"Frank and funny and entirely original, Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta takes us into the club scene in Jakarta, a lover's house in San Francisco, and the tattered relationships of his friend Ario, a fellow Indonesian. But beyond the humor is a clear-eyed look at the politics of place and the traces of melancholy that endure. This book unforgettably maps the contours of desire against a complex geography of gender, race, and identity."—Marilyn Abildskov, author of The Men In My Country
"By turns wry, heartbreaking, haunted and affecting, Gentlemen Prefer Asians is about much more than just gentlemen or Asians. It’s about love in the age of globalization and marriage equality, the memories that walk with us through life, religion, politics, family, and the kinship of friends. Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta shows himself to be a careful, astute observer of human nature. This book is a joy to read."—Kaya Oakes, author of The Nones Are Alright and Radical Reinvention
"Full of wit, sexiness, and heart, Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta’s Gentlemen Prefer Asians traces the lives of three Indonesian gay men in Jakarta and California as they strive to weave identity and community, birth-nation and belonging, autonomy and intimacy. Written in sharp, snappy scenes, with piercingly clever dialogue and keen descriptions of people and place, and completely up to the minute around the nature of law and love, Gentlemen Prefer Asians invites its readers into an inter-national dance of desire and destiny. Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta’s book is vital reading for all of us interested in charting the transcontinental course of love and self-summoning. It’s an important book—and it’s delicious fun to read."—David Groff, author of Clay
"Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta's Gentleman Prefer Asians is an incredible work of beauty, humor, and complexity. Tuanakotta's writing is intimate yet objective and the truths of immigration via marriage for three gay Asian men are told with honesty, while at the same time Tuanakotta's work serves as testimonial to the history of gay rights and visibility in two places that are considered home. With lyrical prose, clever pop culture references, heart-wrenching origin stories, and thoughtful frankness, Gentleman Prefer Asians is a powerful, glitter-fueled, black nail polish gay-Indonesian odyssey through two continents. It is the testimony of friendship, chosen family, love and survival in a new world of legal same-sex marriage and the privileges and permanent decisions that come with that. Tuanakotta's writing makes me put my hand to my heart and feel and receive and witness."—Meliza Bañales, author of Life Is Wonderful, People Are Terrific
"Rarely do the lives of Indonesian gay men get depicted in the English language with such wit, eloquence, and humor – and the fact that this is a non-fiction book makes it an even more captivating read. Yuska juggles bittersweet personal accounts and insightful bits about being gay and Indonesian (and on foreign soil, searching for a new home) with a sincere and sensitive observation, which sometimes hit a little too close to home."—Rizal Iwan, Indonesian writer
"Frank and funny and entirely original, Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta takes us into the club scene in Jakarta, a lover's house in San Francisco, and the tattered relationships of his friend Ario, a fellow Indonesian. But beyond the humor is a clear-eyed look at the politics of place and the traces of melancholy that endure. This book unforgettably maps the contours of desire against a complex geography of gender, race, and identity."—Marilyn Abildskov, author of The Men In My Country
"By turns wry, heartbreaking, haunted and affecting, Gentlemen Prefer Asians is about much more than just gentlemen or Asians. It’s about love in the age of globalization and marriage equality, the memories that walk with us through life, religion, politics, family, and the kinship of friends. Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta shows himself to be a careful, astute observer of human nature. This book is a joy to read."—Kaya Oakes, author of The Nones Are Alright and Radical Reinvention
"Full of wit, sexiness, and heart, Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta’s Gentlemen Prefer Asians traces the lives of three Indonesian gay men in Jakarta and California as they strive to weave identity and community, birth-nation and belonging, autonomy and intimacy. Written in sharp, snappy scenes, with piercingly clever dialogue and keen descriptions of people and place, and completely up to the minute around the nature of law and love, Gentlemen Prefer Asians invites its readers into an inter-national dance of desire and destiny. Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta’s book is vital reading for all of us interested in charting the transcontinental course of love and self-summoning. It’s an important book—and it’s delicious fun to read."—David Groff, author of Clay
"Yuska Lutfi Tuanakotta's Gentleman Prefer Asians is an incredible work of beauty, humor, and complexity. Tuanakotta's writing is intimate yet objective and the truths of immigration via marriage for three gay Asian men are told with honesty, while at the same time Tuanakotta's work serves as testimonial to the history of gay rights and visibility in two places that are considered home. With lyrical prose, clever pop culture references, heart-wrenching origin stories, and thoughtful frankness, Gentleman Prefer Asians is a powerful, glitter-fueled, black nail polish gay-Indonesian odyssey through two continents. It is the testimony of friendship, chosen family, love and survival in a new world of legal same-sex marriage and the privileges and permanent decisions that come with that. Tuanakotta's writing makes me put my hand to my heart and feel and receive and witness."—Meliza Bañales, author of Life Is Wonderful, People Are Terrific
"Rarely do the lives of Indonesian gay men get depicted in the English language with such wit, eloquence, and humor – and the fact that this is a non-fiction book makes it an even more captivating read. Yuska juggles bittersweet personal accounts and insightful bits about being gay and Indonesian (and on foreign soil, searching for a new home) with a sincere and sensitive observation, which sometimes hit a little too close to home."—Rizal Iwan, Indonesian writer
