colonial violence past and present. In a voice playful, daring and not pursuing legibility above all else, Pasaribu writes the ultimate eulogy for a postcolonial dream.

‘In this shimmering and uncanny poetry collection, Norman Erikson Pasaribu skillfully wields religious imagery and multilingualism as a means of estranging us from the familiar alienation of a hyper- capitalist, queerphobic and racist society. This is a book which simmers with a defiant rage, all the while offering the reader palpable moments of tenderness, or something akin to hope.’ —Mary Jean Chan, author of Flèche
‘Norman Erikson Pasaribu’s collection inverts then rotates the condition of memory to emanate carefree, surreal logics.’ —Bhanu Kapil

Genres: Poetry, LGBT, Queer

102 pages, Paperback

Published August 29, 2024

About the author

Norman Erikson Pasaribu was born in Jakarta in 1990. His first short story collection Hanya Kamu yang Tahu Berapa Lama Lagi Aku Harus Menunggu (Only You Know How Much Longer I Should Wait) was shortlisted for the 2014 Khatulistiwa Literary Award for Prose. His debut poetry collection Sergius Mencari Bacchus (Sergius Seeks Bacchus) won the 2015 Jakarta Arts Council Poetry Competition, was shortlisted for the 2016 Khatulistiwa Literary Award for Poetry and named by Tempo as one of the best poetry collections of that year.

Reviews

[Muhammad Rajab Al-mukarrom · Rating 4 out of 5]

came from one of the best Indonesian poets/writers today, these deeply personal poems left us speechless. they are so brave in every line, so smart in every word. an instant classic (both poetry & the cover)!

[sekar banjaran aji · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buku ini mengingatkanku bahwa Norman adalah pemberani. Dia tidak takut tentang apapun yang mungkin akan terjadi dengannya karena dia membongkar identitas dan refleksinya atas pekerjaan yang dia geluti.

Berbeda dari buku puisi biasa karena dalam buku ini Norman, layaknya bercerita dia bertutur lugas tentang gejolak yang dia alami. Norman memberikan standar baru dari puisi lirikal, termasuk pada kita memaknai hidup yang tidak sempurna ini.

One of the best poetry book this year.

[Gregory Duke · Rating 3 out of 5]

A ferocious call to memory and a treatise against the empire of the English "literature in translation" industrial complex from within the imperial core. Funny, whimsical, sharp. But sometimes Norman Erikson Pasaribu falls back too much on trite gay whining. I sympathize, but let's keep the aesthetic intensity up up up. I wish the gay love/sex poems were more explicit.

[Dolf van der Haven · Rating 4 out of 5]

Norman Erikson Pasaribu, a Batak Indonesian, presents here his first collection of poems (mostly) written in English. He tackles a lot of issues, ranging from homophobia, decolonisation, to the position of Global South authors. His language is strongly influenced by online culture, making this a set of modern poems with an impact on current generations.

[R. Yulianti · Rating 2 out of 5]

Boring ass queeranting

[Todd Eichorn · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Dream Job was the first poetry I’ve read since high school, and it was a genuinely rewarding experience. Their poems feel intimate and playful, while also digging into heavy topics like homophobia and colonisation. Reading it felt like getting to know them as the stunningly funny, frustrated, thoughtful, and sharp person they are.

I’m really glad this was the book that brought me back to enjoying poetry.