Zen Cho

This is a collection of 10 short stories about the Malaysian spirits, folklores and the likes written by Zen Cho. There is no doubt that she writes pretty well but I just wasn't into some of the stories. I seemed to be reading this in the wrong month too LOL! Overall, it was entertaining to a point, but such spirits/ghosts' stories are just not my cup of tea.

I've listed the 10 titles here so that you know what to expect lah.
1. The First Witch of Damansara
2. First National Forum on the Position of Minorities in Malaysia
3. The House of Aunts
4. One-day Travelcard for Fairyland
5. Rising Lion - The Lion Bows
6. The Mystery of the Suet Swain
7. Prudence and the Dragon
8. The Earth Spirit's Favorite Anecdote
9. Liyana
10. The Four Generations of Chang E

I've enjoyed a few like no 2, 3 and 7. If you like stories by Tunku Halim or Ee Leen Lee, then you should give this book a try.… (más)

Did you read Ace paperbacks as a kid? They were one of the escape mechanisms of my late primary and secondary years. Ace is now part of Penguin and Random House.

A review of this 2021 Ace book interested me. My public library supplied a brand new paperback. It is a "ghost story" set in Penang, Malaysia, told by a Millennial woman who grew up in the US but returned when her father's health devastated the family's economic viability. Sometimes it is laughing-out-loud hilarious, but is full of the complexities of contemporary multicultural Malaysia.

"You can bargain with anybody, spirit or human. All you need to know is what do they want and what are they scared of. That's all." p. 224… (más)