With all that is happening right now, and limitation of our movement outdoors, perhaps one of the things to do is to support our local authors by getting their books to read.
That is why we compiled some that might be good for your choice of reading.
Lake Like A Mirror by Ho Sok Fong
Having bagged a slew of awards for her short stories, Malaysian author Ho Sok Fong is not a stranger to the literary stage. Ho, who has a PhD in Chinese Language & Literature from NTU Singapore received awards for Lake Like a Mirror, her second collection of short stories, which was translated into English.
Originally written in Chinese, Lake Like a Mirror is told in a manner which is both surreal and unsettling. The tale is a scintillating exploration of the lives of small-town Malaysian women twisted by powers beyond their control. Squeezing themselves between the gaps of rabid urbanisation, patriarchal structures and a theocratic government, these women find their lives twisted in disturbing ways.
Escape from Happy Place by Jai Patel
In Jai Patel’s debut novel, we find ourselves in the underbelly of KL, with a runaway masseuse fleeing for her life.
Mei Mei is a runaway masseuse in Kuala Lumpur’s Chow Kit. Once the rising star of Happy Palace, she now has nothing but the clothes on her back and her side of a story: one that involves a massage parlor trick called The Leap Of The Dragon…
…and a dead man on her massage bed.
A Malaysian Restaurant in London by Tunku Halim
Fans of horror writing would likely have been introduced to the works of Tunku Halim, who was also a lawyer. Having penned a myriad of horror stories as well as novels.
This book unfolds with the story of Kenny Leong, a university student, and his two brothers open a restaurant in London.
His Irish friend, Trevor, helps out as a waiter. At first the restaurant is a failure but when the junior chef, Faizah, cooks up a new mysterious Malay dish, everything changes for them all.
In this haunting tale of love and healing, we follow Kenny and Trevor from London to Seville, and then to Malaysia thirty years later.
Tell Me, Kenyalang by Kulleh Grasi
The translated edition of Tell Me, Kenyalang, Iban poet Kulleh Grasi’s book of selected poems, was published by New York-based publishing house Circumference Book in late 2019. His real name, Royston John Kulleh was born and raised in Kapit, Sarawak — a land famed for its jungle and indigenous group.
His writing incorporates both Malay and indigenous languages. Kulleh had been working on his poems since 2002 and they were written based on his experience with mythology, humanity and nature. Upon completing his collection, he then worked with literary translator and writer, Pauline Fan for two years to produce the final translated book in English.
He is the only Malaysian author who made it onto the longlist of the Best Translated Book Awards 2020.
We, the Survivors by Tash Aw
Many would already have come to know about Tash Aw’s storytelling prowess, owed to his previous works such as Five Star Billionaire. In his latest book, set in Malaysia, he tells the story of a murderer’s confession – devastating, unblinking, poignant, unforgettable – which reveals a story of class, education and the inescapable workings of destiny.
Ah Hock is an ordinary, uneducated man born in a Malaysian fishing village and now trying to make his way in a country that promises riches and security to everyone, but delivers them only to a chosen few. With Asian society changing around him, like many he remains trapped in a world of poorly paid jobs that just about allow him to keep his head above water but ultimately lead him to murder a migrant worker from Bangladesh.
Devil’s Place by Brian Gomez
A supporter of the local arts scene, Brian Gomez together with his wife are the founders of Merdekarya – a centre for the local arts scene; young singer-songwriters, poets, bands, writers have been using the place for gigs, book launches and even poetry slams.
In his own debut novel, he tells of how a Thai woman gives up working the streets of Thailand to come to Kuala Lumpur instead. She thinks that if she can send enough money back home, her daughter can avoid making the same choices she had to make.
The Age of Smiling Secrets by Aneeta Sundararaj
Having trained as a lawyer before deciding to pursue a career in writing, the founder of the How to Tell a Great Story site has contributed to numerous organisations including contributing articles to news portals and magazines. In her latest novel, she explores the intricate conflict of Syariah and civil law through the experiences of a family.
“No woman should ever have to lose her child. And not in the heart-breaking way that Kamini lost hers.”
Soulless: Inspector Mislan and the Faceless Girl by Rozlan Mohd Noor
Part of the Inspector Mislan series, many might not know that Rozlan Mohd Noor was in fact a police officer in his past life as well; could he be drawing inspiration from actual cases?
In this book he tells the story in a sleazy back alley of Kuala Lumpur, the body of a young woman is found. She was killed in a sadistic manner and her features erased beyond recognition.
