The celebration of Malaysian literary talent continues with this selection of titles by Malaysian authors you have to read, at least once. Of course, everyone wants to read "the best" but as a bookstore, we'd like to give all our local talents a fair shake at being read. Therefore, let us highlight some books that may interest you.
Without further ado...
Spirits Abroad by Zen ChoMacmillan UK
9781035015658
Supernatural and extraterrestrial beings navigate the complexities of immigration, culture, change, self-discovery and family in this collection of stories, many of which are steeped in Asian lore. Readers in this side of the world may be able to relate to some of the challenges and lives of the characters. The latest edition expands the original with such inclusions as "The Terracotta Bride" and the Hugo Award-winning "If At First You Don't Succeed, Try, Try Again". Winning awards and acclaim for her works, Zen Cho has become a force majeure in speculative fiction.
Iban Dream by Golda MoweMonsoon Books
9789814423120
An Iban boy is left orphaned after a war party decimates his village and massacres everyone. The survivor is adopted by apes, grows into a warrior, and encounters savage headhunters, terrifying beasts, marauders from a foreign kingdom, and the wrath of a vengeful deity as he traverses a path he may not have wanted. Elements of Iban lore and culture infuses this lavish, colourful tapestry of an Iban dream. The saga continues in Mowe's two novels, Iban Journey and Iban Woman.
Rupert Wong, Cannibal Chef by Cassandra KhawAbaddon Books (Kindle edition)
Stoker Award-winning writer Khaw serves up a ghoulish but fun mythological mash-up. Side hustles are common, but what if you're a sorcerer and former triad soldier in a Kuala Lumpur teeming with the supernatural? Rupert Wong's day job involves cooking human corpses for ghouls, and after nightfall, he's a bureaucrat for the Ten Chinese Hells. He's probably the last person who should be investigating a murder case where the one of the victims is the daughter of the Dragon King of the South, an incident that could spark a war between pantheons – how-lah, Rupert?
The Beruas Prophecy by Iskandar al-BakriSilverfish Books
9789833221349
It's 1824, and the new Governor of Penang is "encouraging" piracy in neighbouring Perak to get the state to accept a British Resident. But he is just another player in the intrigues of the state where two Malay secret societies are about to clash. Indera Sakti, descended from remnants of the vanquished Melakan empire's army, vows to take back the peninsula, while Darul Kubra protects the treasures of Malik Al-Mansur, the fabled ruler of Beruas. Caught between these forces, denizens of a small village fight to survive. Though the narrative is a lot of tell rather than show, there's potential in the novel's plot and premise.
A Malaysian Journey by Rehman Rashid(self-published)
9789839981919
The author returns to Malaysia after many year abroad, crossing into Padang Besar from Thailand. Thus begins Rehman Rashid's Malaysian journey where he reacquaints himself with the homeland he left behind. Part memoir and part journal, this is a story of a nation told through the author's reminiscences of its history, from the Melakan sultanate to the early 1990s, and the people he meets along the way. The dramatic flourish of the author's quill and the abiding love for his country adorns the pages.
Pedalling Around the Peninsula: A Malaysian Girl's Two-wheeled Adventures by Sandra LohMPH Group Publishing
9789675997822
Outdoor enthusiast Sandra Loh and her friend Mak Shiau Meng travelled to the four corners of Peninsular Malaysia on bicycles in early 2009. Braving exhausting uphill roads in the scorching sun and freezing rain, daredevil lorry drivers, unhelpful road signs and the occasional cow, they rode past small towns and big cities en route to their goal, encountering friendly and helpful locals, old and new friends, new and familiar sights and (mostly) good food. And Sandra chronicled it all in her chirpy inimitable style.
Are any of these familiar? Have you read any of these? Why and why not? Let us know! We have a few more picks for you coming up, so watch this space!
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