New Book - Readings from Readings: New Malaysian Writing

An Indonesian man is swept out to sea by the tsunami and encounters a floating tree filled with naked girls; a cat is successful in his application to become head of a government department; and a senior demon writes a progress report for his master on the state of the country. Elsewhere, characters struggle to make sense of mysterious events: a hungry student finds a clutch of eggs left on the doorstep; a child received paintings of herself on her birthday each year from an absent father; an elderly uncle claims the moon-shaped scars on his ear lobes are of supernatural provenance. There are pieces here about longing and loss, guilt and betrayal, and the struggle to stay afloat in difficult relationships. And of course about how it feels to return home.


Bernice Chauly and Sharon Bakar select the best poetry, fiction and creative non-fiction submitted by Malaysian, Singaporean and expatriate writers who have read their work at their live literary event, Readings, and demonstrate the sheer variety and range of voices that characterize the local writing scene. You will find works from both established poets and authors, and from promising new writers making their debut. If ever evidence were needed that the local writing community is thriving -- this is it.

Readings from Readings celebrates Kuala Lumpur's longest-running live literature event. Founded in 2005 by Bernice Chauly, Readings provides a regular place in which local writers and readers can connect in an informal atmosphere.

About the Editors

BERNICE CHAULY is a writer, poet, photographer, filmmaker and lecturer. She has published two collections of poems, going there and coming back (1997), The Book of Sins (2008) and a collection of short stories, Lost in KL (2008). She studied TESL and English Literature in Winnipeg, Canada and has worked extensively in the arts in KL for the past twenty years. An ex-journalist, radio correspondent, food writer and publisher, she has also written, acted and directed for the stage and screen. Her upcoming book Growing Up With Ghosts is a fictive memoir in five voices, based on her Punjabi/Chinese family's history and stories. Her work has been published in regional and international anthologies and she has performed in festivals in the Dutch Antilles, Suriname, South Africa, Indonesia, India and Hong Kong. She lives in KL with her two daughters.

SHARON BAKAR is a freelance writer and teacher-trainer based in Kuala Lumpur. Her work has appeared in a number of Malaysian publications including The Star, Off the Edge, Kosmo,Men's Review, Quill and Chrome magazine. She has taught creative writing in partnership with the British Council, and now runs her courses at Learning Works in Bandar Utama. She organises Readings, a monthly event for local writers, at Seksan Gallery in Bangsar. Sharon blogs as Bibliobibuli (thebookaholic.blogspot.com) focusing mainly on writing and publishing in Malaysia.

More information here.