 Rusli's family was not pleased with the novel; his father condemned him in a letter, as a result of which Rusli never returned to Padang.His later novel, "Anak dan Kemenakan" (1958) was even more critical of older generation's inflexibility.Until at least 1930, "Sitti Nurbaya" was one of Balai Pustaka's most popular works, often being borrowed from lending libraries.