Author : Sili Suli
Translator : Saut Pasaribu
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Amazon KDP
ASIN ‏ : ‎ B0F1CQ4W2P
Publication date ‏ : ‎ 12 Mar. 2025
Edition ‏ : ‎ 1st
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Print length ‏ : ‎ 376 pages

About From TORAJA With Love

This 376 pages novel tells the story of the love affair between Surya, a buffalo herder from Toraja and Mentari, a Toraja girl. When carrying out a mission to find Mataallo, Mentari’s younger brother who was kidnapped by the Koteng Jawa group in Rantepao, Surya and his two friends finally have to travel to Yogyakarta. Thanks to the help of Rembulan, a Javanese noble girl, Surya finally manages to find Mataallo, then brings him back to Toraja. The relationship between Surya and Rembulan finally becomes closer which makes Rembulan fall in love and adopt Surya as her soulmate. The relationship between Surya and Rembulan is finally accidentally discovered by Mentari when Surya returns to Toraja. This puts Surya in a dilemma and he is forced to return to Yogyakarta to honestly admit that he already has a lover in Toraja.

The nuances of Toraja in 1884 are quite dominant in coloring the contents of this novel, including the unique and thrilling Toraja traditional funeral, namely rambu solo ma’barata, the controversy over cockfighting gambling, slavery and the walking corpse ritual. There is also a special chapter about the tomendoyang fruit on Mount Napo, which has a mystical feel. This novel also shows the atmosphere of several cities in Java during the Dutch colonial era, including the uniqueness of the most sacred heirloom dance from the Yogyakarta Palace, namely the Bedhaya Semang dance, where the dancers are required to perform a special ritual before performing it. At the end of this novel, readers can also feel the strong Nepalese nuances, which begin with a story about the unique Gadhimai Festival and the enchanting beauty of the Himalayan natural panorama. Perhaps this is the first fictional novel from Indonesia that combines the uniqueness of Toraja, Javanese and Nepalese cultures in one fictional story.

About the Author

Sili Suli was born in Jakarta, November 13, 1971. An alumnus of the Faculty of Economics, Widya Mataram University, Yogyakarta. He worked as a journalist for the Ujungpandang Ekspres Daily since 2002 until 2012. Then he moved to the Harian Rakyat Sulsel until 2013. He managed the Jendela Sulawesi Magazine published by the Sulawesi Regional Development Cooperation Agency (BKPRS) since 2011 until 2015. After resigning from Jendela Sulawesi, he began to focus on writing several books.

During his time as a journalist, he conducted special interviews with various figures, such as Prof. Dr. BJ. Habibie, World Bank President Paul Wolfowitsz, Czech Minister of Tourism, Australian Ambassador to Indonesia Bill Farmer, Minister of Trade Marie Elka Pangestu, Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Fadel Muhammad, Head of the BNN, Commissioner General of Police. Gories Mere, Adnan Buyung Nasution, national businessman Oesman Sapta Odang and so on.

Some of the books that have been written and edited include: Sulawesi Maju Bersama (published by BKPRS 2006), Reformasi Sistem Pelayanan Publik (BKPRS 2007), Naluri Bisnis Muhammad Yasin Azis (Pohon Cahaya, Yogyakarta, 2016), Berkeringat dan Tersenyum ; Perjalanan Sukses 22 Pengusaha Toraja di Tanah Papua (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2013), Perjuangan Seorang Anak Guru Menjadi Guru Besar di Almamaternya ; Biografi Prof. dr. Randanan Bandaso’ (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2014), Anak Kampung Membangun Ibukota ; Biografi Yonathan Pasodung (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2014), Jalan Panjang Anak Persembahan ; Biografi Singkat Prof. Dr. Sam F. Poli (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2015), Mistar Seorang Guru ; Buku Kenangan Alm. Micha Dase’ (Pohon Cahaya, Yogyakarta, 2015), Keterpanggilan Seorang Guru ; Biografi Johanis Palayuk Tallulembang (Pohon Cahaya, Yogyakarta, 2016), Sejarah 40 Tahun GPIB Bukit Zaitun Makassar (BPK Gunung Mulia Jakarta, 2017) Menabur Kasih Menuai Berkat ; Biografi Ishak Bangun Bitticaca (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2018), Tetap Bekerja, Melayani dan Menjadi Berkat ; Biografi Prof. Dr. Yohanis Rante, SE, M.Si (Absolut Media, Yogyakarta, 2018), Novel Surya, Mentari dan Rembulan (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2019), Dokter di Medan Bencana ; Biografi Prof. dr. Idrus Paturusi (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2020), Komandan Frans Karangan Dalam Gejolak Sejarah (Arti Bumi Intaran Yogyakarta, 2021), Sejarah Gereja Toraja Klasis Pulau Jawa (Arti Bumi Intaran Yogyakarta, 2022), Gambaran Umum Sejarah Gereja Toraja Jemaat Satria Kasih (Launched on March 4, 2023 at the Satria Kasih Congregation Makassar), Di Bawah Bimbingan TUHAN ; Biografi Pdt. A.J. Anggui, M.Th (Arti Bumi Intaran Yogyakarta, 2023), Sejarah Gereja Toraja Jemaat Kota Jakarta (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2023) In Christo Lux Mundi Crescit ; Kenangan 75 Tahun STT INTIM Makassar (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2023), Jejak Pelayanan Tuang Ketua ; Historiografi Pdt. J. Linting (BPK Gunung Mulia Jakarta, 2024), Hidup Dalam Arena Pergumulan : Biografi Prof. Dr. Agus Salim, SH, MH (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2024), From Toraja With Love (Amazon Kindle Direct Pubslihing, USA, 2025), Jejak Pertumbuhan Iman Gereja Toraja Jemaat Saloso (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2025). Lelabuh Asmara (Deepublish, Yogyakarta, 2026) and Sketsa Sejarah Pelayanan Jemaat Rantepao (Arti Bumi Intaran, Yogyakarta, 2026).